The New Intimacy

Do you, or do you not believe prostitution should be legalized?

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Contributor: AngelvMaynard AngelvMaynard
"Allow it so you can control and regulate it." The official ban on prostitution in Amsterdam was ended in 1811. I spent some time there producing my series Sex Culture. We interviewed working women in the Red Light District and the activist groups. They actually have a statue, "Belle" in the middle of the De Wallen district calling for respect of sex workers.
It's legal in some forms in Nevada and can work to keep workers and clients safe while transacting. In Amsterdam a license is required, testing is required, taxes are paid on earnings that benefit the country and in some cases these women even receive benefits (health, ins, etc).
Do you believe that "The worlds oldest profession" should be legalized in the U.S. in order to regulate it and make it safer?
Do you believe that legalizing it is the same as condoning it and should remain illegal?
Of course there are other thoughts too, would love to hear yours.
Answers (public voting - your screen name will appear in the results):
Yes, legalize it.
- Kira - , Ansley , wrecklesswords , Beck , namelesschaos , Hallmar82 , Taylor , Alan & Michele , WhoopieDoo , SaMiKaY , aliceinthehole , TumorCrunch , SilverIsis , oldhippy , stars , pinkcupcakes , Errant Venture , RonLee , EJ , A Closet Slut (aka nipplepeople) , starklover , Paladin Fantasys , BriBri , Mew , null , emilia , indiglo , mistressg , JessCee , Lucky21 , GenderSexplorations , STEVELUVA93 , Rawhide , Ice1 , geliebt , Sapphires13 , Diabolical Kitty , Bignuf , Nazaress , Stinkytofu10 , Nora , shinypinkstars , wetone123 , EdenJP , GonetoLovehoney , BadassFatass , AndroAngel , RavenWolf88 , CreamySweet , Dreaus , Midway through , JackRaiden , ScarletFox , Jake'n'bake , QSBybakd , Graniteal , Timaree , baleeted , GONE! , apryls , Harpina is gone , pix , John E W , Jimenko , Big Dog , novanilla , thebest , ThingsBetchesLove , falalena , Trysexual , shorejen9 , dentaldame , kanida , skippywashere , SMichelle , dks210 , KinkyKatieJames , femmepwr , SassySam , FieryRed , jr2012 , Missmarc , Mr. E , hillys , Alyona , Scythe , SecretKinksters , TJtheMadHatter , padmeamidala , sigian , alliegator , rom323 , xilliannax , Rawr4483 , Nullipara , Rory , HarlequinBunnie , gwenevieve , table38792 , ChaiMocha
100
No, keep it illegal.
Yoda , Anya , married with children , MAy86 , Curiouscat , Noelle , Feisty
7
Somewhere in the middle. Please leave a comment on your thoughts.
Eva Schwaltz , oldman , Sex'и'Violence , Lindsey123 , Anjulie , Masokisti , Modern^Spank^Anthem , dhig , Powder , bettle590 , LovesAPoet , Pink Lily , HarlequinBunnie , A&M , Beautiful-Disaster , WestTexasBarbie
16
Total votes: 123 (122 voters)
Poll is closed
10/18/2011
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Contributor: - Kira - - Kira -
As is always my opinion, government should mind their business and most things like this should be legal. It generates tax revenue and people should be allowed to do what they want. It's really not the government's place to ban such things, in my opinion.
10/18/2011
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by - Kira -
As is always my opinion, government should mind their business and most things like this should be legal. It generates tax revenue and people should be allowed to do what they want. It's really not the government's place to ban such things, ... more
These are pretty much my thoughts on the matter as well. I think that the benefits far outweigh the cons in this area. If we legalize it we can control it and regulate it and collect taxes on it but more importantly we can start ensuring the safety of the sex workers themselves with health care and screenings.
10/18/2011
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
These are pretty much my thoughts on the matter as well. I think that the benefits far outweigh the cons in this area. If we legalize it we can control it and regulate it and collect taxes on it but more importantly we can start ensuring the safety ... more
Thirded!
10/18/2011
Contributor: wrecklesswords wrecklesswords
I definitely think that it should be given more respect. Yes, there are still people out there who turn to it as a "last ditch effort" to make money and support themselves, but the truth is, sex sells.

