Decriminalize Sex Work is a left-of-center social-policy group working to legalize prostitution and other forms of sex work in the United States. ¹

Robert Kampia, the former head of drug-legalization group Marijuana Policy Project, is Decriminalize Sex Work’s founder and political director. He departed MPP after allegations of sexual harassment surfaced in 2017, before he founded Decriminalize Sex Work. ^{2 3}

Background

Decriminalize Sex Work was founded in 2018 to advocate for the legalization of prostitution and other forms of sex work as well as change public attitudes towards sex work. ⁴

The group was founded after the passage of the 2018 FOSTA-SESTA federal law that severely restricted online ads for sexual content. ⁵

In an interview with the Washington Examiner, Decriminalize Sex Work founder Robert Kampia said, “Our goal is not to teach our allies not to be dumb […] It is working with well-meaning legislators and activists on specific bills in specific states and winning. With marijuana, we have the playbook.”  ⁶

The group’s sister organization, the Campaign to Decriminalize Sex Work, lobbies state legislatures to change laws against prostitution and human trafficking. ⁷

Early Work

Decriminalize Sex Work launched in February 2019 and soon received over $1 million in donations, with $700,000 coming from Scott and Cyan Banister. The organization also hired a Republican Party-leaning lobbying firm in New Hampshire as well as a Democrat Party-leaning lobbying firm in Rhode Island to advocate in favor of leading a national movement to legalize prostitution. ⁸

The group’s founder and political director, Robert Kampia, developed the branding message of “making sex legal.” Kampia used a similar branding message at the Marijuana Policy Project, which adopted the slogan “regulate marijuana like alcohol.” ⁹

Kampia, during an interview with the Washington Examiner in 2019, claimed the group was pushing for a sex work-focused referendum as early as between 2022 and 2024 in a “sparsely populated” state such as Alaska, Maine, or Oregon. ¹⁰

Activities

District of Columbia Ballot Initiative

In 2020, Decriminalize Sex Work attempted to place a ballot initiative for voters in Washington, D.C. The attempt to place the ballot initiative drew strong opposition from local groups working to eliminate criminal penalties for prostitution in the District of Columbia. The group offered $100,000 to a local D.C. group to spearhead the ballot initiative as polling showed that a prostitution legalization initiative would succeed in D.C. ¹¹

D.C.-based groups claimed to object to the “organization’s predominantly white and cisgender leadership, arguing that black, Latina and transgender women bear the brunt of anti-prostitution laws.” The groups also objected to working with Robert Kampia, who had previously been accused of sexual harassment, which led to his departure from the Marijuana Policy Project. The groups said that $100,000 was not enough to push a city-wide ballot initiative. ¹²

Rhode Island

In June 2024, Decriminalize Sex Work advocated for the Rhode Island state House Judiciary Committee to weaken legislation against prostitution and sex trafficking by giving “witnesses” to human trafficking immunity from prosecution. The National Center on Sexual Exploitation warned that the bill contained language that could protect sex buyers, pimps, and sex traffickers. ¹³

Leadership

Decriminalize Sex Work’s political director is Robert Kampia, the former executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project. Kampia is an admitted former sex buyer. ¹⁴ Kampia resigned from his position with Marijuana Policy Project amid allegations of sexual harassment. ¹⁵

Finances

According to Decriminalize Sex Work’s 2023 tax return, the group had $1,138,426 in revenue, $1,480,236 in expenses, and $122,985 in assets. ¹⁶

The group awarded grants to Campaign to Decriminalize Sex Work ($155,000), Maine Women’s Lobby Education Fund ($16,000), Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society ($12,000), and Global Lab for Research in Action ($11,000). It also reported a $12,000 grant to “transgender community and other allies in northern California” and a $6,000 grant for coalition building in New Hampshire. ¹⁷

