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Tell New York State Legislators: Condoms Aren't a Crime!
  1. Signatures
    8,036 out of 10,000
    Petitioning
    1. State Sen. Andrew Lanza (+ 46 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • State Sen. Andrew Lanza (NY-024)
      • State Sen. John Flanagan (NY-002)
      • State Sen. Michael Gianaris (NY-012)
      • State Rep. James Brennan (NY-044)
      • State Rep. Joseph Lentol (NY-050)
      • State Sen. Adriano Espaillat (NY-031)
      • State Sen. Charles Fuschillo (NY-008)
      • State Sen. Bill Perkins (NY-030)
      • State Sen. Stephen Saland (NY-041)
      • State Sen. John DeFrancisco (NY-050)
      • State Sen. Michael Nozzolio (NY-054)
      • State Rep. Philip Boyle (NY-008)
      • State Rep. Vivian Cook (NY-032)
      • State Sen. Thomas O'Mara (NY-053)
      • State Sen. Daniel Squadron (NY-025)
      • State Rep. Philip Boyle (NY-008)
      • State Rep. Steven Cymbrowitz (NY-045)
      • State Rep. Joe Giglio (NY-149)
      • State Rep. Alfred Graf (NY-005)
      • State Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (NY-057)
      • State Rep. Tony Jordan (NY-112)
      • State Rep. Rory Lancman (NY-025)
      • State Rep. Charles Lavine (NY-013)
      • State Rep. Michael Montesano (NY-015)
      • State Rep. Daniel O'Donnell (NY-069)
      • State Rep. N. Nick Perry (NY-058)
      • State Rep. J. Gary Pretlow (NY-087)
      • State Rep. Edward Ra (NY-021)
      • State Rep. Robin Schimminger (NY-140)
      • State Rep. Michele Titus (NY-031)
      • State Rep. Louis Tobacco (NY-062)
      • State Rep. Helene Weinstein (NY-041)
      • State Rep. Keith Wright (NY-070)
      • State Rep. Kenneth Zebrowski (NY-094)
      • State Sen. John Bonacic (NY-042)
      • State Sen. Eric Adams (NY-020)
      • State Sen. Neil Breslin (NY-046)
      • State Sen. Martin Dilan (NY-017)
      • State Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson (NY-036)
      • State Sen. Liz Krueger (NY-026)
      • State Sen. Kenneth LaValle (NY-001)
      • State Sen. Elizabeth Little (NY-045)
      • State Sen. Thomas O'Mara (NY-053)
      • State Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer (NY-061)
      • State Sen. Jose Serrano (NY-028)
      • State Sen. Toby Stavisky (NY-016)
      • State Sen. Lee Zeldin (NY-003)
  2. Created By
    Urban Justice Center
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

Although condoms themselves aren’t illegal, in New York possessing condoms has been used as evidence contributing to arrest and prosecution for intent to commit prostitution.

The chilling effect is that sex workers are being discouraged from practicing safe sex. Sex workers and others are less likely to use condoms if they know that the police might consider possessing them evidence of intent to commit a crime. 

New York City has serious problems with HIV/AIDS and should be taking every possible step to encourage safe sex. Stopping the spread of disease, especially HIV/AIDS, should be our top priority, and this backwards policy puts all of us at risk.

Over 27,000 people already sent letters to the NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg asking him  to tell police forces to stop considering condoms as evidence of intent to commit any crime and by making public statements declaring that no one should be afraid to practice safe sex in their city.

Now, a bill in the state legislature would make it illegal to use condoms as evidence of intent to commit the crime of prostitution.

Tell the New York Codes Committees to vote YES on this vital, life-saving piece of legislation.

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

Vote YES to Stop Condoms from Being Used as Evidence of Prostitution

Dear State Legislator,

I urge you to vote YES on Assembly Bill A1008/Senate Bill S323. This bill would stop police and prosecutors from using possession of condoms as evidence that people intend to engage in prostitution. We should be encouraging as many people as possible to practice safer sex and this policy is likely to have the opposite effect. People -- sex workers and others -- are less likely to use condoms if they know that the police might consider possessing them evidence of intent to commit a crime.

Stopping the spread of disease, especially HIV/AIDS, should be our top priority, and this backwards policy puts all of us at risk.

No one should have to expose themselves to such risks because they are afraid carrying condoms could be used against them as evidence of prostitution – such fear can only lead to a public health crisis. Please vote YES on Assembly Bill A1008/Senate Bill S323

[Your name]

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