I honestly believe that it is empowering for someone to use what they were born with to not only satisfy others, but to generate revenue for themselves to survive and even pay taxes on it. I saw somewhere on the news a week or so ago that there are some places that now have little machines set up in the areas where they frequent where they input what they have made, how long, and pay a certain "fee" that is essentially their taxes on what they make working.
10/18/2011
Contributor: Beck Beck
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
These are pretty much my thoughts on the matter as well. I think that the benefits far outweigh the cons in this area. If we legalize it we can control it and regulate it and collect taxes on it but more importantly we can start ensuring the safety ... more
I fourth this!
10/18/2011
Contributor: Hallmar82 Hallmar82
Quote:
Originally posted by AngelvMaynard
"Allow it so you can control and regulate it." The official ban on prostitution in Amsterdam was ended in 1811. I spent some time there producing my series Sex Culture. We interviewed working women in the Red Light District and the activist ... more
I don't think legalizing it is the same as condoning it, no. You could say the same about all sorts of personal activities - bad habits or vices, some are legal while others illegal. Just because something is legal (infidelity) doesn't make it a good thing or mean you approve of it.
10/18/2011
Contributor: AngelvMaynard AngelvMaynard
Quote:
Originally posted by Hallmar82
I don't think legalizing it is the same as condoning it, no. You could say the same about all sorts of personal activities - bad habits or vices, some are legal while others illegal. Just because something is legal (infidelity) doesn't make ... more
Just a side note to what you said above. I have a GBI special agent friend that I was hanging out with this weekend. We got on the subject of strange laws and in the State of Georgia adultery is illegal! I tweeted a pic from the Georgia agent handbook. I was shocked actually!

link
10/18/2011
Contributor: WhoopieDoo WhoopieDoo
Quote:
Originally posted by - Kira -
As is always my opinion, government should mind their business and most things like this should be legal. It generates tax revenue and people should be allowed to do what they want. It's really not the government's place to ban such things, ... more
Amen.
10/18/2011
Contributor: SaMiKaY SaMiKaY
In my opinion, prostitution should be legal. As long as it's monitored and regulated, the prostitutes AND johns are tested, it shouldn't be a problem. PLUS it can be taxed as a service =)
10/18/2011
Contributor: Eva Schwaltz Eva Schwaltz
I'm still rather conflicted on this...
10/18/2011
Contributor: TumorCrunch TumorCrunch
Quote:
Originally posted by - Kira -
As is always my opinion, government should mind their business and most things like this should be legal. It generates tax revenue and people should be allowed to do what they want. It's really not the government's place to ban such things, ... more
definitely. it's none of the governments business what two consenting adults do behind closed doors!
10/18/2011
Contributor: Rhazya Rhazya
Legalized as long as there was STD testing and other safety measures of protection for both men and women, and making sure they entered the profession of their own free will.

I don't think legalizing automatically means you agree with it, just that you recognize that others do and they have a legitimate foot to stand on.
10/18/2011
Contributor: oldhippy oldhippy
Having been in the service (military) in the Far East where prostitution is legal, and regulated, I see no good reason why it should not be legal and regulated in the United States. In most countries that I was in, and especially in Thailand, the working women were regularly tested medically, those that did not pass did not have their license renewed until they could pass their medical. The ones that did have their licenses could be checked randomly at any time at their place of business.
The "johns" were required to use protection, which was also provided. Fees were provided up front, with tipping permitted. Abuse was not tolerated at any time, with bouncers available quickly.
Prostitution was not looked down upon, although it was not one of the preferred occupations. The women could be "rented" for the day for a fee, as well as for the evening, or shorter periods.
It all seemed to work well for everyone and filled a niche in the society.
10/19/2011
Contributor: Errant Venture Errant Venture
Quote:
Originally posted by - Kira -
As is always my opinion, government should mind their business and most things like this should be legal. It generates tax revenue and people should be allowed to do what they want. It's really not the government's place to ban such things, ... more
But it is the government's place. Tax is their business, just as setting up laws for regulating regular businesses is their business.
10/19/2011
Contributor: starklover starklover
Quote:
Originally posted by - Kira -
As is always my opinion, government should mind their business and most things like this should be legal. It generates tax revenue and people should be allowed to do what they want. It's really not the government's place to ban such things, ... more
Agreed and well said
10/26/2011
Contributor: Paladin Fantasys Paladin Fantasys
Quote:
Originally posted by AngelvMaynard
"Allow it so you can control and regulate it." The official ban on prostitution in Amsterdam was ended in 1811. I spent some time there producing my series Sex Culture. We interviewed working women in the Red Light District and the activist ... more
I've been to Amsterdam's red light district too! With the
"window shopping" format, I became mesmerized with one particular woman and was tempted to pay for sex for the first time ever. I went to a live sex show at one of the clubs instead. Afterward, I returned to a spot opposite Belle's courtyard, to gaze upon the beauty I was mesmerized by, just as I was about to yield to temptation another customer approached, she let him in and closed the blinds, thus breaking the spell.
10/28/2011
Contributor: Sex'и'Violence Sex'и'Violence
I think legalizing prostitution would help prevent abusive and even slave like conditions in the industry which would be good. I also have no moral qualms with a woman who want's to have sex for a living or who uses sex as currency.

