A Rhode Island House Commission on Sex Work, formally known as the Rhode Island Study Ensuring Racial Equity and Optimizing Health and Safety Laws Affecting Marginalized Individuals, concluded its work on Monday with the issuance of a thirty page report detailing a series of legislative recommendations regarding laws on prostitution and other forms of sex work.
The Commission, started by former State Representative Anastasia Williams, who lost her re-election bid last year, was concluded by Commission co-chair Representative Edith Ajello (Democrat, District 1, Providence). Many members of the Commission opined during the final meeting that they felt that there was more to do and that the Commission should continue, but Representative Ajello countered that many of the issues being raised, such as housing and poverty, were outside the purview of the Commission, and better suited to a future, as yet unspecified study commission.
That said, the original scope of the commission was very broad. The commission was formed to, “expand upon the significant research on the health and safety implications of laws related to violence, exploitation, stigma, human trafficking and sexual health, that disproportionately impact women, transgender individuals, and people of color.” The Commission was likely being wrapped up because Representative Williams was no longer at the helm, not because its work was “done.”
The Commission did not vote to approve the final report, and most members of...
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