In a 2008 CNN interview, Kamala Harris, then serving as San Francisco's District Attorney, voiced her opposition to a proposal aimed at decriminalizing prostitution in the city.
Harris, who was in conversation with host Mike Galanos, underscored the necessity of safeguarding vulnerable individuals from potential exploitation.
During the televised discussion, Harris was accompanied by a bisexual sex worker known as "Starchild," who championed the cause of legalizing prostitution.
A contentious moment arose when Starchild alleged that Harris, during her re-election campaign, expressed a desire to be recognized as an "honorary sex worker." Harris, taken aback, chuckled at the assertion but refrained from directly addressing it.
As reported by The Post Millennial, the Espler Project, an organization advocating for sex workers, has confirmed the veracity of these claims.
They stated that in a 2007 public meeting with the Harvey Milk Democratic Club, Harris, in her bid for re-election endorsement, indeed referred to herself as "an honorary sex worker."
Harris, during her CNN appearance, emphasized her stance, saying, "We want to have a society that protects the vulnerable and does not allow people to be exploited. Decriminalizing prostitution is simply not going to achieve that."
However, Harris's position on sex work appears to have evolved over time. In a 2019 interview with The Root during her presidential campaign, she was asked if she supported the decriminalization of sex work.
Harris responded, "I think so, I do. I think that we have to understand though that it is not as simple as that. ... But when youre talking about consenting adults, I think that yes we should really consider that we cant criminalize consensual behavior as long as no one is being harmed."
Claire Alwyne of ESPLERP criticized Harris's shifting stance, stating, "Kamala Harris will say anything popular to get an endorsement or get elected.
She is good with empty words about protecting women, but her actions have consistently harmed sex workers mostly poor women, women of color, and trans women."
This critique highlights the potential discrepancy between Harris's words and actions, a concern that resonates with conservative values of consistency and integrity in leadership.
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