The only issue I can see with it is how would the taxation work and how could the industry be regulated?
10/28/2011
Contributor: SilverIsis SilverIsis
Quote:
Originally posted by oldhippy
Having been in the service (military) in the Far East where prostitution is legal, and regulated, I see no good reason why it should not be legal and regulated in the United States. In most countries that I was in, and especially in Thailand, the ... more
It is my understanding from work that I did back in college that southeast Asia, Thailand in particular, had a large problem with human trafficking with underage prostitutes making up a large percentage of that problem. Southeast Asia has one of the highest concentrations in the world of HIV, so I am hard pressed to say that licensing in Thailand has really worked. The only thing that I remember from my own trip there was the men being told repeatedly that if they were caught with an underage prostitute that they would be prosecuted in their own country for the offense. That and the men could not be left to go by themselves in taxis because regardless of what they would say or show the driver they would end up at a brothel.

That all said, I am for the legalization of prostitution, but I realize that it is alot more complicated situation from that of legalizing pot or the ending of prohibition in the early part of last century. You can;t just say it's ok. you have to regulated both for everyone's safety and for business purposes. Even then there is no guarantee that you will eliminate the illegal trade.
10/28/2011
Contributor: emilia emilia
Quote:
Originally posted by SilverIsis
It is my understanding from work that I did back in college that southeast Asia, Thailand in particular, had a large problem with human trafficking with underage prostitutes making up a large percentage of that problem. Southeast Asia has one of the ... more
Agreed
10/29/2011
Contributor: indiglo indiglo
I agree. Legalize it, regulate it, tax it, and so forth.
10/29/2011
Contributor: mistressg mistressg
Quote:
Originally posted by indiglo
I agree. Legalize it, regulate it, tax it, and so forth.
Agreed.
10/29/2011
Contributor: Lucky21 Lucky21
Yeah, it should be legalized. We might be able to spin it in a way where we can better control STI's. I once heard in interview from a guy who wrote a book called Private Guns Public Health and he basically compared gun ownership and violence to a public health problem, and compared it to the automotive industry and talked about the regulating of cars, roads and so on and how our public health as far as cars is way better. So what if we could apply these same principles to prostitution?
10/29/2011
Contributor: GenderSexplorations GenderSexplorations
It should be legalized. Regular STD testing, health benefits, regulation. All of these things are good. Besides, then it could be taxed instead of wasting money on the legal system prosecuting it. Earning money instead of losing it.
10/30/2011
Contributor: Rawhide Rawhide
Legalize it. The sex work industry provides a valuable and necessary service in our society. Prostitutes deserve the same protection that other sex workers (strippers, adult film performers) get.

We also can't afford to keep putting nonviolent "criminals" in prison.
01/02/2012
Contributor: geliebt geliebt
I think it should absolutely be legal. Stringent regulations such as regular STD testing, keeping brothels to eliminate the danger of prostitutes roaming the streets, and application processes that assure all prostitutes are there because they want to be there, would all really help. I feel like this could eliminate much trafficking, take away the danger of prostitutes being taken to some isolated location and murdered or raped, and other icky stuff. I think it could be a hugely beneficial business, and with plenty of taxation it could really be a bonus to the economy. People are going to do it anyway, and I hardly think prostitution is harmful.
01/03/2012
Contributor: Diabolical Kitty Diabolical Kitty
If people want to pay the money let them do it.
01/03/2012
Contributor: Stinkytofu10 Stinkytofu10
Quote:
Originally posted by SilverIsis
It is my understanding from work that I did back in college that southeast Asia, Thailand in particular, had a large problem with human trafficking with underage prostitutes making up a large percentage of that problem. Southeast Asia has one of the ... more
Agree. If legalizing prostitution, the customers should be checked/tested as well.
01/03/2012
Contributor: EdenJP EdenJP
Quote:
Originally posted by AngelvMaynard
"Allow it so you can control and regulate it." The official ban on prostitution in Amsterdam was ended in 1811. I spent some time there producing my series Sex Culture. We interviewed working women in the Red Light District and the activist ... more
should be legal
01/03/2012
Contributor: GonetoLovehoney GonetoLovehoney
This would be great to legalize, prostitution happens regardless. At least this way, you can protect those who are sex workers, up the economy a bit and procure revenue for the program itself.
01/03/2012