Sex Workers’ Rights Are Officially a Mainstream Political Issue

2020 hopefuls like Kamala Harris and Cory Booker want to decriminalize sex work — but advocates are still skeptical

At the core of the years-long fight to decriminalize sex work in the United States lies a simple proposition: Those engaged in the trade should have the same right to work as any other person in America. “We are people who want dignity, who want humanity, who want to make money as we need to. We’re just providing services,” says Alex Corona, a board member of the California-based network Sex Workers Outreach Project-USA. “Any candidate who is not on the platform of decriminalizing sex work is not in a place to help sex workers.”

And for the first time, presidential candidates seem to be listening.

Several Democratic presidential contenders have voiced their support for removing at least some criminal penalties for selling and buying sex in the United States. (While sex work is regulated by local and state laws, the federal government has significantly contributed to criminalization through legislation and federal law enforcement agencies.)

Both Sen. Cory Booker and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard have called for fully decriminalizing the sale of sexual services. “The real question…