After a months-long delay, a bill that decriminalizes loitering for adults with the intent to engage in sex work is being sent this week to Governor Gavin Newsom to sign into law. Such criminal codes have been referred to as “walking while trans” laws due to police using them to arrest transgender women who engage in prostitution in order to make a living.

Gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) told the Bay Area Reporter that he would make a motion Monday, June 20, to enroll Senate Bill 357, which he authored, and send it to Newsom’s desk for his signature. The process usually takes a few days, so Newsom could conceivably sign the controversial legislation into law ahead of the Pride celebrations taking place this weekend in San Francisco and numerous other cities across the state and nation.

“It is Pride Month, and it is time to send this bill to the governor,” said Wiener.

Newsom has 12 days to either sign or veto SB 357 once he receives it. If the bill does become law then California would join the state of New York in repealing its loitering laws. The Empire State did so in 2021.

Asked for comment last week, the governor’s office told the B.A.R. it would not make a statement “at this time” regarding the bill. It usually refrains from discussing legislation until it receives the bill in question.

Considering the timing of Wiener’s decision to finally submit the bill to Newsom during Pride Month, it seems unlikely the governor would veto it. Wiener told the B.A.R. last week that he is optimistic about seeing SB 357 become law….

The above comes from a June 20 story in the Bay Area Reporter.