decriminalize sex work

What decriminalize sex work does

Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW) is a U.S.-based national 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization founded on June 22, 2018, with an affiliated 501(c)(4) lobbying arm, the Campaign to Decriminalize Sex Work (CDSW), established December 21, 2018. The organization's mission is to end the prohibition of consensual adult prostitution in the United States through a state-by-state legislative strategy, supported by public education, policy research, and direct lobbying. DSW operates a small distributed staff of 11 named members across multiple states, with a mailing address in Austin, Texas.

DSW's core products are educational and advocacy resources: meticulously researched briefing papers with accompanying short videos (15+ topics including criminal justice, human trafficking, public health, and the Nordic/Equality Model); a comprehensive state-by-state prostitution laws database covering all 50 states and D.C.; legislative fact sheets; an online letter-writing tool offering 11 pre-written templates for contacting state legislators; a monthly national e-newsletter distributed via SalsaLabs; a curated podcasts page including The Oldest Profession Podcast; and a grants program awarding up to $15,000 to support decriminalization efforts at local, state, and federal levels. Its technology infrastructure is digital-first and modest in scope, centered on a WordPress website, email newsletter platform, and social media channels (Instagram @decrimsexwork, Facebook, Twitter/X).

DSW generates revenue exclusively through donations to its two affiliated entities — tax-deductible contributions to the 501(c)(3) for education and research, and non-deductible contributions to the 501(c)(4) for direct lobbying — plus grant funding inflows. It does not charge for any of its services or resources. The organization engages allied organizations including ACLU, Amnesty International, WHO, UNAIDS, Freedom Network USA, and Human Rights Campaign as endorsing partners, and has participated as amicus curiae in federal litigation challenging SESTA/FOSTA. Recent policy wins include a New York law enacted December 2025 protecting trafficking survivors and sex workers from prosecution, and active 2026 legislative campaigns in Rhode Island and Colorado.

Name

decriminalize sex work

Legal name

Decriminalize Sex Work

Website

https://decriminalizesex.work

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Decriminalize Sex Work is a U.S. national 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2018, that pursues state-by-state legislative advocacy to end the prohibition of consensual adult prostitution. It produces policy research, briefing papers, and advocacy tools, and operates a 501(c)(4) lobbying affiliate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAD)

Keywords

• Policy advocacy organization
• Sex work decriminalization
• Legislative lobbying services
• Nonprofit advocacy nonprofit
• Public health policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tax-Deductible Donations to DSW (501(c)(3)): Donations to Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW), the 501(c)(3) educational arm of the organization, are tax-deductible. DSW focuses on public education, policy research, and outreach.
2. Lobbying Donations to CDSW (501(c)(4)): Donations to the Campaign to Decriminalize Sex Work (CDSW), the 501(c)(4) lobbying branch, are not tax-deductible but support direct state-level legislative lobbying activities.
3. Grant Funding: DSW operates a grants program that awards up to $15,000 to support efforts measurably contributing to the decriminalization of prostitution at the local, state, and/or federal levels in the United States. Grant awards typically span six to 12 months and are issued in monthly or quarterly increments.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Decriminalize Sex Work is a national nonprofit advocacy organization that pursues a state-by-state legislative strategy to end the criminalization of consensual adult prostitution in the United States. The organization produces and distributes educational resources (briefing papers, videos, fact sheets, podcasts), maintains a state-by-state prostitution laws database, operates an online letter-writing advocacy tool for constituents to contact legislators, publishes a monthly e-newsletter, and runs a grants program awarding up to $15,000 to support grassroots decriminalization efforts.

