Sexual expression is protected by the First Amendment. Despite that, sexual content is often targeted for censorship and dismissed as trivial, obscene, or immoral. Lawmakers continue to argue for bans or restrictions on sexual material, often based on grounds of…
We often hear people say “I have free speech!” But what does that really mean? And how is it different from the First Amendment? Free speech and the First Amendment are closely related but not exactly the same. Free speech…
Sex workers are stigmatized as socially disruptive, dirty, and shameless, and society judges them more harshly than their non-sex worker peers. This has led to their neglect by policymakers, law enforcement, healthcare providers, and members of the public.[^1] The stigmatization…
Is sex work really work? Yes, sex workers are laborers who deserve the same labor rights as other members of the workforce. The absence of these protections exposes sex workers to higher rates of violence and exploitation than other wage…
No, sex workers encounter violence from law enforcement and face difficulty in safely reporting at a higher rate than many other populations.
Criminalization of sex work is often falsely believed to improve societal health, minimize sex trafficking, and keep sex workers safe. However, criminalization worsens these outcomes by driving both sex workers and trafficking victims underground, where they experience more violence, fewer social services, and less access to adequate healthcare. Decriminalization would be far more effective at ensuring sex workers' physical safety, economic stability, and physical and mental health.
Woodhull Freedom Foundation, as part of its Fact Checked by Woodhull initiative, has released today its latest report to combat the often-perpetuated myth – and often sensational media headlines – that sex trafficking increases during one of the biggest and…
The media frequently reports the Super Bowl to be a huge event for sex trafficking. However, sex trafficking during the Super Bowl is not higher than the rate of sex trafficking in general and efforts to curtail the alleged higher numbers of trafficking actually hinder overall anti-trafficking efforts.
Are all sex workers victims of trafficking and exploitation? No, many sex workers choose their profession voluntarily and have agency in their work. Conflating sex workers with sex trafficking victims dismisses this agency and, as a result, diminishes consideration of…
Age verification policies are often touted as the most effective way to protect children online. However, research shows that age verification tools fail to keep minors safe and violate the First Amendment for consumers of all ages.