Democrat JoAnna Mendoza wants legal prostitution to help trans prostitutes in Arizona

An Arizona Democrat running to unseat Rep. Juan Ciscomani has supported decriminalizing prostitution to help transgender people earn living.

JoAnna Mendoza, who is running in one of the most competitive races in the country, was asked by Michael Soto, then-executive director of Equality Arizona, whether she would “decriminalize sex work” in order to help “trans folks, especially trans women of color,” given that “discrimination is so pervasive in the formal employment sector.” 

“Right. Yes. And that’s, you know, once again, it’s important to ensure that there’s access to the resources, the support networks, the social services, access to health care,” Mendoza said in the 2020 interview.

“You know, eliminating the discriminatory practices and laws so that every individual has the opportunity to be able to provide for themselves.” 

Mendoza, a Marine veteran who identifies as bisexual, added that “we need to sop criminalizing people for their situations.” 

“And, you know, folks don’t want to go down that path, but (inaudible) no other choice and they have to,” Mendoza said.

“It’s heartbreaking to me that folks find themselves in these situations that they have no way out of, and so to me I would definitely want to see more social services and resources and support networks in place for the LGBTQ community so that they can have access to employment that would allow them to live their best lives.”

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The video obtained by The Post has since been removed from Equality Arizona’s social media page. 

The Democratic congressional candidate also responded “yes,” when asked if she would “decriminalize petty crimes” like “not crossing at the crosswalk or spitting.”

“Yes. You know, I think that in the past, especially Arizona, has a history of trying to enact these practices that target specific groups, right? And so we need to ensure that we’re protecting folks from discriminatory practices (inaudible) that would create the potential for violence or a criminalization,” she said. 

The Post reached out to Mendoza’s campaign for comment but have not heard back. 

Mendoza raised $2.3 million in the first quarter of the year according to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), and poses a significant threat to Ciscomani, who has faced a strong Democratic challenger the last few election cycles in the battleground state. 

Since launching her campaign in February, Mendoza has raised $5.3 million, according to FEC filings. 

The Democratic candidate has also secured endorsements from both Arizona US Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, as well as Congressman Greg Stanton. 

Arizona’s congressional district 6 mainly encompasses the city of Tucson, which has a burgeoning affordability and homelessness crisis.  

Ciscomani has represented the district since 2023, but Democrats believe Mendoza has a legitimate shot to flip the seat. 

Back in February, the DCCC identified Mendoza and several other Arizona Democrats as part of their “Red to Blue” program, which provides “top-tier candidates” with additional funding and support.