Prostitution should be legalized in brothels

[Minimalist]

I disagree with the whole premise.  I mean, if I can get a pizza delivered to the house.............................

[Divinity]

Prostitution should be legal period. Testing for STD's yes, accept any customer? Fuck no.

[vorlon13]

While I was volunteering to help in the AIDS/Hospice program one of my assignees was a 'prostitute'. She was rather chatty about some aspects of the business (as she knew it) but she never once mentioned a pimp or manager. She even pointed out on occasion women we encountered while grocery shopping or doing laundry for her that she knew 'professionally'.

Even to my unpracticed gay eye, I recall noting one she pointed out was somewhat less than what I might consider attractive to heterosexual men. I was informed virtually any woman can have a clientele, regardless of any perceived lack of what someone unfamiliar with how it works might consider to be a fundamental requirement.

It was unsettling, BTW, (to severely understate it) when I realized despite her failing health and HIV status my charge was still making money 'on the street' . . . .

[Minimalist]

Prostitution should be legal period.  Testing for STD's yes, accept any customer?  Fuck no.

I don't think they should be allowed to discriminate any more than a baker or a photographer!

[Divinity]

I don't think they should be allowed to discriminate any more than a baker or a photographer!

Nope, prostitutes need to be able to deny anyone for any reason.  It's their body, not a fucking cake or some photographs.  They don't lose the right to their body just because they decide to become a prostitute.  

Now if you were to say a brothel shouldn't be able to turn customers--who are free from STD's--down, then I'd be inclined to agree.  But the individuals have to have a right to turn  down others.  My sister works as an escort, and I used to be a stripper.   Not being able to say no to a customer for any reason makes it too dangerous of a profession.

[Edwardo Piet]

I'm guessing Min was joking but I agree with your post completely, Divinity.

[Thumpalumpacus]

3) It is hypocrisy with prostitution being illegal, while porn is legal.

Pornography is prostitution. The two differences are 1) it's filmed for the enjoyment of others and 2) the payments are not from the john, but from the producer.

That said, legalize it like any other business. Ensure public health with testing, and remember that a business has a right to refuse service to anyone for any reason outside of protected classes.

[Losty]

I think prostitution should be legalized in general and regulated.

[shadow]

I think it was George Carlin who said:  "It shouldn't be illegal to sell something that you can give away."

Would you extend this to something like selling your organs? I could give someone a kidney donation, but it seems kind of twisted to sell your own kidney for $$$.

Or, would you extend it to something like selling your vote in a democratic system? I can vote for whoever I want, but I can't think of a worse race to the bottom than allowing people to put their votes on the market.

I think the problem with this philosophy is it puts everything, even our own beings, in the hands of capitalism.

[Minimalist]

I'm guessing Min was joking but I agree with your post completely, Divinity.

Only partly.  If a jesus freak baker doesn't want to perform a service for a gay couple there are many states which have anti-discrimination laws which will sanction them for that position.  There are plenty of states which lack such laws and there is no federal statute on the matter.  But there is a "what's good for the goose" element to this as well.  As far as STDs go should a baker deny a cake to someone with diabetes?  Its for their own good, after all. 

Assuming the act has been legalized, which was the point of the OP, why should a hooker get to withhold her services for discriminatory reasons when the baker cannot?  Unfortunately the law must deal with such delicate distinctions.