str8nochaser:redupnyc:Pissed off about how condoms are used...

Art by K Funk

str8nochaser:

redupnyc:

Pissed off about how condoms are used as evidence of prostitution in New York?

***If you live in New York State, fill out this form to send the postcards above to your elected representatives.***

Full info about the no condoms as evidence campaign in NY here.

This message brought to you by the Red Umbrella Project, a peer-led org in NYC that amplifies the voices of people in the sex trades through media, storytelling, and advocacy programs.

I mean, this is is just unconscionable and stupid. 

I’m going to call my friends who work at the NYCDHMH (NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene) and ask them if they co-signed this shit

Some history on DOH involvement - in 2010 thy collaborated with the PROS Network to do a study on condoms as evidence in NY, but then they refused to release the study. At PROS, our coalition actually made the decision to do the study over so we could have usable data (more about what happened with the report in this NY Times piece). And last year we were informed that the NY Dept of Health and Mental Hygiene OPPOSES the bill to ban the use of condoms as evidence. Yes, you read that right - the DOH opposes a bill that would protect the health of populations that are vulnerable to HIV infection. The only plausible reason for this is that they feel they cannot go against NYPD Chief Ray Kelly. Despicable.