Criminalization of sex work in the United States is a major contributing factor to the violence that sex workers face. Transgender sex workers of color make up a disproportionate number of those who are lost to violence, showing how sex worker stigma intersects with racism and transphobia, and abuses by law enforcement make up a substantial portion of this violence.

We have come together to voice our commitment towards ending this system of violence. We join with sex workers, human rights groups such as Amnesty International, and many other organizations and individuals, in calling for the full decriminalization of sex work as a gateway by which sex workers may achieve greater safety, dignity and respect. As a step towards this goal, we call upon Boston Police Commissioner William Gross to declare a moratorium on all arrests involving consensual transactions for commercial sex work.

Sex work is real work, and sex workers rights are human rights. Let us honor both, in word and in deed, here in Boston, across the country, and around the world.

SEX WORKERS LOST TO VIOLENCE

"Z" Fry | January, 2018 | Sante Fe, NM

Leah Holly | January 2018 | Baltimore, MD

Ines Carmen Perez | 1/28/2018 | New Haven, CT

Leila Rivera | 1/30/2018 | New Haven, CT

Morgan Huennekens | March 2018 | Milwaukee, WI

Kala Franz | 3/16/2018 | Santa Rosa, CA

Stephanie Adams | May 2018 | New York, NY

Melissa Ramirez | September 4th 2018 | Laredo, TX

Claudine Ann Luera | ​September 13th 2018​ | Laredo, TX

Nikki Enriquez | September 2018 | Laredo, TX

Griselda Alicia Hernandez Cantu | Laredo, TX

Brandy Odom | April 11th, 2018 | New York, NY

Celine Walker | April 4th, 2018 | Jacksonville, FL

Donna Castleberry | August 23rd 2018 | Columbus, OH

Phylicia Mitchell | February 23rd, 2018 | Cleveland, OH

Cheri Ingram | February 28th 2018 | Anchorage, AK

Tonya Harvey | February 6th, 2018 | Brooklyn, NY

Marissa L. Koziel | Feburary 2018 | Joliet, IL

Cami Shepherd | Found April 11th 2018 | Salt Lake City

Viccky Gutierrez | January 10th, 2018 | Los Angeles, CA

Christa Leigh Steel-Knudslien | January 5th, 2018 | Massachusetts

Kristen Marti | January 9th 2018 | San Luis Obispo, CA

Sasha Garden | July 19th, 2018 | Orlando, FL

Daphne Bailey | June 10th 2018 | Bay Area, CA

Ann Farrin | June 13th 2018 | Miami, FL

Amia Tayrae Berryman | March 26th, 2018 | Baton Rouge, LA

Carla Patricia Flores-Pavon | March 29th, 2018 | Dallas, TX

Sasha Wall | March 29th, 2018 | Chesterfield, SC

Neidy Roche | March 2nd 2018 | Miami, FL

Ciara Minaj Carter | October 3rd, 2018 | Chicago, IL

Syd Eastman | September 21st 2018 | Tampa, FL

Christina Carlin-Kraft | September 22nd, 2018 | Ardmore, PA

Shniquia Simington | March 11th, 2018 | Dallas, TX

Kelly O'May aka Penny Scandall | June 6th, 2018 | Rochester, NY

Antash'a English | June 1st, 2018 | Jacksonville, FL

Cathalina Christina James | June 24th, 2018 | Jacksonville, FL

Tiffany Evans | January 2018 | Myrtle Beach, SC

Olivia Lua | January 18th, 2018 | California

39.Houston Price | January 4th, 2018 | Seattle, WA

Olivia Nova | January 7th, 2018 | Las Vegas, NV

Dave Slick | June 8th, 2018 | Palm Springs, CA

Tyler White | June 10th, 2018 | Providence, RI

Lydia Tirillo | May 23rd, 2018 | Hartford, CT

Kathleen West | January 2018 | Calera, AL

Cheryl Murray | September 1st, 2018 | Austin, TX

Angela Nielson | February 1st, 2018 | Detroit, IL

Chrystel Yager | July 8th, 2018 | Poughkeepsie, NY

Bobbie Simpson | October 14th, 2018 | Upper Arling, OH

Maxine/Anastasia | 7/15/2018 | Baltimore, MD

Yang Song "Cici" | November 2017 | New York, NY

Reina Rodriguez | June 22nd 2017 | Dedham, MA

Kristen Stone | June, 6th 2017 | Cape Fear, NC

August Aimes | December 5th, 2017 | California

Alicia Kirkland | 2017 | Baltimore, MD

Unknown | 2017 | Baltimore, MD

Brandi Seals | December 13th, 2017 | Houston, TX

Yuri Love | December 15th, 2017 | Bellflower, CA

REST IN POWER