I'm with the majority, legalize it.
Misc Poll: Should Prostitution be Legalized?
- Thread starter Data Holmes
- Start date
My answer's basically "Yes, but..."
I'm all for legalising, regulating, and even unionising prostitution if it leads to a safer and healthier environment for sex workers. (And there's fair arguments that it might.)
But that's really only going to be a splash in the ocean for tackling the social issues that lead to prostitution. Because there are plenty of Johns out there who aren't going to be interested in the regulated safe-sex practices which would be the benefits of regulation. The ugly truth is there are people who will pay for the sexual thrill of hurting or demeaning prostitutes.
And without combatting the other factors of poverty, drugs, and sexual assault, there are always going to be women and men caught in the trap of supplying that demand. The average age at which women enter prostitution is 12-14! Drug-addiction is a massive problem among prostitutes who work on the streets. The majority are survivors of childhood sexual assault (a study from the 90s put it at 80%).
MAybe some sex work is a free choice, and an equal and willing transaction between two parties. I'm also quite sure that such cases are the vast minority. Repeatedly when prostitutes are interviewed about their experiences the majority say they would get out of prostitution at once if they could, but can't because they're financially trapped. And that's before one even gets into the billions being made by pimps in kidnapping and sex-trafficking. Legalising prostitution's not going to fix all that.
Still, at the very least decriminalisation would make it easier for sex workers to report other crimes against them, wouldn't it? And if it does provide real protection for some, then it has to be a good thing.
I'm all for legalising, regulating, and even unionising prostitution if it leads to a safer and healthier environment for sex workers. (And there's fair arguments that it might.)
But that's really only going to be a splash in the ocean for tackling the social issues that lead to prostitution. Because there are plenty of Johns out there who aren't going to be interested in the regulated safe-sex practices which would be the benefits of regulation. The ugly truth is there are people who will pay for the sexual thrill of hurting or demeaning prostitutes.
And without combatting the other factors of poverty, drugs, and sexual assault, there are always going to be women and men caught in the trap of supplying that demand. The average age at which women enter prostitution is 12-14! Drug-addiction is a massive problem among prostitutes who work on the streets. The majority are survivors of childhood sexual assault (a study from the 90s put it at 80%).
MAybe some sex work is a free choice, and an equal and willing transaction between two parties. I'm also quite sure that such cases are the vast minority. Repeatedly when prostitutes are interviewed about their experiences the majority say they would get out of prostitution at once if they could, but can't because they're financially trapped. And that's before one even gets into the billions being made by pimps in kidnapping and sex-trafficking. Legalising prostitution's not going to fix all that.
Still, at the very least decriminalisation would make it easier for sex workers to report other crimes against them, wouldn't it? And if it does provide real protection for some, then it has to be a good thing.
This part is the key for me. Legalizing prostitution would mean that a sex-worker doesn't need to worry about themselves getting arrested if they ever need to report an attack to the police.
You do realize that this isn't what it is like in most places with legalized prostitution, don't you? It is the prohibition that PUSHES the problem onto the streets. Most sex workers would prefer to work in a safe indoor environment, but in most jurisdictions setting up such a business would be tantamount to sending law enforcement an engraved invitation to arrest you and seize your property.
Prostitution should be legal, taxed, and heavily regulated. Brothels should face strict licensing, std testing, and health inspections. Street prostitution (and unlicensed prostitution of ANY kind) should remain illegal.
I agree.
I wish they would hurry up and legalize man-whoring. I'm sick of giving freebies to all those hot female cops.
J
Jetfire
Guest
Yes.
Yes. It's going to continue to exist regardless of the laws. Legalization, regulation and oversight would provide a great deal more protection for both the workers and the customers than prohibition. As is the case with pretty much any product people want enough to break the law to get.
Agreeing with everybody. Yes.
Also too, and we have to be a realist, mandated birth control: both condoms for the men and the pill/injections for the women. As well as legal waiver of liability on the behalf of both parties in regards to paternity (hooker can't sue for child support, so long as the client can prove that he was using birth control on his side), and transmission of an undetected STD in regards to the woman assuming that she was current and compliant with all her medical requirements and had followed mandated health precautions.
In the event either party met their legally obligations, then that party could/would still held be liability for damages to the other party.
In the event either party met their legally obligations, then that party could/would still held be liability for damages to the other party.
I agree with my esteemed peer on the issue we have agreed to discuss that we are all in agreement with. Agreed?
Another trick (no pun) to this is denial of service: Say you [in the general sense] had a client that wanted a same sex partner and the sex-worker they were interested in refused...do you call it discrimination, breech of contract. Obviously you can't argue that the worker should be forced or required to perform sexual acts that they object too. There would have to be some set of "acceptable behavior" a "terms of use" mandated by the govt. which would prevent people from suing for...well any fetish that a brothel didn't cover, which gets into a whole new headache.
Yes, without a doubt.
Criminalising any activity never reduces it proliferation, just it's subterfuge.
Would I rape if it was legal - no.
Would I murder if it was legal - no.
Would I steal if it was legal - no.
There are bigger issues of humanity in question here.
Especially with the concept of paying for sex.
Criminalising any activity never reduces it proliferation, just it's subterfuge.
Would I rape if it was legal - no.
Would I murder if it was legal - no.
Would I steal if it was legal - no.
There are bigger issues of humanity in question here.
Especially with the concept of paying for sex.
Well depends on your point-of-view regarding sex.
If you take a purely cynical point-of-view, there really isn't anything such as "free sex" when you get down to the nuts and bolts. Be it monetary or emotional, there's always a "price" to be paid.
Street Prostitution is my concern. I don't care what people are doing in places of "business" as long as it isn't in my face, and people aren't trying to sell themselves in front of the Fred Meyer store when I go shopping.
If the sex service industry were to become legalized, I would also want a clause ensuring that the advertising and outsides of buildings would have to be G-rated. No porn posted in glass windows or X-rated marquee comments in our downtown districts, and penalties if sketchy behavior spills out into the streets should apply. Simply put, these joints should be obvious only to those who are looking for them.
Absolutely it should be legal, for pretty much the same reasons outlined by Locutus (so I guess I'm joining in the "I agree with this" chorus).
Prostitution already is legal in my country (Canada), although some of things associated with it (like owning and operating a "bawdy house" and soliciting in a public place) are still illegal. I believe street prostitution is also illegal, but I agree with the law in that case.
It's my understanding that all prostitutes in Amsterdam are required to have a doctor test them for STDs once a month, which I think is a good model for other states to follow. Prostitution should definitely be regulated, especially to help prevent the exploitation and abuse of underage girls and girls/women being sold as sex slaves.
Prostitution already is legal in my country (Canada), although some of things associated with it (like owning and operating a "bawdy house" and soliciting in a public place) are still illegal. I believe street prostitution is also illegal, but I agree with the law in that case.
It's my understanding that all prostitutes in Amsterdam are required to have a doctor test them for STDs once a month, which I think is a good model for other states to follow. Prostitution should definitely be regulated, especially to help prevent the exploitation and abuse of underage girls and girls/women being sold as sex slaves.
This is getting confusing.
I can't help wondering if the overwhelming "Yes" vote seen here is fueled more by the darker fantasies of internet folk than by actual political motive.
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