Proposition K Is a Step Backward for Human Rights

Editor's Note: Yesterday, we heard from sex worker and activist Karly Kirchner about why she believes Proposition K - which would decriminalize prostitution in San Francisco - is right for the city. Today, anti-exploitation activist Kristie Miller argues that the measure is a step backwards.

There are many flaws with San Francisco’s Proposition K.  Alarmingly, there is a proven global connection between legalization/decriminalization of prostitution and an increase in sex trafficking.  If we are to enter into an intelligent conversation over ideas for any policy change designed to keep women and girls safe, first these connections need to be more thoroughly explored. The outcome could have dire consequences for the advancement of women’s human rights. On one hand, Proposition K could bring the job title of ‘prostitute’ into a legitimate labor category in San Francisco with possibilities of unionization, employer-provided health insurance, and access to disability and unemployment benefits. On the other hand, we could be making our community more susceptible to pimps, traffickers and violent predators while simultaneously creating a group of women and girls that are legally sanctioned to be bought and sold by anyone with the ability or power to do so. When Australia, Netherlands, and Germany legalized or decriminalized prostitution, illegal sex trafficking, prostitution of children, and quality of life crimes exploded.

Another dangerous outcome of Proposition K is that it mandates the city to stop supporting the First Offender Prostitution Program (FOPP) or any similar programs. FOPP is a highly effective restorative justice program that enables social service agencies to provide free services to women and girls who are involved in or at-risk for prostitution. These free services include mental health counseling, addiction treatment, and job-skill training. Proponents of Proposition K like to slander these social service programs by calling them ‘sex-negative’ and ‘shame-based.’ Anyone who has had any direct experiences with these programs will say the exact opposite. Anyone who has had any actual involvement will tell you of the compassion, empowerment, healing and sisterhood that these programs are built on. These programs provide education on healthy-sex, healthy relationships, building self-esteem and most importantly, provide the tools necessary to help women and girls heal from their traumas and develop into the beautiful and powerful women they were always meant to be. Thousands of lives have been transformed as a direct result of these programs. There is absolutely no sound reason why these life-changing services should be denied to anyone!

Proposition K is being sold to San Francisco voters as an opportunity to grant sex workers equal rights. In actuality, it is a convicted pimp’s personal vendetta against San Francisco and the SAGE Project. Before jumping on anyone’s bandwagon, do a little background research. Proposition K is not the solution to advancing women’s human rights. It sadly would do the exact opposite. There is a reason Gloria Steinem is one of the major opponents against Proposition K. Learn more at the No on K Coalition's website.

Kristie Miller is deeply committed to women’s human rights issues including combating commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking. Kristie worked for San Francisco’s Standing Against Global Exploitation (SAGE) Project from 2002-2008.  As SAGE’s Replication Director, Kristie had the privilege and honor of being intimately involved in a number of innovative and successful projects such as the U.S. Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons-sponsored peer counseling training project in South Korea and the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Community Intervention Project.