Sex work as a term covers a broad range of sexual labor, including jobs like camming, stripping, phone sex, and prostitution to name a few. Some forms of sexual labor are regulated, others are criminalized. Pornography and stripping are regulated in the US, with states setting rules about things like working conditions, zoning, and obscenity standards. The direct exchange of sex for anything of value, i.e. prostitution, is the type of sexual labor that tends to be criminalized. Our most urgent focus is to decriminalize all forms of consensual sexual labor.
In order to exercise our fundamental right to sexual freedom, we must have bodily autonomy: the ability to decide how we use our bodies. This includes deciding with whom we want to have sex, and whether ro not we want to exchange anything for sex.
We also have the fundamental human right to choose our work, and in combination with the rights to personal autonomy and sexual freedom, this means that sex work should not be criminalized. Restricting, punishing, and criminalizing sex work is, at its core, about controlling our bodies and reducing our ability to participate in labor of our choosing, to access pleasure, and to express ourselves sexually. Such restrictions erode our freedom to make choices about our bodies, lives, and livelihoods.
Sex workers deserve respect, care, safety, and protection. Decriminalizing sex work is an integral step in assuring that sex workers have that support.
Sex work is interconncted with various human rights, including the right to health, the right to safety, the right to privacy, the right to choose our work and be paid fairly, and the right to personal autonomy.
Blog Posts
- Texas’ H.B. 991: An Unconscionable Attack on Abortion Rights and Free Speech 2024
- 2024 US General Election Analysis: Impacts, Challenges, and Opportunities for Advancing Sex Worker Rights 2024
- Conservatives Attack Mifepristone, Yet Again 2024
- California’s A.B. 3080 and Threats to Our Rights to Free Speech and Privacy 2024
- Advocacy Day Reflections 2024
- Teachers, OnlyFans, and Our Right to Sexual Freedom 2023
- Letter to the Editor of the NY Times re: “What It Means to Call Prostitution Sex Work” by Pamela Paul 2023
- Criminalizing Sex Work in Maine 2023
- Sex & Censorship 2023
- To President Biden Re: Decriminalization 2023
- FOSTA Five Years Later 2023
- Sex Work Decriminalization in South Africa 2023
- Criminalizing HIV 2022
- Strippers on Strike 2022
- Censoring Nudity 2022
- Decriminalizing Sex Work in Vermont 2022
- Reaching Settlement in the City of Jacksonville 2022
- Tech’s Censorship of Porn & the Difficulty of Getting Paid 2022
- Discrimination Against Sex Workers 2022
- Violence Against Sex Workers 2021
- OnlyFans’ Banning of Porn and Reversal 2021
- FOSTA – Woodhull’s Fight against a Miserable Failure 2021
- Stepping Toward Decriminalization 2021
- Marginalization and Murder 2021
- The Dangers of the SAFE Tech Act 2021
- Section 230, the “Internet’s First Amendment” 2021
- The Pandemic Economy and Camming 2020
- Social Solidarity in Practice: Supporting Sex Workers During the Coronavirus 2020
- Holding Space for International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers 2019
- What’s Happening with Woodhull Freedom Foundation vs. the United States? 2019
- What About SESTA? 2018
- Centering Sexual Freedom on Human Rights Day 2017
- 5 Ways to Advocate for Human Rights 2015
- Rentboy.com Latest Victim in the Ongoing War Against Sex 2015
- The War on Porn Rebranded as the War on Sex Trafficking 2015
- Communities of Privilege, Ethics Of Pleasure, Economies of Pain 2015
- Still Harmful to Minors 2014
- How To Help Young People For Real, Step One: Listen To Them 2014
- 91 Bad Words About Young People and Prostitution: The New York Times Edition 2014
- Censorship by Money: Snuffing Out Adult Entertainment by Denial of Banking Services 2014
- For love or money? 2014
- Isaacs Obscenity Case & Life Without Miller 2014
- Witnessing Transformation – Performers into Producers 2014
- Florida Sheriff Continues ‘War on Porn’ and Sets Sights on Backpage 2013
- Dangerous Intersections 2013
- The ‘Naked Truth’ on adult entertainment Theocrats eager to legislate morality 2013
- Feminism or Fascism: Iceland’s Stunning Ban on Pornography May Be Spreading 2013
- Erasing Criminal Convictions for Survivors of Trafficking: One Step in the Right Direction 2012
- A Call to Change U.S. Policy on Sex Work & HIV 2012
- Some People Enjoy Being Prostitutes……… Get Over It 2012
- If you can’t beat it, regulate it 2012
- Killing the Messenger: The Campaign Against Online Escort Advertising Sites Part II – Operational Policies & Legal Issues 2011
- Killing the Messenger: The Campaign Against Online Escort Advertising Sites 2011
- She Was How Old? – The Current Dangers of Accidental Involvement of Minors in Erotic Imagery 2011
- Ad Placement Fail? 2011
- Ten 2011
- My first whore job 2010
- Don’t tell anyone: I’m a whore 2010
- Sex Workers Stop Traffick 2010
Summit Programs
Press Releases
- DC Circuit Upholds FOSTA 2023
- Woodhull Participates in Day of Action in Albany, NY 2023
- Woodhull Foundation to Host Commission on Entrapment and Harassment at Creating Change 2023
- Woodhull Defends Free Speech In Latest Court Battle Over FOSTA Censorship 2023
