The Loitering for the Purpose of Prostitution law, also known as the #WalkingWhileTrans law, has done significant damage to our community, especially trans women of color, by allowing police to arbitrarily arrest and detain New Yorkers for simply walking around or standing on the street.
The #WalkingWhileTrans law gives individual officers the authority to judge whether an individual “looks” like they are “loitering for the purpose of prostitution” and arrest them. Thanks to the intersection of racism, transphobia, and misogyny, trans women of color “look” more like sex workers in the eyes of cops – thus TWOC are more likely to be detained under this law, and more likely to experience violence at the hands of police.
The New York City Council held a remote hearing on this law (Res. 0923), and an additional resolution (Res. 1444) to seal the convictions made under this law this morning at 10am, but you can STILL SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY up to 72 hours after the close of the meeting without prior registration.
Stand in solidarity with trans New Yorkers and sex workers by submitting written testimony against the #WalkingWhileTrans bill to [email protected], or at council.nyc.gov/testify.
[ID: Brown gradient background with a white header and frame. On the header is a repost symbol, GLITS Instagram username, and the TEP logo. Below is a white and red square framing a description of the New York City Council meeting, and the Decriminalize Sex Work logo.]
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