At their meeting on the evening of October 5^th, the Cambridge City Council passed a policy order calling for the police and Middlesex District Attorney to refrain from arresting and prosecuting people for consensual adult sex work—including both sex workers and their clients.

The order’s lead sponsor was Councilor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler. Co-sponsors included Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, Councilor Marc McGovern, Councilor Patty Nolan, and Councilor Ayah Al-Zubi. The policy order passed nearly unanimously, with eight yes votes and one present vote. It follows a similar resolution passed by the Somerville City Council in 2020.

The order recognizes that “criminalizing consensual adult sex work discourages individuals from reporting violence due to fear of arrest or prosecution,” referencing empirical research. This policy model is favored by the global sex workers’ rights movement. The order recognizes the difference between sex work and sex trafficking. It additionally calls for the city to establish a dedicated warmline for sex workers to report violence or abuse without having to interact with law enforcement.

At the meeting, sex workers, trafficking survivors, and researchers described the policy order as an anti-exploitation measure. Dozens of sex workers shared their experiences of choosing to work in the industry and asked that the city recognize their needs.

“I am moved by each person who testified, because it takes tremendous courage to speak in the face of hostile opposition,” says BSWAC Co-Chair Mary Carol. “Victories seem rare. This one is special because of how many sex workers, survivors, and allies supported our effort. This win gives me hope.”

The order was endorsed by a variety of local and regional organizations, including Jane Doe Inc, NOW Massachusetts, Families for Justice as Healing, YW Boston, the UAW, The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, Whose Corner Is It Anyway, Justice at Work, the Ishtar Collective, Mass 50501, Protect Trans Futures, Boston DSA, and the Harvard Graduate Student Union. National organizations supporting the order include Fight for the Future, thes Woodhull Freedom Foundation, Freedom Network, and the National Survivors Network.