Melanie Thompson

In a spirited debate, Melanie Thompson, the Chief Advocacy Officer at the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, argues that paying for sex perpetuates inequality and exploitation. She highlights the structural pressures that compromise consent and point to increased harms in legalized systems. Opposing her is Caitlin Bailey, founder of Old Pros, who advocates for decriminalization, arguing that criminalizing buyers increases dangers for sex workers and doesn't reduce violence. The discussion dives deep into issues of consent, buyer culture, and historical injustices.