Illinois lawmakers introduce bill to decriminalize prostitution

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois lawmakers have introduced a bill that would decriminalize prostitution and create a sex worker’s bill of rights.

State Sen. Celina Villanueva (D-12th Dist.) and State Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) introduced the legislation on Monday, backed by Reyna Ortiz, a former prostitute, Equality Illinois board member, and chair of the Sex Worker Advisory Group (SWAG)

“For 20 years, I worked as a sex worker here in the city of Chicago,” Ortiz said at a news conference Monday“And for over 20 years, I lived under the fear and threat of violence. By passing this legislation, we will make Illinois a safer place for everyone, especially the most vulnerable in our communities.”

The bill would remove criminal penalties for adults engaged in consensual paid sex, and remove arrest and conviction records for prostitutes.

It would also create a sex workers’ bill of rights.

“It’s really just making sure that when we’re making these exchanges, that we’re not so worried about the policing of our bodies, and also, you know, getting your door kicked in when you’re engaging in sex work,” Ortiz said. “People don’t really understand that it really is just two adults coming to an agreement. It’s transactional.”

Advocates for the legislation said it would allow sex workers to report crimes without fear of consequences.

“The threat of arrest and prosecution keeps sex workers unsafe and in the shadows, and this threat must be eliminated,” said Brian Johnson, the CEO of Equality Illinois. “This law is essential now more than ever.”

Equality Illinois describes itself as the state’s oldest and largest advocacy group for LGBTQ residents. The group quoted Human Rights Campaign statistics that say LGBTQ prostitutes are disproportionately victims of homicide.

In May of 2024, when Equality Illinois first urged lawmakers to consider decriminalizing sex work, Rep. John Cabello (R-Rockford) pushed back, telling the Center Square, “It’s the drugs, the lifestyle and the pimps [that makes prostitution dangerous]. It has nothing to do with the law on the books. If that’s the case, then why aren’t there other people getting beat up for all of the other laws that are on the books? It means as though certain people in this state want to make it where we don’t have any penalty for anything you do wrong.”

Guzzardi also backed a measure that was passed by the Illinois General Assembly last week, that would replace references to the word “prostitute” with “person engaged in the sex trade” in state statutes. It has headed to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk to be signed into law.

David Smith, of the Illinois Family Institute, responded, saying, “Let’s not sanitize it. What are we talking about here, legalizing brothels throughout the city of Chicago, throughout the state of Illinois? Is that what our Main Streets are going to look like: the weed shop next to the brothel next to the mini casino? This is the new wave of Illinois?”

The only state in which prostitution is legal in the United States is Nevada.