Although condoms themselves aren’t illegal, in New York possessing condoms has been used as evidence contributing to arrest and prosecution for intent to commit prostitution.

The chilling effect is that sex workers are being discouraged from practicing safe sex. Sex workers and others are less likely to use condoms if they know that the police might consider possessing them evidence of intent to commit a crime.

New York City has serious problems with HIV/AIDS and should be taking every possible step to encourage safe sex. Stopping the spread of disease, especially HIV/AIDS, should be our top priority, and this backwards policy puts all of us at risk.

Over 27,000 people already sent letters to the NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg asking him to tell police forces to stop considering condoms as evidence of intent to commit any crime and by making public statements declaring that no one should be afraid to practice safe sex in their city.

Now, a bill in the state legislature would make it illegal to use condoms as evidence of intent to commit the crime of prostitution.

Tell the New York Codes Committees to vote YES on this vital, life-saving piece of legislation.