Perusing the L.A. Times book review section today, noticed the following book made it to #7
on the nonfiction list after only 1 week : "Ladies of the Night" by Gene Simmons ( Phoenix books;$39.95) The Kiss lead singer traces the history of prostitution & argues for making it legal."

WOW---quite a revelation---whoda thunk it ? IF Simmons is a hobbyist, providers must LOVE him for his footlong tongue------

Any thoughts on this ? Anyone read this book ?

... but who needs legal prostitution when we've got the hobby?

Legalization would lead to higher prices. Can you imagine how high the "sin" tax would be!!! Look at the legal brothel rates.

Even if legalized, a black market would exist.

prostitution is legal in parts of Nevada, and it is bad there.  No GFE, no BBBJ and prices are high.  Let it alone, it;s great the way it is.

at least that's what a Canadian provider told me & she said the situation was fine there ; I don't think there are any Canadian brothels . If I'm wrong about any of this,feel free to correct me.

It very much depends on how it is done. If it is "carefully monitored and controlled" it will have the charm and efficiency of a Social Security Office.  There will be controls on actions, price, etc.  On the other hand, if it is simply legal ie not criminal, it would be fine.  I suspect it could be like being say a "counselor" in New York State.  There are few requirements, it is legal, and none of the state's business. Of course then one has to deal with taxes and such, but such is life.

The problem with 'legalization' like in the brothels in rural Nevada is that the State keeps its hand in things.  Hence the rules about no BBAnything.  They also limit where the brothels can be etc.  This creates an artificial market that forces the ladies and the clients into a very few locations and illiminates 'independants' and stifles the free market.  

'Decriminalizing' the hobby simply makes whatever two consenting adults do behind closed doors, for whatever reason, legal.  I've never understood why it was legal for me to wine and dine a woman into bed but it was illegal if she prefered me to just give her the money.

I don't see any way that decriminalizing would drive prices up as was suggested in another post.  Without the risk of arrest and public humiliation I bet there would be more providers offering services.  The free market would take over.

Decriminalizing also does not mean total lack of control.  Age minimums for providers are an issue as is keeping advertising/soliciting in good taste.  Even WITH the threat of arrest for solicitation, any attractive woman left alone in a casino in Vegas will be solicited within a few minutes. Even I don't think 'street level' prostitution should be allowed, its just disgusting to look at the druggie skanks hustling on a street corner.  

mvr

First of all, I'm no lawyer nor am I any type of  legal expert, but it seems to me that perhaps decriminalization of providing might be a better solution. Maybe Canada or England does have the right idea. Seems like they have taken a more hands off approach to the issue, rather than trying to legalize (control?) the business perhaps it’s better to just stop making it a crime.
There are laws in place I think that would still offer some protections so that the exploitation of people by others would not happen and yet still allow consenting adults to willingly participate.

My .02

C_K


-- Modified on 7/27/2008 5:29:48 PM

is for the ladies to simply be indepentant contractors responsible for their own business licences and taxes just as any other contractor.

There is nothing great about the fact that ladies have little legal protection in the event of being ripped off or raped. Rape a civilian woman and you get years behind bars, and the label "sex offender" hung around your neck like a millstone for the rest of your life. Rape a provider, and you get charged with "theft of services" a misdemeanor involving paying a fine and some court costs. Several months ago, a woman in Philedelphia was gang raped at gunpoint, after agreeing to exchange sex for $$ with ONE guy. After he took her to an abandoned building where the tryst was to occur, she discovered he had friends waiting for him. Instead of seeing the bastards sent away for rape though, she was treated to the joys of being harangued and humiliated by the judge hearing the case, who among other things, told the woman she should be ashamed of herself for belittling the experience of women who had actually been raped. Yes, that is really great.

Service doesn't necessarily change just because prostitution becomes legalized. Men vote with their wallet, and women will tend to follow the trends of what is considered the standard in their area. If you don't like the service there in Nevada, don't support it with your patronage.

