In my latest Whore Next Door column, I went all the way to New Hampshire to speak with NH State Representative Elizabeth Edwards, the primary sponsor of House Bill 1614:
She said that H.B. 1614 was inspired by last year’s game-changing Amnesty International recommendation to decriminalize prostitution worldwide. Edwards wasted no time drafting a bill so idealistic it was almost sure to fail.
“We have to start with education,” she explained, “which is why I didn’t want to compromise on the first iteration of the bill.”
After compelling testimonies from sex worker advocates, H.B. 1614 received more than double the yes votes that had been projected, winning a recommendation of “refer for interim study” — not quite a no, but more of a “let me get back to you on that.”
“But I learned it’s not over until the House Clerk’s office receives the paperwork,” she said, one of the many hard lessons she’s had to learn in this first term.
