'No On Prop 35' Press Conference Friday at Noon in Van Nuys

LOS ANGELES — The No on Proposition 35 campaign has scheduled a press conference for tomorrow in the San Fernando Valley. All media outlets are invited to attend the only Los Angeles media opportunity for the "No on Prop 35" campaign, which will take place Friday at 12pm in front of the Van Nuys Courthouse in Van Nuys, California. Maxine Doogan, president of the Erotic Service Providers Legal, Education and Research Project, will be in attendance to field media questions.

The campaign issued the following statement today:

Everyone is against human trafficking.  Erotic service providers stand with human trafficking victims in seeking justice by asking voters to vote NO on Prop 35.  Prop 35 is a badly written proposition and fails to address the true issues of human trafficking. Not only will it fall short of its intentions but instead bring greater harm to those it hopes to rescue.  Voting yes on this ballot measure will only bring a false sense of security to human trafficking victims. Vote NO with the confidence that voting NO on Prop 35 is still a vote against trafficking! 

Our organization’s argument against California Proposition 35 was picked by the Division of Elections to be printed in the statewide voter information guide and is the official opposition to this short sighted ballot measure to go before California voters on the November 6th, 2012 election.

“Effectively targeting the problem requires carefully crafted and thoughtful laws that keep pace with the constantly changing practices in the shadowy world of human exploitation. Proposition 35 is not equal to the task.” Los Angeles Times October 9, 2012

“An 18 year old boy dating a seventeen year old girl who lied to him about her age could end up with life in prison. All he has to do is trick her into letting him take a sexy picture to show his friends in exchange for buying her dinner. Under Prop 35 this is a commercial sex act committed by fraud with a minor - and the boy’s belief that she was over 18 is not a defense… Prop 35 won’t do anything to stop sexual exploitation, but it will cost taxpayers millions and force law-abiding citizens to defend spurious charges. No on 35 !” Stephen A. Munkelt is an attorney and criminal law specialist and also writes for California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (CACJ).  October 2, 2012

"But beyond the sound bites and hyperbole of Proposition 35 resides a poorly written law that further criminalizes and discriminates against sex workers and their consensual adult clients." Cynthie Garrity-Bond  September 14, 2012

“..imagine how this law might be used to persecute less beloved citizens of the state. What if the teenagers are gay? What if they are black or Latino? What if someone decides to prosecute to the full extent of the law? Wouldn't it be better for all concerned if our laws were clear, concise and devoid of any ulterior agendas? Californians deserve better. Send Proposition 35 back to the drafters by voting "no.””  Veronica Monet is a certified sexologist and host of "The Shame Free Zone."  August 10, 2012


For images and media for No on Prop 35, visit here. For more information, call (415) 265-3302 or email [email protected].

Time: 12:00 pm

Date: Friday, October 26, 2012

Location: In front of the Van Nuys Courthouse West, 14400 Erwin Street, Van Nuys, CA

Erotic Service Providers Legal, Education and Research Project
Contact: Maxine Doogan
Phone: 415-265-3302
Email: [email protected]