Sex Workers Canvass For State Senate Hopeful Julia Salazar

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — A troupe of sex workers are knocking on Brooklyn doors to campaign for Julia Salazar, a New York State Senate hopeful who promised to fight for their rights in Albany if elected.

“People will say that this is radical, but we all know that it needs to be the norm," said Salazar, the progressive Democratic candidate who hopes to represent District 18.

"By talking to our communities, by speaking openly about this, we’re getting closer to this becoming the norm.”

The group of 35 sex workers and their allies have canvassed more than 600 homes in Williamsburg and Bushwick to talk to Brooklynites about why they think prostitution should be decriminalized, and how the Salazar would do it.

In her campaign platform, Salazar calls for repealing New York’s ‘loitering for the purpose of prostitution’ law, putting an end to massage parlor raids and working with district attorneys to cut back on processing prostitution-related arrests.

Her proposals drew mixed resulted from Brooklynites.

Andrea Karshan took to Twitter to criticize Salazar’s stance on sex work and questioned whether it was a feasible goal.

“Do you really believe that she can get the NY State Senate to vote for the decriminalization of sex work?" Karshan tweeted.

"Is that goal obtainable? Or is she just spinning her wheels when she could be working on other issues that are winnable?

But after a visit from Kaytlin Bailey, a writer and former escort, Brooklyn resident Ileana Lopez countered, “I think [prostitution] should be legalized."

“I think it’s just detrimental to women to not be able to choose whatever line of work they’re in.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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