Decriminalize
Prostitution Now Coalition
Your Tax Dollars Are Being Wasted Ruining Citizens Lives
Instead of fighting real crime
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Prostitution Now Coalition with URL given
Legalization vs. Decriminalization of Private Sexwork
Legalization views prostitution as a vice that needs to be heavily contained and
controlled. In places that have legalization systems, such as out state Nevada,
Amsterdam, Germany and the State of Victoria in Australia etc., sex pros must
register at the police station, be photographed, fingerprinted and give very
personal info about themselves to the police. (Anyone previously convicted of
prostitution is denied a license). Which doesn't make a whole lot of sense does
it?
One can only work in certain licensed areas, and those brothel owners that end
up owning the (highly expensive) licenses may just be business owners interested
in the money not the sexworkers. Typically, the house takes 50%, then the
government takes another 25%, in the form of "sin" taxes. Sexworkers are charged
inflated prices for such basics as clean sheets, soap, meals, (usually the
cheapest take-out food), so they are lucky to take home 25% for their services
often for 12 hour shifts and little right to refuse clients or activities the
sexworker may not wish to provide
Often the brothels require health checks which can make the situation worse from
the sexworker. All sexually active people should be responsible for their own
sexual health. No, you can't pass on that responsibility to a government
official so customers can have unsafe sex with sexworkers.
What we've seen happen in places like Germany, where they have legalization and
forced STI checks, is that the checks are done on Thursdays. The pro then has to
display her Grade A Disease Free Meat certificate on the wall of her room.
(While the brothels officially state they insist on condom use, the girls tell a
very different tale). The client then walks in, checks that she's disease free
and says, "Great, you don't have anything! I'm not wearing a condom".
The reason we can get clients to use condoms is because they're concerned about
getting something from us, not because they're worried about giving us an STI.
When that "bargaining chip" is taken out of the equation, we're left with no way
to protect ourselves. Also, if a pro does contract a STI, from coercive unsafe
sex, her license is revoked and a new girl is brought in.
Many sexworkers refuse to participate in any kind of government legalization
schemes. While they take an active role in their sexual health, they will not
allow any agents of government to be poking and prodding around their vaginas.
Forget that most would work illegally, like they do now.
DECRIMINALIZATION
Decriminalization views prostitution as a legitimate and necessary business. Its
implementation would entails removing in private prostitution related offences
from the Criminal Code, for consenting adults. In places that have
decriminalization, such as the state of New South Wales, Australia, sex pro's
may operate freely, without the threat of criminal charges and / or the state
seizing their assets.
Brothel licenses are not required, so sex pro's can open their own operations.
Individual sex pro's do not require a license and with zoning requirements as
for any other business. However if a brothel is being a true nuisance to its
neighbors, it can be shut down if there are legitimate complaints or illegal
activities going on such as under aged or drugs. But this would be very rare
based on history in other countries.
Public street hooking would continue to be illegal as a public nuisance unless
in special zones set up by local governments. It would be up to the citizens to
decide if they want any zones set up to help protect the street hooker.
Sexworkers in places that are decriminalized pay income taxes at the same rate
as any other small business owner.
No government or religion in history, including the most repressive, (i.e. those
that have the death penalty for prostitution, Iran, Afghanistan, etc.) have ever
been able to eradicate our noble profession. For the simple reasons that money
and sex are so much more powerful governments and /or religions.
It is beyond time for the U.S. to decriminalize private consenting adult
sexwork.
This is a good summary modified somewhat from the position of Sex Professionals
of Canada (Spoc) proposals. In Canada, prostitution has always been legal but
not incalls (bawdy house law) rarely enforced unless complaints. Spoc like many
other decriminalization movements also insists that public nuisance street
hookers be decriminalized. That insistence has doomed any decriminalization
attempts in the U.S. (San Fran and Berkeley examples) and if insisted in such
inclusion will probably result in no further decriminalization beyond current
outcall. Repealing bawdy house laws so can have incalls make it much safer than
being on the streets and there already are many incalls that aren't bothered by
LE with no issues being raised by their neighbors.