Lake County Gazette

A proposed bill that would decriminalize consensual paid sex in Illinois is drawing sharp criticism from lawmakers and anti-human trafficking advocates who argue that it could exacerbate the state's ongoing struggles with human trafficking.

State Rep. Tom Weber (R-Lake Villa) voiced strong opposition to the bill, emphasizing the dangers it could pose to victims of trafficking. 

“It is shameful to even suggest a bill such as this when we regularly hear the nightmare stories of the women who have been trafficked. We need to be protecting women, not passing bills that exploit them,” Weber told the Lake County Gazette. 

The bill, backed by State Sen. Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) and State Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago), seeks to remove criminal penalties for consensual paid sex and erase arrest records for sex workers, aiming to allow them to report crimes without fear of prosecution. 

The legislation has garnered support from organizations such as Equality Illinois and the Sex Worker Advisory Group, which advocates for the rights of current and former sex workers.

However, critics like Weber argue that decriminalizing sex work could undermine efforts to combat human trafficking, an issue that has become a major concern in Illinois. 

With the debate over the bill likely to occur in the coming weeks, the issue of human trafficking remains a significant and growing concern in Illinois. 

Advocates for survivors are urging lawmakers to focus on improving services for victims and strengthening efforts to target traffickers rather than pursuing policies that may inadvertently harm those they aim to protect.

A recent report from Shared Hope International assigned Illinois an "F" grade for its handling of child sex and human trafficking. 

While the state has made some improvements, the report highlighted a significant gap in law enforcement efforts, with only 10% of prostitution arrests targeting traffickers or buyers. Additionally, despite allocating $115 million for gender-based violence programs, less than 1% of that funding is directed toward specialized services for trafficking victims.

Brenda Myers Powell, a trafficking survivor, spoke out against the lack of support for victims, noting that many end up incarcerated rather than receiving the help they need. 

"The resources and support just aren't there for survivors. Instead, many victims of trafficking are treated like criminals and sent to jail," Powell told ABC 7 Chicago.

A recent study from the Global Slavery Index estimates that more than 1 million people in the U.S. are living in modern slavery, with many trafficked for sex work. This figure nearly triples the previous estimate of 400,000 in 2017.

This figure translates to approximately 3.3 victims per 1,000 people in the country.  

In response to the bill, State Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park) raised concerns about the broader implications of decriminalizing sex work, arguing that it could send the wrong message about accountability for illegal activities. 

“It’s the drugs, the lifestyle and the pimps. It has nothing to do with the law on the books," Cabello told Center Square. "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.”

Weber represents the 64th House District, which includes all or parts of Antioch, Bull Valley, Crystal Lake, Fox Lake, Lake Villa, Lakemoor, Volo and Woodstock.