Sex Work Decriminalization Now An Issue in St. Louis Mayor’s Race

LOS ANGELES—The decriminalization of sex work became an issue in the campaign for mayor of St. Louis, Missouri, this week, when one candidate released a policy platform that called for the midwestern city to “destigmatize and decriminalize sex work.”  But in the four-person race to succeed outgoing Mayor Lyda Krewson, city Treasurer Tishaura Jones (pictured above) found herself alone in calling decriminalization in St. Louis. None of her three opponents would say that they support the policy, while two flatly oppose it, according to a report by The St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  Jones also ran for mayor in 2017, but was defeated in a primary election by Krewson. According to a statement by her campaign, she opposes arrests or charges for “prostitution,” instead advocating social programs for sex workers including employment, housing, and substance abuse treatment. The four-candidate field includes two women and two men. Both male candidates — Board of Alderman President Lewis Reed and business executive Andrew Jones — said in statements that they oppose sec work decriminalization. Reed said that his opposition is based on what he says is the link between sex work and sex trafficking. Jones, however, said that he is “sympathetic to the issues that face sex workers,” but the alleged connections between sex work and trafficking meant that, “I cannot, in good conscience, support decriminalizing prostitution.” The fourth candidate, and other woman in the race, Alderman Cara Spencer, said that she had taken no position on decriminalization, and wants more information about how sex workers are currently prosecuted in St. Louis. Spencer also said that the city’s “current punitive strategy isn’t working well,” however. A number of unsuccessful moves toward sex work decriminalization have appeared in some states over the past year. In New York, a group of state lawmakers said in December that they will introduce statewide decriminalization in 2021 — the third consecutive year that they will have pushed the proposal.  Vermont state lawmakers opened their 2020 legislative session by introducing a sex work decriminalization bill, which also has yet to be adopted by the state.  According to the Post-Dispatch report, St. Louis has already adopted an unofficial policy of leniency — though not full decriminalization — toward sex workers. The city’s chief prosecutor, Rich Sykora, told the paper that people arrested for prostitution are charged only in municipal court, and then with minor ordinance violations such as “failure to disperse.” “We certainly don’t go out there looking to put these people in jail or fine them,” Sykora told The Post-Dispatch. “Our interest is in changing their behavior.” Photo By Paul Sableman / Wikimedia Commons