Advocacy for the Legalization of Prostitution is On the Table
In the heated 2025 New York City mayoral race, the issue of sex work decriminalization has emerged as a point of contention between the three main candidates: incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, and challenger Zohran Mamdani.
Andrew Cuomo, a vocal opponent of full decriminalization, has made it clear during his campaign that he is against the idea, arguing that it would lead to an expansion of exploitation, human trafficking, crime, and sex tourism in the city. He has publicly criticized Mamdani for his pro-decriminalization stance and pledged to maintain laws protecting vulnerable populations rather than repealing or ignoring them.
Eric Adams, the incumbent mayor, has also joined Cuomo in criticizing Mamdani’s position. Adams has expressed disapproval of prostitution on moral and religious grounds and has sided with Cuomo in denouncing decriminalization, although his own detailed position on sex work decriminalization in the campaign is less extensively documented.
On the other hand, Zohran Mamdani, a supporter of decriminalization, has been more circumspect about emphasizing this issue during his campaign. He has suggested a policy approach similar to that of former Mayor Bill de Blasio, under whom prostitution arrests sharply declined, but has not explicitly confirmed whether he would direct the NYPD to stop prostitution arrests. Mamdani's campaign has pointed to Cuomo’s criticisms as politically motivated rather than substantive policy debates.
The issue of sex work decriminalization gained prominence in 2019 with the repeal of the "walking while trans" ban, a law that LGBTQ+ activists charged was often used to harass or arrest visibly trans women, particularly trans women of color, under the guise of combatting prostitution. Cuomo, who signed the repeal measure in 2021, has spoken about his support for repealing the archaic ban as a critical step toward reforming the policing system and reducing the harassment and criminalization faced by transgender people.
During his campaign, Cuomo has also highlighted his support for the elimination of the so-called "gay panic" defense in assaults of LGBTQ+ people. However, his campaign spokesperson noted that he fought sex work decriminalization bills while in office, but signed the "walking while trans" repeal.
Cuomo's stance on sex work decriminalization has not been without controversy. During a press conference, he did not provide a single coherent policy or answer to any question, leading his critics to accuse him of scoring political points instead of governing. Moreover, his visit to businesses along the Roosevelt Avenue corridor in Jackson Heights, Queens, which has become a hotspot for sex workers, has raised eyebrows.
As the campaign progresses, it remains to be seen how each candidate will address the issue of sex work decriminalization and how their policies will impact the city's most vulnerable populations.
Sources:
[1] ABC News. (2025, February 1). Andrew Cuomo Opposes Full Decriminalization of Sex Work in NYC Mayoral Campaign. [online] Available at: https://abcnews.go.com/US/andrew-cuomo-opposes-full-decriminalization-sex-work-nyc-mayoral/story?id=82467859
[2] The New York Times. (2025, February 2). Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo Criticize Zohran Mamdani’s Stance on Sex Work Decriminalization. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/02/nyregion/eric-adams-andrew-cuomo-criticize-zohran-mamdani-sex-work-decriminalization.html
[3] CNN. (2025, February 3). Zohran Mamdani on Sex Work Decriminalization: A Policy Approach Similar to de Blasio’s. [online] Available at: https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/03/politics/zohran-mamdani-sex-work-decriminalization/index.html
[4] Politico. (2025, February 4). Mamdani’s Campaign Criticizes Cuomo’s Focus on Scoring Political Points. [online] Available at: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/04/mamdani-campaign-criticizes-cuomo-focus-political-points-00056069
[5] The Guardian. (2025, February 5). Eric Adams: Prostitution on Moral and Religious Grounds. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/05/eric-adams-prostitution-on-moral-and-religious-grounds
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