Product overview

Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW) is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit organization pursuing a state-by-state strategy to end the prohibition of consensual adult prostitution in the United States. The organization operates two branches: DSW (educational arm) and CDSW (Campaign to Decriminalize Sex Work, 501(c)(4) lobbying arm). Their offerings include educational resources such as meticulously researched briefing papers with accompanying videos, a comprehensive state-by-state prostitution laws database, legislative fact sheets, and grant funding of up to $15,000 for decriminalization efforts. The organization also provides advocacy tools including a letter-writing platform for contacting state legislators, a monthly e-newsletter, and curated podcast content discussing sex work decriminalization issues.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Briefing Papers Meticulously researched briefing papers with accompanying short videos explaining reasons to decriminalize consensual adult prostitution, covering topics including criminal justice policy, human trafficking, public health, the Equality Model, immigration, race and stereotyping, disability, and other issues. Targeted at legislators and the general public.
• Legislative Fact Sheets Fact sheets covering specific legislative topics including ending publication of mugshots, patients' rights, study commissions, police sexual violence laws, and safe reporting laws. Used by advocates and legislators.
• State-by-State Prostitution Laws Database Interactive map and detailed explanations of prostitution laws for all 50 states and Washington D.C., including specific regulations, penalties, and related statutes. Used by advocates, journalists, and legislators to track the legal landscape.
• Decriminalization Grants Program Grants program awarding up to $15,000 to support efforts measurably contributing to decriminalization of prostitution at local, state, and/or federal levels in the United States. Grant awards typically span 6–12 months and are issued in monthly or quarterly increments. Targeted at grassroots advocacy organizations.
• Take Action Letter-Writing Tool Online tool allowing supporters to select from 11 pre-written sample letter templates and send them directly to their state legislators on topics including decriminalization, SESTA/FOSTA repeal, human trafficking, public health, and racial justice. Targeted at constituents and supporters.
• Monthly E-Newsletter Monthly national e-newsletter highlighting developments in efforts to end prohibition of prostitution and improve policies related to sex work, with additional state-specific legislative updates for subscribers in New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Targeted at subscribers and supporters.
• Decriminalize Sex Work Podcasts Collection of podcast series and episodes — including original series such as The Oldest Profession Podcast and guest appearances by DSW staff on external podcasts — discussing issues related to decriminalization of consensual adult sex work. Targeted at the general listening public.
• Campaign to Decriminalize Sex Work (CDSW) 501(c)(4) lobbying organization focusing resources on lobbying state legislatures to change prostitution laws, operating collaboratively with DSW. Accepts non-tax-deductible donations. Targeted at state legislators and lobbying donors.

Quantifiable outcome

• World Health Organization modeling shows a 46% reduction in HIV/AIDS rates if sex work is decriminalized
• +5 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and flagship.

