This subject has occasionally come up in passing in these forums, usually as a result of suburbanesque swingers worried about the possible scenario of a sex worker posing as a swinger, turning up to a meet, and then requesting payment once she has stripped down to her knickers.
I thought this should be debated more extensively in wider terms ; my own view is that what consenting adults do with their own bodies is their own business, and therefore sex work should be legalised.
The illegality surrounding it benefits no one exept gangsters, pimps, sex attackers, and those bible basher specemins who regard sex workers coming to harm as a result of the aforementioned as being "punished for sin".
I regard sex workers as a perfectly ok, even interesting,group of ladies who deserve to be treated with respect and protection from the law.
ps; A couple of campaign groups forumistas may want to check out are ;
(International Union of Sex Workers)
Dawnie and Posh Kate do not appear to have read what was actually written, whilst prostitution itself is not actually illegal itself, most of the activities surrounding it are, thus forcing it into criminality, I certainly am not painting sex workers as lepers - just the opposite - it is the law that does so.
As I stated, legal and social discrimination against sex workers should end, the sooner the better.
Let the genuine debate begin !
I read what was there and I haven't changed my opinion on what I wrote at all.
Posh Kate ; thanks for re-reading and clearing up any misunderstanding !
Dawnie ; you still seem to mis understand my piece, I actually agree with the broad thrust (no pun intended !) of what you say, there is nothing wrong with a lady who likes sex charging for it - good luck to her, and of course not all working girls are in the hands of pimps etc, but the law as it stands does tend to force them into this and other dangers, ie, if 2 or more women work together for their own safety this is classed as running a brothel and they may be subject to police action.
Re the above - the various laws surrounding prostitution such as soliciting, advertising, running brothels etc force prostitutes, or at least some of them, into the hands of pimps or organised crime - if sex workers could ply their trade legally, this would take it out of the hands of criminals.
I`ve often thought it should be legalised so that the women, or men are off the street, given regular health checks, sexual health advice etc, anything has to be better than being on a "street corner" for most of the night, bringing in punters to areas where "normal" families live, getting hassled by pimps or even other sex workers.
However, I suppose the flip side is where would they go?? I`m sure most of us would be appauled if the opened their businesses close to us.
It is definitely a subject open for debate.
I have lived in Europe for a number of years now - and there are organised Brothels as I am sure most will already know. It cost the equivalent of £40 for sex at an "Eros Centre", and these places are staffed almost exclusively by Eastern Europeans.
Clearly it is the dream of all Eastern Europeans to be prostitutes.... oh hang on... I appear to be talking bollocks.
Furthermore there is no evidence to suggest that the running of a brothel will cut down the number of rapes, sexual assaults or other crime related to prostitution.
As for "forcing" women to "ply their trade" on the streets - what a load of horse shit. Women are forced into prostitution, of that there can be no doubt, but to imply that a legalised brothel will cut down street prostituion is a load of cack.
There is a considerable amount of street prostitution in Europe - the so called "Layby Lil", who plies her trade from a car, camper van or similar. I remain to be convinced that the legalisation of prostitution will cut back the ancilliary issues that it brings with it.
Do prostitutes want their trade legalising, do they want to be registered, approved, vetted.... and TAXED?
I doubt it very much indeed. It works in Europe because the penalties for getting caught are extremely high... not like the UK where a girl is put before the magistrate and fined.
Where does she get the money from to pay the fine... yep.
The bottom line is that sex sells - if you are prepared to undercut the lowest bidder then you will always have business.
For what it is worth I do believe it should be legalised - but not for any "moral" reason. Why should I have to pay taxes but someone who earns a lot more than me does not.
The problem with all prohibition is that it drives things underground. Drugs are illegal so people buy them from grubby criminals and it is the same with prostitution. If prostitution was legal it wouldn't change the demand just the supply. There is a shady and dangerous underworld in the UK where criminals are making a lot of money supplying things that cannot be obtained legally.
Of course prostitution should be legalised, there wouldn't be more prostitutes, just less pimps.
When their health check reveals to them that they're HIV+, or HEP (A)(B)(C)(D) + then they're going to say "oh shit....now I'll have to retire to normal work and give up selling it" ?
Nope, they'll just carry-on flogging the fanny and charging extra for bareback.
Why would a hooker go to all the trouble of meeting up with a couple of swingers only to mention being paid when she stripped off and risk being thrown out on her ear, when she could just use the normal channels to find punters who discuss the payment terms upfront! Sorry it just made me laugh! :giggle:
