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Politics

Sex work legalization plans stall as consensus in the industry remains elusive

Maxine Doogan, a sex worker

Maxine Doogan, who identifies as a prostitute, as seen in the Castro District in San Francisco on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Despite its somewhat cleaner reputation nowadays, San Francisco was built on vice. Gambling halls, saloons and brothels ruled The City’s streets.

But as times have changed, one of The City’s and the world’s oldest professions — prostitution — has come under increasing scrutiny, and lawmakers are still scratching their heads trying to work out a solution.

CappStreet_Barricades_14Mar2023-204.JPG

San Francisco installed concrete barriers on Capp Street in the Mission district earlier this year in an attempt to disrupt prostitution.

Starchild, a sex worker

Starchild, a sex worker as seen in San Francisco on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. 

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Bacchus, a sex worker client

Bacchus, a sex worker client as seen on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Elizabeth Quiroz, a San Francisco Capp Street sex traffic victim survivor

Elizabeth Quiroz, a San Francisco Capp Street sex traffic victim survivor, as seen in Santa Rosa on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. She now has a master's degree in Social Justice and Human Rights.