The Oregon Sex Workers Committee advocates for the decriminalization of prostitution and related activities. It organizes events that promote this agenda and claims to represent the interests of those who have been variously exploited by capitalism, harassed by police, or charged criminally for engaging in presently illegal sexual activities. ¹

Background

In Oregon, as in most other states, prostitution is prohibited. In 2021, State Representative Rob Nosse (D-Portland) introduced House Bill 3088, which would have decriminalized prostitution. ² The New York-based Sex Workers Project, which is affiliated with the Urban Justice Center, supported the House Bill 3088. ³ The Oregon Sex Workers Committee rallied in support of this legislation.

The Oregon Sex Workers Committee was incorporated in Oregon in January 2022. ⁴ It is identified as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit but has not shared its tax forms as of April 2023.

Activities

Two events were held by the Committee, one in July 2021 and one in April 2022; the Committee referred to these as “Sex Work Human Rights Commission” hearings. ^{5 6} The bill did not advance, and an effort to decriminalize prostitution in Oregon did not qualify for the 2022 ballot. ⁷

Funding

Efforts to promote legalizing prostitution in Oregon have been funded by Aaron Boonshoft, the heir to a business fortune. Boonshoft has reportedly spent more than $400,000 at Nevada brothels. ⁸ Boonshoft donated $1.2 million to the Sex Workers Project in 2020 ⁹ and was the lead petitioner in the failed effort to legalize prostitution by ballot initiative in 2022. ¹⁰ Boonshoft also donated $275,000 to left-wing challengers to two county prosecutors in Oregon. ¹¹

The Woodhull Freedom Foundation also funds and promotes the Oregon Sex Workers Committee ¹² and is identified by the Committee as a “fiscal sponsor.” ¹³ The Oregon chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union also supports the Oregon Sex Workers Committee. ¹⁴

1. Notarianni, John. “Oregon Sex Workers Advocate for Decriminalization, in Their Own Words.” Oregon Public Broadcasting. Oregon Public Broadcasting, July 19, 2021. https://www.opb.org/article/2021/07/19/oregon-paid-sex-legalization-advocacy-hearing/.
2. ^[1] Sparling, Zane. “Oregon Activists, Lawmakers Push to Decriminalize Sex Work.” KOIN 6 News. Nextar Media Group, Inc., June 4, 2021. https://www.koin.com/news/oregon/oregon-activists-lawmakers-push-to-decriminalize-sex-work/.
3. Shepard, Susan Elizabeth. “An East Coast Advocacy Group Is Using Oregon as a Testing Ground for Decriminalizing Sex Work.” Willamette Week. Willamette Week, February 10, 2021. https://www.wweek.com/news/2021/02/10/an-east-coast-advocacy-group-is-using-oregon-as-a-testing-ground-for-decriminalizing-sex-work/.
4. Business Entity Filing Records, Oregon Records Management Solution §. Accessed April 30, 2023. http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/8516584.
5. “Sex Worker Human Rights Commission Formed in OR.” Decriminalize Sex Work. Decriminalize Sex Work/Campaign to Decriminalize Sex Work, July 15, 2021. https://decriminalizesex.work/sex-worker-human-rights-commission-formed-in-or/.
6. “Oregon Sex Workers Committee’s Human Rights Commission.” Decriminalize Sex Work. Decriminalize Sex Work/Campaign to Decriminalize Sex Work, April 11, 2022. https://decriminalizesex.work/oregon-sex-workers-committees-human-rights-commission/
7. Shumway, Julia. “Proposal to Decriminalize Sex Work Won’t Appear on Oregon Ballots.” Oregon Capital Chronicle. Oregon Capital Chronicle, May 6, 2022. https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2022/05/06/proposal-to-decriminalize-sex-work-wont-appear-on-oregon-ballots/.
8. Goodman, Alana. “After Spending $400K at Nevada Brothels, Mysterious Dem Donor Drops Millions To Legalize Prostitution at Home.” The Washington Free Beacon. The Washington Free Beacon, May 25, 2022. https://freebeacon.com/democrats/after-spending-400k-at-nevada-brothels-mysterious-dem-donor-drops-millions-to-legalize-prostitution-at-home/.
9. Shepard, Susan Elizabeth. “An East Coast Advocacy Group Is Using Oregon as a Testing Ground for Decriminalizing Sex Work.” Willamette Week. Willamette Week, February 10, 2021. https://www.wweek.com/news/2021/02/10/an-east-coast-advocacy-group-is-using-oregon-as-a-testing-ground-for-decriminalizing-sex-work/.
10. ^[1] Mesh, Aaron. “Backers Withdraw Ballot Initiative to Decriminalize Sex Work.” Willamette Week. Willamette Week, May 5, 2022. https://www.wweek.com/news/state/2022/05/05/backers-withdraw-ballot-initiative-to-decriminalize-sex-work/.
11. Wilson, Conrad. “Progressive Donor Puts Big Money into Oregon’s Two Contested Races for District Attorney.” Oregon Public Broadcasting. Oregon Public Broadcasting, May 3, 2022. https://www.opb.org/article/2022/05/03/oregon-election-2022-primary-elections-donors-washington-marion-county-district-attorney-races-funding/.
12. “Oregon Sex Workers Commission.” Woodhull’s Human Rights Commissions. Woodhull Freedom Foundation. Accessed April 30, 2023. https://www.woodhullfoundation.org/human-rights-commissions/oregon-sex-workers/
13. Oregon Sex Workers Committee. Oregon Sex Worker Committee. Accessed April 30, 2023. https://www.oregonswc.org/.
14. “How Did OSWC Begin?” Oregon Sex Workers Committee. Oregon Sex Workers Committee. Accessed April 30, 2023. http://oregonswc.org/#/about.