Letter to Attorney General Andrew Cuomo RE: Craigslist

In New York State, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has been waging an ongoing war against online prostitution. If you want to submit a letter to Andrew Cuomo, you can do so using this online form. If you’re in Connecticut, your Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is the guy you should be directing your attention to, which you can do by emailing his office at attorney.general@po.state.ct.us. These two men are the most active in speaking up about CL, but in other states its also appropriate to contact your Attorney General. Feel free to use my letter as a template!

Dear Attorney General Cuomo,

I am writing to express concern about your intent to shut down advertising for erotic services through the internet, especially through sites like Craigslist.

Policing the masseuses, phone workers, pro-dominants, and escorts using Craigslist fails to protect people who are coerced into the sex industry. Preventing the use of Craigslist advertisements also eliminates the advantage of screening clients online, which makes for a safer work experience by filtering out potentially dangerous individuals. Furthermore, keeping sex workers offline hinders police investigations of violent crime. In the Boston murder of Julissa Brisman, it was online tracking that enabled the police to identify the suspect.

I urge you to consider a harm reductionist approach to online prostitution. According to “Behind Closed Doors,” a report on indoor prostitution in New York City released in 2005 by the Sex Workers Project, online advertising has enabled many sex workers to operate independently, without the interference of third parties or “pimps.” Prostitution is not going to be abolished when advertising becomes less publicly visible, but independent workers who make their living in the sex industry may be forced to rely on networks of third parties, thereby giving up their autonomy and control over their bodies. Supporting legal and advocacy services such as those provided by the Sex Workers Project can help to keep sex workers safe and protected from violence and exploitation, as is their right as human beings.

Sincerely,
Audacia Ray
Vice President, Sex Work Awareness
Brooklyn, NY