A YouTube video from March 2019, which shows Vice President Kamala Harris calling for the decriminalization of prostitution, is making the rounds on social media.
The video, hosted by Pastor James Pittman, denounces Harris for statements she made during a February 2019 interview with online magazine The Root, where she discussed her stance on decriminalizing sex work.
Harris, who was running for the Democratic Party's nomination for the 2020 election at the time, was asked if she believes sex work should be decriminalized, to which she replied, "I think so, I do."
"There is an ecosystem around that that includes crimes that harm people, and for those issues, I do not believe that anybody who hurts another human being or profits off their exploitation should be free of criminal prosecution," she continued. "But when you're talking about consenting adults, yes [it should be legal]. We shouldn’t consider that you can criminalize consensual behavior, as long as no one is being harmed."
In the interview, Harris also clarified her perspective on the difference between decriminalization and legalization, noting that decriminalization involves reducing criminal penalties rather than removing all legal prohibitions. (Related: Kamala Harris working with Tim Walz to create federal Department of GROCERIES – food price controls and empty shelves won’t be far behind.)
However, Pittman argued that her stance effectively equates to legalizing prostitution.
"If you want to decriminalize something and remove all penalties … that in essence – you may call it decriminalization – that is the legalization of prostitution," Pittman said. "You can call it whatever you want, if it is not going to come with a ticket or jail time or any prosecution, that's called making it legal in the real world." He went further, questioning Harris' "moral clarity" and attacking her stance on social media.
Pittman doubled down on his criticism in another YouTube video, claiming that, in practical terms, decriminalization is indistinguishable from legalization. "If you remove something from criminal prosecution, you don't even get a ticket for it, then that act is equal in the eyes of the law to me getting in my car and driving to the store and back."
Harris has been shifting from one stance to another since her time as San Francisco's district attorney
Harris' 2019 comments marked a significant departure from her earlier actions and statements.
In 2008, as district attorney of San Francisco, Harris was a staunch opponent of Proposition K, a ballot measure that sought to decriminalize prostitution in the city. She called the proposal "completely ridiculous" and argued that it would invite "pimps and prostitutes" to flood San Francisco. At the time, Harris contended that decriminalization would expose sex workers to increased risks, such as drugs, guns and sexual crimes.
As California's Attorney General, Harris continued to take a hardline stance on platforms that facilitated sex work. She played a key role in the effort to take down websites that facilitate the sale of sex as a means of combating child trafficking. As a member of the United States Senate, in 2017 and 2018 Harris supported anti-sex trafficking legislation to protect victims of trafficking online.
All this apparent shift in stance has been met with skepticism. Critics argue that her previous actions contradict her recent comments, so many remain cautious about her sincerity on the issue. As she appears to advocate for partial decriminalization, the specifics of her approach remain undefined, contributing to a mixed perception of her position on sex work.
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