Warren says she’s open to decriminalizing sex work

2020 hopeful Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said she is open to decriminalizing sex work, according to a statement shared with Dave Weigel of the The Washington Post.

“I’m open to decriminalization. Sex workers, like all workers, deserve autonomy but they are particularly vulnerable to physical and financial abuse and hardship,” Warren said in the statement.{mosads}

“We need to make sure that we don’t undermine legal protections for the most vulnerable, including the millions of individuals who are victims of human trafficking each year.”  

Asked @ewarren‘s campaign if she agrees with @CabanForQueens on decriminalizing sex work. “I’m open to decriminalization,” she says.

Full statement… pic.twitter.com/HbfivoNH7A

— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) June 19, 2019

Warren has previously voted to ban websites used by sex workers to screen clients. She has also introduced legislation that would put pressure on banks to close the accounts of a person suspected of engaging in human trafficking, HuffPost reported. 

Warren joins other 2020 candidates in announcing her support for decriminalization, like Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D). Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) and former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel (D) have also supported decriminalizing sex work, according to Buzzfeed News.