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Human Rights Watch criticizes D.C. police in new report
Report claims police confiscation of condoms places sex workers at higher HIV risk
Peter Newsham (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
A new report concludes that the confiscation of condoms from prostitutes and other sex workers during police investigations places them at increased risk of HIV.
Human Rights Watch officially released the 12-page report at a press conference at the National Press Club on Thursday that includes interviews with more than 300 current or former sex workers, activists, law enforcement and public health officials in D.C., New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco. These include Felicia C., a sex worker in Columbia Heights who said that police officers told her to throw away her condoms last December.
“I told them ‘No I am not throwing them in the garbage,’” she said, as noted in the report. “I don’t want to die!”
Others pointed to what they described to Human Rights Watch as the Metropolitan Police Department’s “3-condom rule.”
“In 2011 they locked me up in the 5th district,” said Nila R. “The cop told me I could have three condoms and threw the others out, I had 10 altogether. Also, an open condom is a charge. I’ve been locked up for it, the cops told me they were locking me up for an open condom.”
Human Rights Watch urges law enforcement and prosecutors in the four cities highlighted in the report to adopt policies that prohibit the use of condom possession as evidence against suspected sex workers. The report further calls upon the MPD, the New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco Police Departments to emphasize the importance of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. It also urges the D.C. Council and New York and California lawmakers to either repeal or reform broad loitering laws designed to curb prostitution.
“Eliminating HIV infections is a national priority and ensuring the availability of condoms among those at highest risk is critical,” said Megan McLemore, senior health researcher at Human Rights Watch.
Transgender activist Ruby Corado, who is among those who spoke at the National Press Club, told the Blade that this report does not come as a surprise. The Department of Health distributed more than five million male and female condoms in 2011, but she stressed that policing policies outlined in the Human Rights Watch report undermine these programs.
“If you’re going to address HIV and AIDS, you want to make sure you address things that are important,” she said.
Assistant D.C. police chief Peter Newsham told the Blade that the MPD rarely uses condoms as evidence in prostitution-related cases. “It’s a very rare occurrence for us to seize condoms in a prostitution investigation,” he stressed. “The MPD is very much supportive of the city’s efforts to distribute condoms to help prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS.”
The Human Rights Watch report notes that Newsham said that he was “concerned” about reports that MPD officers stopped and searched suspected sex workers during “circumstances that suggested a lack of probable cause.” He told the Blade that those who experienced police harassment should contact the MPD.
Newsham went on to question the report’s accuracy.
“Human Rights Watch uses anecdotal examples that are really uncorroborated and unsupported to make their point,” he said. “That being said, there’s nothing to suggest either that they are true or not true. They could potentially be true; they could potentially be not true.”
Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive is one of the organizations that worked with Human Rights Watch on the report.
Cyndee Clay, the group’s executive director, told the Blade that her agency receives what she described as regular reports from sex workers who claim D.C. police officers have questioned the number of condoms they have in their possession. She urged the MPD to clarify its policy.
“They’re saying this isn’t something that’s happening on a regular basis and this is not something that they’re doing, than we’re asking them to work with us to clarify or do something to state it’s not happening,” said Clay. “Regardless of whether or not this is something that every officer is doing, this is something certain members of the community has experienced; more than one member of the community has experienced and it’s something that even if it happens a couple of times has a chilling effect on everyone else’s capacity and everyone else’s ability to carry condoms.”
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Congratulations to Jaime Christopher Pierce on their appointment to serve as a member of the Virginia Governor’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Board. Pierce was sworn in on Sept. 3 by Greg Parks, clerk of the Alexandria Circuit Court.
Pierce currently serves as vice chair of the Alexandria City LGBTQIA+ Task Force and as a member of the Alexandria Pride planning committee. They previously served on the board of directors of Equality Virginia.
Upon being sworn in, Pierce said, “Public service has been a central part of my life for more than 30 years, and this appointment gives me an opportunity to serve the Commonwealth in a different and very personal way. My career has allowed me to work with people and communities throughout Virginia, and I hope to bring that experience, along with my own lived experience and my involvement in the LGBTQ+ community, to the work of the Board.” They added, “Having Greg administer the oath makes the occasion even more meaningful because of his own historic role as Virginia’s first openly gay elected circuit court clerk.”
Pierce also serves as Circuit Court Services Manager for the Department of Judicial Services, at the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia. They began their career in Virginia’s judiciary in 1994 as a deputy clerk with the Virginia Beach Circuit Court and have since held several professional and leadership positions within the court system. Pierce is a member of the National Association for Court Management (NACM) and the Mid-Atlantic Association for Court Management. At the national level, Pierce participated in the workgroup that developed the National Association for Court Management’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Guide, a resource designed to help court professionals advance inclusive practices and strengthen access, fairness and belonging within the justice system.
Pierce earned a degree in Criminal Justice from Liberty University, and a certificate in Paralegal Studies from Norfolk State University.
Maryland
Md. groups receive state grants to fight hate crimes
Pride Center of Maryland among recipients
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy are awarding a total of $10 million in grants in the 2027 fiscal year to nonprofit organizations that work to prevent hate crimes in the state.
The funds will be used to support those who feel targeted or discriminated against because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability status.
The Pride Center of Maryland is among the recipients. Churches, synagogues, mosques, and LGBTQ organizations are all eligible to receive grants
“The safety and security of all Marylanders is my top priority, so we are drawing a hard line because we have no tolerance for hate,” said Moore, according to media reports. “We are committed to protecting and ensuring safe and sacred spaces stay that way by investing in non-profit organizations, houses of worship, and community centers to protect and honor every community that makes our state so diverse and special.”
“Protection Against Hate Crime funding has strengthened the Pride Center of Maryland’s ability to protect, educate, and support the communities we serve … at a time of heightened concern associated with the Trump administration’s anti-LGBTQ/SGL (same-gender-loving) policies and pressures,” Pride Center of Maryland CEO Cleo Manago said. “PAHC funding helps us do more than improve physical security — it strengthens our community’s knowledge, preparedness, connection to resources, and ability to respond to hate with greater awareness and support.”
Maryland’s hate crimes law includes both sexual orientation and gender identity. The state’s nondiscrimination statute is also LGBTQ-inclusive.
District of Columbia
Blade welcomes fall intern
Alexis McLean is student at University of North Florida
The Washington Blade this week welcomed Alexis McLean as its fall intern.
Alexis is studying political science at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla. She is interning with the Blade as part of a continued partnership with the Washington Center.
“I am looking forward to spending my time in the fall with the Washington Blade, as this is a new experience for me,” said Alexis. “I have not experienced any journalist jobs in the past so this would be my first time, and I am excited to better my writing and communications skills with this internship.”
Alexis’s internship with the Blade ends in early December.
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Md. groups receive state grants to fight hate crimes
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