Not going to happen in this lifetime.  Would you feel safe revealing your participation in the hobby outside the hobby?  Didn't think so.  

Gene Simmons is not the only celebrity whom has hobbied.  From my understanding, this is common among atheletes, well known actors and politicians, the well-to-do across a wide spectrum.  This is old news!  Why do you think this flurishes?

really do NOT consider myself to be an expert on Sex in Canada, ... but ...

... From what I read before my trip to BC a year or so ago, I discovered that all escort services with the exception of brothels are legal in all of Canada.

Blatant street soliciting is frowned upon, but ads in newspapers are fine.  The FOX DEN (a short skytrain ride south of Vancouver)seems to operate as a brothel, but still doesn't bring down the law on themselves (and actually seem to have the city's blessing).  There are others I found on the web also.

("The Fox Den", is an incall Brothel place a 25 minute "Skytrain"/subway ride south to Richmond, across the street from the Metrotown Mall.  It looks like a really neat "Brothel" with dozens of ladies on the website to choose from, (You shedule an appointment in advance - NO WALK- INS).    www.the foxden.ca    They also do outcalls : www.carmanfox.com)


A Provider can discuss anything she wants to on the phone regarding services and prices.

I wondered why this wasn't more well known by Escorts and the Canadian public in general.

SEE SEXWORK.com Web page for more info.
http:///www.sexwork.com/montreal/law.html

(  Web page : COPYRIGHTED 2000 by "Dave in Phoenix" ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - BUT IT MAY BE REPRINTED OR QUOTED FROM  IF CREDIT IS GIVEN Sexwork.com  

"I shall Return"

-SR



-- Modified on 7/28/2008 1:14:00 AM

Rape is a crime regardless of who the victim is. It's even more serious if the victim is underage.

As an educated feminist provider who engages in this industry out of pure enjoyment and choice, I strongly advocate for the legalization of providing.  The feminist movement has it all wrong when they support criminalization saying that prostitution oppresses women.  Feminism is about nothing more than a woman having choice.  I say telling a woman that she cannot use her most valuable asset, her sexuality, to earn money is oppressive.  It is no secret that sex is the most powerful and valuable asset a woman has...whether it be through marriage or prostitution.

I also assert that an industry that has to be run underground is way more dangerous to women in many ways...which oppresses women.

Further, legalization helps to legitimize the profession and the hobby. I'm not saying overnight people would start to accept and respect the industry, but legalization is a significant step towards that happening.

Legalization would also open the opportunity for women to get things like health benefits and other basic worker's rights that most people in the United States enjoy.

I would happily pay taxes on my income to have all of the above.

And as I just demonstrated with the real life example I just provided, women in this business are often NOT measured by the same scale, or provided the same respect for their experiences as other rape victims. Legalizing prostitution won't necessarily reverse societal judgements passed on women in this profession, but it certainly will give them protection to pursue and receive justice from the men who would take advantage of or harm an escort.

Nevada is a bad example.  Each county controls how many licenses and where brothels can be located.  Limiting demand always keep prices high.  They also demand 50% of what the girl brings in, plus charging them for room and board.  

In a legal free market system the fees would be more moderate.  I'm not saying it would be as low as some now pay in well known third world sexcation destinations.  But way less than in the Nevada brothel monopolies.  

I'm for making private agreements concerning sex for payment, between consenting adults legal.  

Thats my $.02

is aware of my hobbying proclivities. I don't make any effort to conceal it. Of course I am divorced and self employed so I don't need anyone's permission or approval.

The rest of the world seems to deal with legalized prostitution quite well TYVM, I don't see why our puritanical society has such a problem with it.

where prostitution is legal, but I will agree that third world countries are where women are charging next to nothing for their services.

I also agree that Nevada is a horrible example of legalized prostitution, IMO prostitution should be treated like any other enterprise in regards to licensing, taxation and the like. The only other form of red tape I would support would be mandatory testing, most countries that have legalized prostitution issue health cards, I believe we should do the same.

Sex workers in San Francisco have gotten a decriminalization measure on the local ballot. FYI.