- The Tsunami of Sexual Repression 2022
- Removing Sex Work From the Internet May Make It More Dangerous: Grant from Woodhull Freedom Foundation to Support John Jay Study 2022
- Woodhull Freedom Foundation Joins Human Rights Orgs, Files Amicus Brief Opposing Texas Social Media Law 2022
- Woodhull’s Human Rights Commission Releases Findings from Super Bowl Sex Trafficking Myths 2022
- Woodhull Announces Human Rights Commissions 2021
- OnlyFans Statement 2021
- The Sex Workers Human Rights Commission 2021
- Woodhull Freedom Foundation Files Motion to Declare FOSTA Unconstitutional 2020
- Woodhull Wins FOSTA Appeal 2020
- FOSTA Appeal Moves Forward With Woodhull’s Statement 2018
- Woodhull Freedom Foundation Appeals FOSTA Ruling 2018
- Woodhull Freedom Foundation Files Lawsuit Challenging FOSTA 2018
- Washington, DC Passes Bill to Repeal Discredited “Prostitution Free Zones” 2014
- Civil Liberties Groups Condemn Government Attacks on Escort Service Providers – Cite First Amendment and Human Rights Concerns 2014
- Legendary Sexual Freedom Advocates to be Honored for Dedication to Establishing Sexual Freedom as a Fundamental Human Right 2012
- International Sex Worker Rights Day 2012
- Woodhull Testifies Against Human Rights Violations in Washington, DC 2012
- Human Rights Victory 2011
Media Mentions
- Dirty Laundry Piles up at Utah’s Anti-Porn and Anti-Trafficking Charities 2024
- Porn Is Protected Speech. Trump’s New Presidency Will Test That Sentiment. The Courts Can Uphold It. 2024
- EFF, Woodhull, TechFreedom File SCOTUS Amicus Supporting FSC in Texas AV Case 2024
- How the American War on Porn Could Change the Way You Use the internet 2024
- Woodhull Freedom Foundation Debuts ‘Fact Checked by Woodhull’ Program 2024
- Freedom of Choice – Bound by the Cloak Podcast 2024
- Your Right to Sexual Expression Can Get You Fired 2024
- Woodhull’s Mandy Salley Returns to ‘#SexTalkTuesday’ 2023
- Student Loan Forgiveness and Sex Work (Not related!) – Podcast 2023
- Artists Call on Congress to Stop “Bad Internet Bills” 2023
- Court Says Prostitution Law Doesn’t Violate First Amendment but Language Should Be Interpreted Narrowly 2023
- Court Rules Against Woodhull in FOSTA Appeal 2023
- Online Sex Trafficking Law is Constitutional, D.C. Cir. Says 2023
- Sugar Daddy Appreciation Day with Mandy Salley – DTF: Darryl & Timaree Fun Hour 2023
- 5 Years After the Backpage Shutdown, Sex Workers—and Free Speech—Are Still Suffering 2023
- Motion to Dismiss Calls Out DOJ Duplicity in Backpage/Woodhull Cases 2023
- Breaking The Stigma with Ricci and Mandy from Woodhull 2023
- Watching OnlyFans Improves Sexual Confidence, Says a New Report 2023
- Interview with Ricci Levy & Mandy Salley of the Woodhull Freedom Foundation 2023
- Woodhull Defends Free Speech in Latest Court Battle Over FOSTA Censorship 2023
- Appeals Court Panel Seems Skeptical That FOSTA Doesn’t Violate the First Amendment 2023
- Woodhull’s FOSTA Challenge Lays Bare DOJ’s Lies in Lacey/Larkin Case 2023
- How a War on Porn is Endangering US Sex Workers 2023
- BREAKING: Woodhull Defends Free Speech In Latest Court Battle Over FOSTA Censorship 2023
- Woodhull Files New Reply Brief Challenging FOSTA 2022
- The Sexual Freedom Episode – Part Two 2022
- Petition To Stop Law Silencing Legal Sexual Expression 2022
- Woodhull Files New Brief Challenging Constitutionality of FOSTA-SESTA 2022
- OnlyFans Is Finally Showing Some Political Support for Sex Work 2022
- Johns Hopkins University Hosts Panel on Decriminalization 2021
- LGBTQ Agenda: Queer, sex worker rights advocates sound off on OnlyFans flip-flop 2021
- Woodhull Freedom Foundation Denounces Anti-Porn Campaign 2021
- Top Digital Rights Organization Highlights Woodhull’s Anti-FOSTA Litigation 2020
- Federal Court Hears Woodhull’s Appeal Challenging FOSTA 2019
Coalition Sign-Ons
- Submission to the Consolidated Industry Codes of Practice for the Online Industry, Class 1C and Class 2 Material – Australia
Scarlett Alliance
- Subject: Final HIV Community Funding Requests for FY2025 Domestic HIV Programs
The AIDS Institute
- PRESS Act Markup (S.2074)
Freedom of the Press Foundation
- Opposition to S.1207 EARN IT Act & S.1199 STOP CSAM Act
- Letter of Support – California’s AB 1726, Record Clearing for Immigrants
- Letter of Support for Rhode Island Senate Bill 0412 “Patient’s Bill of Rights”
- Letter in Support of Rhode Island H6140
Decriminalize Sex Work
- Letter in Support of Rhode Island S0402
Decriminalize Sex Work
- Letter in Support of Rhode Island HB6064
COYOTE RI – Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics
- Letter in Support of California AB 93: Stop Baseless Searches
ACLU California Action
- Wood Hull Signs on to Letter on Sex Worker Pride Day to Human Rights Organizations Urging US Congress to Pass SAFE SEX Workers Study Act
Sex Workers Project
- Decriminalize Sex Work California Coalition’s Housing as Healthcare Budget Ask
ACLU California Action
- Response to Shootings at Gold Massage Spa
Red Canary Song
- Harms Done by SESTA/FOSTA and Section 230
- Eliminate EARN IT Act
Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT)
- Repeal the “Walking While Trans” Ban
Center for Constitutional Rights
- Support for the Community Safety and Health Amendment Act of 2019
Decrim Now DC