End The Use of Condoms As Evidence (2013)
The New York City Council's Committees on Civil Rights and Immigration held a joint hearing on June 18, 2013, on Proposed Resolution No. 710-A, calling on the New York State Legislature to pass A.2736/S.1379, which would prohibit possession of a condom from being used as evidence of prostitution and certain other offenses. At the hearing, Rashida Richardson of The Center for HIV Law & Policy testified about the alarming trend towards confiscation and criminalization of condoms. This practice undermines HIV advocacy efforts and public health campaigns, and results in the overcriminalization of women of color, immigrants, and transgender individuals.
The Center for HIV Law & Policy's testimony is available at hivlawandpolicy.org/resources/view/859