To friends of COYOTE RI,
 

Thank you for supporting us! We are currently opposing RI-S0096, or the Adult Entertainment Performance Tax. We are asking you now to send an e-mail to the sponsors of the bill and the Senate Special Legislation and Veteran Affairs members. Please also CC COYOTE in your e-mail, if you choose to send one, so we can keep you up to date on upcoming hearings.

If you would like to create a letter of your own, feel free to do so. Below is a template that you can work from, with only a few blanks to enter.

[Date]

To the Senate Special Legislation & Veterans Affairs, Frank Ciccone, Betty Crowley, Erin Prata, Donna Nesslebush and Ana Quezada,

My name is [Insert Your Name] and I am a resident of [city and state]. I am writing to oppose RI - S0096, also known as the Adult Entertainment Performance Tax Act. This bill was introduced on January 16, 2019, and it imposes a $2 tax for admission to adult entertainment businesses. The funds from this tax will go to the Attorney General's office to  “combat human trafficking, and pay to test rape kits”

It is no coincidence that this bill was introduced less than two weeks after the Foxy Lady reopened by the RI supreme court. This tax is nothing more than an attempt at retaliation by the state against sex workers. This bill attacks sex worker establishments by forcing them to pay to combat sex trafficking, for which they are not culpable.

This moralistic tax on sex work also fails to address the real roots of trafficking in the state. Rhode Island has neglected provision of adequate services for its youth, as evidenced by recent concern over the conduct of Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) leadership following a nine-year-old child's death in their custody. Similar failures have often led to the trafficking of minors. The state should focus their energy on fixing their broken youth services programs rather than punishing sex workers who are simply trying to earn a living.

It is also offensive that the Rhode Island state legislature purports to fight sexual violence through the regulation of sex workers' bodies.  Our community is gathering signatures opposing RI S0096.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your Organization, if applicable]

[Your email address]

[Your phone number if you wish to include it]

Below are the individuals to send this to, and their e-mail address:

Bill Sponsors

Frank Ciccone III (D)*,  sen-ciccone@rilegislature.gov

Betty Crowley (D)*,   sen-crowley@rilegislature.gov

Erin Lynch Prata (D)*, sen-lynch@rilegislature.gov

Donna Nesselbush (D)*,  sen-nesselbush@rilegislature.gov

Ana Quezada (D)*   sen-quezada@rilegislature.gov

Senate Committee on Special Legislation and Veterans' Affairs

 Senator Walter S. Felag Jr., sen-felag@rilegislature.gov

 Senator Leonidas P. Raptakis, sen-raptakis@rilegislature.gov

 Senator James A. Seveney, sen-seveney@rilegislature.gov

 Senator Elizabeth A. Crowley,  sen-croley@rilegislature.gov

 Senator Erin Lynch Prata, sen-lynchprata@rilegislature.gov

 Senator Mark P. McKenney, sen-mckenney@rilegislature.gov

 Senator Elaine J. Morgan, sen-morgan@rilegislature.gov

 Senator Melissa A. Murray, sen-murray@rilegislature.gov 

 Clerk Katelyn McCanna, Slegislation@rilegislature.gov

 Coyote RI (our organization--please CC), info@coyoteri.org