Trans Activist Monica Jones Found Guilty of “Manifesting Prostitution”
Last May, trans activist Monica Jones, 29, was wrongly arrested in Phoenix under Arizona’s “manifestation” ordinance where repeatedly stopping and engaging a passerby in conversation can be evidence a person is “manifesting” an intent to engage in prostitution. On Friday (April 11, 2014), Jones went to trial and was found guilty. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Arizona assisted Jones in her constitutional challenge to the manifestation ordinance. She plans on appealing the judge’s decision.
“I believe I was profiled as a sex worker because I am a transgender woman of color, and an activist,” Jones explained in a Change.org petition. Transgender women of color are often profiled by police as engaging in sex work for simply going about their everyday lives. Jones, a well-known sex work activist, was not actually engaging in prostitution—she accepted a ride to a bar in her neighborhood from two men who later revealed themselves to be undercover cops.
“I am a student at ASU [Arizona State University], and fear that these wrongful charges will affect my educational path,” she shared before a verdict was reached. “I am also afraid that if am sentenced, I will be placed in a men’s jail as a transgender woman, which would be very unsafe for me. Prison is an unsafe place for everyone, and especially trans people.”
Trans activists have spoken out in support of Monica Jones. Author Janet Mock posted a photo in a solidarity t-shirt. Actress Laverne Cox mentioned the injustice in her GLAAD Media Award acceptance speech on Saturday stating, “I have to say it’s really hard for me to stand here tonight and receive an award. Just yesterday, one of my transgender sisters, a woman by the name of Monica Jones, was found guilty of a crime in Phoenix, Arizona that is basically called ‘manifesting prostitution’…there is so much work to be done to make sure that that never happens again.”
To learn more about Monica Jones and ending the criminalization of sex work, visit the Sex Workers Outreach Project - Phoenix, AZ Chapter.
Images via ACLU and Tumblr.
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