Decriminalization in Rhode Island

Decriminalization in Rhode Island

Author: Old Pros December 2, 2025 Duration: 53:03

For decades, Rhode Island effectively decriminalized indoor, consensual sex work—and the sky didn't fall. It got safer. Kaytlin traces the legal fight, the raids, and the politics, then digs into new evidence: a ~40% drop in gonorrhea among women and ~30% fewer reported rapes during the decrim window. With voices from attorney Michael Kiselica, ACLU's Steven Brown, COYOTE RI's Bella Robinson, and economist Manisha Shah, this episode shows what happens when you stop arresting adults for consensual sex.

Guests:

  • Michael Kiselica (attorney) on litigating "public" vs. private and the 2003 decision.

  • Steven Brown (ACLU RI) on the 1976 COYOTE suit and 1980 revisions.

  • Bella Robinson (COYOTE RI) on lived experience, raids, and organizing.

  • Prof. Manisha Shah (UCLA Luskin) on the natural experiment and causal impacts.

  • Prof. Aya Gruber (USC Gould) on panic, racism, and "neo-abolitionist" coalitions.

Key findings discussed: ~40% decrease in gonorrhea; ~30% decrease in reported rapes during RI's decrim period.

Policy context: 2009 recriminalization + punitive add-ons (HIV testing mandates, special fines); recent partial rollbacks and limited immunity reforms.

Big idea: Decriminalization increases negotiating power, enables cooperation with police, and reduces harm. "End-demand" shifts risk onto workers.


History is often told through the lens of the powerful, but what about those who operated in the shadows? The Oldest Profession Podcast turns the spotlight on the figures who shaped culture from the margins. Hosted by Kaytlin Bailey-a stand-up comic, advocate, and self-described notorious old pro-this series digs into the lives of specific sex workers from the past, placing them firmly within the context of their era. You’ll hear about courtesans who influenced politics, brothel owners who built empires, and street-based workers who fought back against oppression, all while drawing clear lines to the modern movement for rights and dignity. It’s a blend of rigorous historical research and the kind of candid, often humorous perspective that only someone with Bailey’s unique background can provide. Created in partnership with the team at Old Pros, this podcast doesn't just recount anecdotes; it argues that understanding these "old pros" is essential to understanding our collective story. The tone is engaging and accessible, merging the depth of a history lesson with the relatable punch of comedy. For anyone curious about the untold chapters of social history, this show offers a compelling, humanizing, and surprisingly funny journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Oldest Profession Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Remembering Margo St. James: Annie Sprinkle and Beth Stephens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:09
To honor the recent death of the trailblazing sex worker organzier Margo St James, this month The Oldest Professional Podcast will pay tribute to the OG old pros who have spent their life fighting for our rights, our dig…
Old Pro Panel: #OldProProject City Coordinators [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:27
Dr. Charlene Fletcher and Kaytlin Bailey host a discussion with the City Coordinators involved in #OldProProject 2021: Savannah Sly, TS Candii, Valentine, Danyell Davis, Mx. Pucks A'Plenty, and Joaquin Remora.
#OldProProject2021 San Francisco, CA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:16
We pass the mic to the team behind the #OldProProject in San Francisco, CA to discusses their project and its significance. The #OldProProject is a national sex worker led campaign that allows sex workers across the coun…
#OldProProject2021 New York, NY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:25
We pass the mic to the team behind the #OldProProject in New York, NY to discusses their project and its significance. The #OldProProject is a national sex worker led campaign that allows sex workers across the country t…
#OldProProject2021 New Orleans, LA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:04
We pass the mic to the team behind the #OldProProject in New Orleans, LA to discusses their project and its significance. The #OldProProject is a national sex worker led campaign that allows sex workers across the countr…
#OldProProject2021 Seattle, WA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:02
We pass the mic to the team behind the #OldProProject in Seattle, WA to discusses their project and its significance. The #OldProProject is a national sex worker led campaign that allows sex workers across the country to…
#OldProProject2021 Portland, OR [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:03
We pass the mic to the team behind the #OldProProject in Portland, OR to discusses their project and its significance. The #OldProProject is a national sex worker led campaign that allows sex workers across the country t…
Why January 25th Matters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:30
On Jan 25, 1917, 300 sex workers in San Francisco marched to protest the imminent closure of their brothels. The Old Pro Project is an annual event that builds towards this anniversary, and this episodes takes a deep div…
Old Pro Panel: Lilith [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:16
Dr. Charlene Fletcher hosts a panel discussion about the divine feminine, Lilith, with Dr. Lauren Mancia (medievalist at Brooklyn College) and Verity Lightman (writer, visual artists, and researcher at Liminal Praxis).