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Tell the New York City Council: Stand Up for the Right to Carry Condoms!
  1. Signatures
    1,547 out of 2,500
    Petitioning
    1. Health Committee Chairperson (+ 43 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Health Committee Chairperson (Maria Del Carmen Arroyo)
      • Daniel R Garodnick
      • Ydanis Rodriguez
      • Gale A Brewer
      • Oliver Koppell
      • Robert Jackson
      • Larry Seabrook
      • Melissa Mark-Viverito
      • James Vacca
      • Fernando Cabrera
      • Joel Rivera
      • Women's Issues Committee Chairperson (Julissa Ferreras)
      • Helen Diane Foster
      • Women's Issues Committee Member (Elizabeth Crowley)
      • Annabel Palma
      • Women's Issues Committee Member (Charles Barron)
      • Daniel J. Halloran
      • Peter Koo
      • Women's Issues Committee Member (Margaret Chin)
      • Inez E Dickens
      • Peter Vallone Jr
      • Rosie Mendez
      • Mark Weprin
      • James Gennaro
      • Daniel Dromm
      • James Van Bramer
      • Leroy Comrie
      • Karen Koslowitz
      • James Sanders Jr
      • Eric Ulrich
      • Stephen Levin
      • Erik Martin Dilan
      • Mathieu Eugene
      • Lewis A. Fidler
      • Vincent J. Gentile
      • Sara M. González
      • Diana Reyna
      • Darlene Mealy
      • Christine Quinn
      • Ruben Wills
      • Brad Lander
      • James S. Oddo
      • Domenic M. Recchia, Jr
      • Albert Vann
  2. Created By
    Urban Justice Center
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

Nobody should be afraid to practice safe sex. But in New York, possessing condoms has been used as evidence for arrest and prosecution for intent to commit prostitution.

Condoms are regularly confiscated by police, leading to higher risk for pregnancy, HIV, and STD’s among vulnerable populations. Sex workers fear arrest if they carry over a certain number of condoms.

This practice appears particularly ridiculous when you consider that New York City promotes condom use and distributes free condoms as part of public health initiatives.

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.

A bill currently in the state legislature would make it illegal to use condoms as evidence of intent to commit the crime of prostitution. The bill promotes public health by making sure everyone can carry condoms without worrying it could lead to arrest or conviction. Almost 5,000 people have already told New York State legislators to protect the right to carry condoms.

Now, City Council Member Jessica Lappin has introduced a resolution that would call on New York State to pass the No Condoms as Evidence bill.

Sign this petition to tell the New York City Council to pass Lappin's resolution and pressure the state legislature to take action on this vital-saving legislation.

Then, take further action by signing the petition directly to the New York State legislature calling for the passage of this bill.

Photo credit: uberzombie

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

Pass Resolution Supporting No Condoms as Evidence Bill (Res 0710-2011)

Dear City Council Member

Nobody should be afraid to practice safe sex. But in New York, possessing condoms has been used as evidence for arrest and prosecution for intent to commit prostitution.

Condoms are regularly confiscated by police, leading to higher risk for pregnancy, HIV, and STD’s among vulnerable populations. Sex workers fear arrest if they carry over a certain number of condoms.

This practice appears particularly ridiculous when you consider that New York City promotes condom use and distributes free condoms as part of public health initiatives.

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.

A bill currently in the state legislature would make it illegal to use condoms as evidence of intent to commit the crime of prostitution. The bill promotes public health by making sure everyone can carry condoms without worrying it could lead to arrest or conviction.

City Council Member Jessica Lappin has introduced a resolution (Res 0710-2011) that would call on the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign the No Condoms as Evidence bill.

Please vote in favor of Lappin's resolution and pressure the state legislature to take action on this vital life-saving legislation.

Thanks,

[Your name]

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