Gay Men Protest Arrests and Prostitution Charges

WNYC News | Jul 12, 2010

New York, NY —

Gay rights advocates are protesting what they say is a slew of false arrests of gay men on charges of prostitution.

REPORTER: East Village resident Robert Pinter was one of about 40 demonstrators outside Mayor Bloomberg's home Saturday.

PINTER: It's intolerable to trample on the rights of gay men in New York City, to target them through intimidation and false arrest.

REPORTER: Pinter was taken into custody last month after he agreed to have sex with an undercover officer whom he met in a video store. Pinter says the officer hastily offered him money for sex just moments before Pinter's arrest. He later pled guilty to charges of disorderly conduct.

There have been more than 50 such arrests in the past three years. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn has said the arrests should end.

A Police spokesman says the department does not specifically target gay people for arrest, and that that the arrests were in response to complaints about a number of video stores. The Department has been meeting with community leaders.

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