The topic of sex work decriminalization resurfaced in the mayoral race on May 12 when Ray McGuire responded to Andrew Yang’s comments about the issue by slamming him for supporting full decriminalization — even though it is not clear that Yang actually supports comprehensive decriminalization.
As the dramatic scene unfolded on May 12, the Yang campaign then fired back, accusing McGuire of wanting to put sex workers behind bars.
During Freedom Agenda’s forum on closing Rikers Island, Yang expressed his commitment “to decriminalizing sex crimes,” though he subsequently clarified in a tweet that, as mayor, he would “decriminalize sex work” — despite the fact that the state, not the mayor, controls sex work decriminalization laws.
