Fighting against the return of Rhode Island's "dirty little secret" | Opinion
Joanne Giannini is a freelance writer and a former state representative from Providence, 1994-2011.
We can fight many things in life. We as a society and human race have cured diseases, fought wars, put men on the moon and have made strides in all areas of human life. We all fight the good fight to protect and preserve our family and lives.
But the good fight continues when I read the bills introduced in the General Assembly by Sen. Tiara Mack and Rep. Edith Ajello to decriminalize prostitution and legalize its many activities. The bills that were introduced in both the House and Senate chambers would promote sex trafficking, prostitution and human trafficking.
Before October 2009, prostitution indoors was legal in Rhode Island and the state was considered as a safe haven for sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.
In 2006, I filed the state's first bill to ban human trafficking. Massage parlors were popping up all over Providence and stories were being reported in the news. The living conditions of the mostly young Asian girls working in the parlors were deplorable. As I have said so many times before, they were living like pets in a cage, living in one room with mattresses on the floor and cooking on sterno. Many were brought here from other countries and promised a better life. What they didn't bargain for was a life of sexual exploitation, abuse, disease and, possibly, death.
More: Is it time to legalize prostitution in RI? The arguments for and against
There were about 30 illegal brothels posing as massage parlors throughout the state. Young girls were being trafficked here from neighboring states for sex. It was Rhode Island's dirty little secret.
It took years to pass legislation to ban human trafficking for sex and forced labor, prostitution, and minors working in the adult entertainment industry. It wasn't a popular issue and the many forces making big money weren't happy at all. And now still they are trying to return to the dark days when Rhode Island was the only state other than Nevada to have legal indoor prostitution.
Finally, in October of 2009, in a special House session, we passed three important bills to become law:
A bill to ban indoor prostitution in Rhode Island.
An amendment to the 2008 human trafficking bill, which not only banned human trafficking for sexual exploitation but banned trafficking for forced labor. It also created a human trafficking task force which was made up of a diverse group of health specialists, law enforcement agencies, human service agencies and various women's groups to provide services to victims of trafficking.
A bill to ban minors from working in the adult entertainment industry after young teens were found working in strip clubs.
Now, numerous bills have been filed in both the House and Senate chambers which would return Rhode Island's dirty little secret.
The bills would fully decriminalize the sex trade in Rhode Island, including acts of pimping, purchasing sex, and brothels. The move not only threatens the well-being of vulnerable women and children throughout the state, but it will also increase sex trafficking throughout the region.
Specifically, the bills:
Decriminalize pimping.
Decriminalize sex buying.
Decriminalize brothels.
Position Rhode Island as a regional sex tourism destination once again.
More: Political Scene: From sex workers to shoreline access, there's a legislative study
It's 2024, and we are still fighting the good fight to stop sexual predators from exploiting young women, children and young men. We are still hearing the voices from victims who cried for help and tell their heart-wrenching stories of sexual abuse, drugs and sickness.
It saddens me that the bills' supporters don't hear the victims' voices, but only the voices of those who will make money on the backs of the victims if these bills are passed.
I continue to add my voice to stop the passage of this legislation, and I hope you will do the same. Please call your state representative and tell them to vote no on these bills.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Before October 2009, prostitution indoors was legal in RI and the state was considered as a safe haven for sex trafficking.