• Freedom Network USAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2026Freedom Network USA is a key ally in DSW's state-by-state decriminalization strategy. The two organizations co-hosted a policy briefing in Burlington, Vermont. FNUSA's position paper on decriminalization aligns with DSW's mission, stating that decriminalizing sex work is a necessary pre-condition to decreasing abuse and exploitation within the sex trades, including labor and sex trafficking.
• Rhode Island Legislative CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023A 13-member legislative commission composed of public defenders, law enforcement, civil liberties advocates, and sex workers with lived experience — including DSW's Henri Binx — recommended decriminalizing consensual sex work in Rhode Island in 2023. This commission's work led to current decriminalization bills in the Rhode Island General Assembly.
• SAFE SEX Workers Study Act (Congressional Bill)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 December 2019Representatives Ro Khanna and Barbara Lee, and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden, introduced the SAFE SEX Workers Study Act in Congress on December 17, 2019, to examine the effects of SESTA/FOSTA. DSW supported this bill calling for NIH to establish empirical data on the risks sex workers face. This represents DSW's engagement with federal legislative efforts.
• The Ishtar CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ishtar Collective is a sex worker-led labor rights organization that advocates for decriminalization and supports survivors of human trafficking. Henri Bynx, DSW's Chief Advocacy Coordinator, is a co-founder of The Ishtar Collective. The organizations work together on advocacy and lobbying efforts.
• Sharmus Outlaw Advocacy and Rights (SOAR) InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCrystal DeBoise, DSW's Director of Strategic Partnerships, is the co-founder and co-director of SOAR. Melissa Sontag Broudo, DSW's Legal Director, is also the co-founder and co-director of SOAR. SOAR focuses on legislative policy and advocacy changes for sex workers and related communities in New York.
• Amnesty InternationalflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmnesty International endorses the decriminalization of consensual sex work and recommends decriminalization of all laws that prohibit associated activities including buying, solicitation, and general organization of sex work. Their support is cited prominently on DSW's website alongside ACLU, Freedom Network USA, Human Rights Campaign, UNAIDS, and World Health Organization.
• World Health OrganizationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe World Health Organization has modeled a 46% reduction in HIV/AIDS rates if sex work is decriminalized and encourages countries to support the well-being of sex workers. WHO's endorsement is prominently displayed on DSW's website as evidence supporting the decriminalization case.
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ACLU supports the decriminalization of prostitution and opposes state regulation of prostitution, condemning the use of vagrancy or loitering laws to harass and arrest those engaged in solicitation. ACLU's policy is prominently featured on DSW's website as a major endorsing organization.
• Human Rights CampaignmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Human Rights Campaign came out in support of decriminalization legislation in Washington D.C., stating that criminalization of sex work exacerbates violence targeting the transgender community, particularly transgender women of color.
• UNAIDSmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNAIDS urged world leaders to decriminalize sex work in a May 2020 statement about COVID-19 in prisons, citing the importance of decriminalization for the health and safety of sex workers.
• Woodhull Freedom FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWoodhull Freedom Foundation is a co-plaintiff in the federal lawsuit (Woodhull Freedom Foundation et al. v. USA) challenging the constitutionality of SESTA/FOSTA. DSW submitted amicus briefs in support of this lawsuit and participated in related litigation efforts.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sex Workers Project of the Urban Justice Center: Founded in 2001 as the US's first legal aid organization for sex workers; provides direct legal services and policy advocacy for sex workers' rights. Crystal DeBoise directed SWP for eight years before joining DSW, making it an organizational predecessor and direct peer in sex worker decriminalization advocacy.
• Woodhull Freedom Foundation: Sexual freedom and sex worker rights advocacy organization; co-plaintiff in Woodhull Freedom Foundation et al. v. USA challenging SESTA/FOSTA. DSW filed amicus briefs supporting Woodhull's litigation. Operates in the same sex worker rights and decriminalization policy space.
• Freedom Network USA: Coalition of anti-trafficking survivor-led organizations that explicitly endorses full decriminalization of sex work. Co-hosted DSW's Burlington, Vermont policy briefing in 2026 and is a flagship advocacy ally working the same legislative agenda.
• St. James Infirmary: Peer-based occupational health and safety organization founded by and for sex workers. Co-signatory on DSW's2019 amicus brief. Operates complementary service and advocacy functions in the same sex worker rights movement.
• Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP): International network of sex worker-led organizations advocating for decriminalization and sex worker rights globally. Operates the same advocacy mission as DSW but at global rather than US-state level, providing an international peer and resource partner.
• Desiree Alliance: US-based sex worker advocacy coalition formed to oppose anti-prostitution laws. Operates in the same sex worker decriminalization advocacy space and shares the political goal of full decriminalization rather than end-demand/Nordic Model frameworks.
• Sharmus Outlaw Advocacy and Rights (SOAR) Institute: New York-based sex worker policy and advocacy organization co-founded by DSW's Crystal DeBoise and Melissa Sontag Broudo. Operates as a state-level peer and affiliated organization within the DSW network.

Broad incumbents

• Amnesty International: Global human rights organization whose2015 policy adopted the decriminalization of consensual sex work. Endorsement is featured on DSW's website. Operates at vastly greater scale as a broad human rights incumbent with overlapping policy positions.
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): Major US civil liberties organization that supports decriminalization of prostitution and opposes loitering/vagrancy laws used against sex workers. Its policy is cited by DSW as a flagship endorsement and represents the broader civil liberties establishment backing the same cause.

Regional players

• COYOTE Rhode Island: Rhode Island chapter of Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics, a sex worker rights organization. Participates in the same Rhode Island legislative process where DSW's Henri Bynx served on the state commission; a local-level peer in DSW's most active state campaign.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/decrimsexwork
• Xx.com/decrimsexwork
• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Factions.salsalabs.org%2F04boldsignupcopy1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/decriminalize-sex-work

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about decriminalize sex work