1. “About.” Decriminalize Sex Work. Accessed September 9, 2024. https://decriminalizesex.work/about/.
2. Shugerman, Emily. “Weed Activist with #MeToo Past Is Now Pushing Sex Work Reform-despite Objections.” The Daily Beast, February 4, 2019. https://www.thedailybeast.com/rob-kampia-weed-activist-with-metoo-past-is-now-pushing-sex-work-reform.
3. Cohen, Rachel  M. “Spotlight on Sexual Misconduct Reopens Old Wounds at Marijuana Policy Project.” Washington City Paper, December 19, 2017. https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/187904/spotlight-on-sexual-misconduct-reopens-old-wounds-at-marijuana-policy-project/.
4. “About.” Decriminalize Sex Work. Accessed September 9, 2024. https://decriminalizesex.work/about/.
5. Nelson, Steven. “Pot Legalization Activist Turns Sights on Prostitution, ‘comes out’ as Client.” Washington Examiner , February 4, 2019. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2748991/pot-legalization-activist-turns-sights-on-prostitution-comes-out-as-client/.
6. Nelson, Steven. “Pot Legalization Activist Turns Sights on Prostitution, ‘comes out’ as Client.” Washington Examiner , February 4, 2019. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2748991/pot-legalization-activist-turns-sights-on-prostitution-comes-out-as-client/.
7. “About.” Decriminalize Sex Work. Accessed September 9, 2024. https://decriminalizesex.work/about/.
8. Nelson, Steven. “Pot Legalization Activist Turns Sights on Prostitution, ‘comes out’ as Client.” Washington Examiner , February 4, 2019. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2748991/pot-legalization-activist-turns-sights-on-prostitution-comes-out-as-client/.
9. Nelson, Steven. “Pot Legalization Activist Turns Sights on Prostitution, ‘comes out’ as Client.” Washington Examiner , February 4, 2019. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2748991/pot-legalization-activist-turns-sights-on-prostitution-comes-out-as-client/.
10. Nelson, Steven. “Pot Legalization Activist Turns Sights on Prostitution, ‘comes out’ as Client.” Washington Examiner , February 4, 2019. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2748991/pot-legalization-activist-turns-sights-on-prostitution-comes-out-as-client/.
11. Nirappil, Fenit. “Decriminalize Sex Work Withdraws D.C. Ballot Measure after Backlash.” Washington Post, March 4, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/no-dc-ballot-measure-to-decriminalize-sex-work-after-local-activists-object/2020/03/04/4ff36d28-5e4b-11ea-b29b-9db42f7803a7_story.html.
12. Nirappil, Fenit. “Decriminalize Sex Work Withdraws D.C. Ballot Measure after Backlash.” Washington Post, March 4, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/no-dc-ballot-measure-to-decriminalize-sex-work-after-local-activists-object/2020/03/04/4ff36d28-5e4b-11ea-b29b-9db42f7803a7_story.html.
13. Hughes, Donna M. “Guest Opinion: Lobbyists Advocate for Prostitution in Rhode Island.” Cranston Herald, June 6, 2024. https://cranstononline.com/stories/guest-opinion-lobbyists-advocate-for-prostitution-in-rhode-island,253403.
14. Nelson, Steven. “Pot Legalization Activist Turns Sights on Prostitution, ‘comes out’ as Client.” Washington Examiner , February 4, 2019. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2748991/pot-legalization-activist-turns-sights-on-prostitution-comes-out-as-client/.
15. Shugerman, Emily. “Weed Activist with #MeToo Past Is Now Pushing Sex Work Reform-despite Objections.” The Daily Beast, February 4, 2019. https://www.thedailybeast.com/rob-kampia-weed-activist-with-metoo-past-is-now-pushing-sex-work-reform.
16. ^[1] “Decriminalize Sex Work Form 990.” Decriminalize Sex Work. Accessed September 9, 2024. https://decriminalizesex.work/wp-content/uploads/2023-990-DSW-signed.pdf.
17. “Decriminalize Sex Work Form 990.” Decriminalize Sex Work. Accessed September 9, 2024. https://decriminalizesex.work/wp-content/uploads/2023-990-DSW-signed.pdf.