Louisiana Strip Club Dancers Fear More Crackdowns as ‘Anti-Trafficking’ Law Goes Into Effect
A ban on dancers under 21 raises questions on the growing role of the state’s Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control in policing clubs.
Melissa Gira Grant Dec 21, 2018
Broad Anti-Trafficking Law Faces Its First Constitutional Challenge
Human rights groups, sex worker rights activists, a digital archive and others say they are already facing censorship.
Melissa Gira Grant Jun 28, 2018
The Appeal Podcast Episode 2: The Misplaced Sanctimony of Criminalizing Sex Work
With Melissa Gira Grant, senior staff reporter at The Appeal.
Adam H. Johnson May 31, 2018
FOSTA Backers to Sex Workers: Your Work Can Never Be Safe
On April 11, President Trump signed the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA), legislation that would make it possible to hold the operators of websites criminally and civilly liable if third parties were found to have posted advertisements for prostitution. Days before the legislation was enacted, however, federal authorities seized Backpage.com, essentially locking sex […]
Melissa Gira Grant Apr 24, 2018
Anti-Backpage Law Not Yet Enacted, But the Crackdown on Sex Workers Has Already Begun
On Friday, April 6, the same day that Congress sent FOSTA — the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act — to President Donald Trump for his signature, the Department of Justice seized Backpage.com, the website FOSTA was meant to take down. After weeks of arguments about why this legislation was necessary […]
Melissa Gira Grant Apr 10, 2018
Anti-Online Trafficking Bills Advance in Congress, Despite Opposition from Survivors Themselves
This week, the Senate is expected to vote on a bill that could shutter websites that host sex-for-sale ads. The bill, known as SESTA — the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act — has been described by its supporters as a way to provide justice to victims of human trafficking by making it easier for them to file civil suits against the sites. However, a growing coalition of survivors of trafficking, sex workers, and women’s and LGBT rights groups oppose SESTA, saying it will endanger those it is meant to help.
Melissa Gira Grant Mar 14, 2018
Proposed Federal Trafficking Legislation Has Surprising Opponents: Advocates Who Work With Trafficking Victims
Congress is marking “National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month” by considering major anti-sex trafficking legislation in both houses. The bills use different approaches but would both target websites, such as Backpage, where sexual services are advertised. Yet neither bill will result in justice for victims of human trafficking, anti-trafficking advocates and service providers told The […]
Melissa Gira Grant Jan 26, 2018