# Why is prostitution illegal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 9, 2019, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prostitution-illegal/827482 "2019-01-09T19:05:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prostitution-illegal/827482/81 "2019-01-14T16:25:41Z")
> [@andros](#): > > What I believe **UltraVires** is arguing (and I trust he’ll correct me if I mischaracterize), is that _legal prostitution is, on balance, detrimental to our society and therefore ought to be discouraged through illegality and punishment._ > > I’m honestly still not 100% sure quite what his reasoning is, or the calculus he is using to determine that the negatives outweigh the benefits. These discussions tend toward the emotional on all sides. But that’s what they boil down to: Is X a net benefit to society? It’s your typical wowser calculus of, “_I_ don’t like it so it should be illegal for _you_ to do it.” [Nevada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Nevada) has had legal prostitution far longer than New Zealand’s example of 2003 and somehow, despite **Ultra Vires** ’ fears, society there has survived. The current law was carefully tailored to specifically make brothels illegal in Clark county (Las Vegas\*) but leave it as a local option for the other counties. Of those, the three counties with an appreciable population – Washoe (Reno, Sparks), Douglas (no incorporated cities at all) and Carson City have opted out, as have a couple other counties with your typical Nevada population of under 10,000. I have not been in Eastern Nevada much so I can’t address them, but the counties adjacent to the three named above all have legal brothels just across the border from where people are living in those three counties. And putting **UV** ’s fears about women being coerced into the profession, the help-wanted ads for the _Las Vegas Sun_ and _Reno Gazette Journal_ have a section for ‘Ladies’ with the understood implication they would be using their lady-bits in their employment. > [@SamuelA](#): > > Which come to think of it, there are public parks in France where this kind of thing happens. And, well, I don’t think everything has fallen into ruin as a result of this. I had a girlfriend who spent her senior year at the Sorbonne circa 1972. She said that apartment rents were so high in Paris almost all undergrads were living at their parents’ home or had two roommates if not three or four. As a consequence most of them would get it on in as secluded a public place they could find, but would do some of the preliminaries in a brasserie or restaurant where at least it was warm. Once she was in a restaurant with her boyfriend and another couple there was carrying on a bit much even by Parisian standards. There was an American tourist couple there and their son, about twelve, who was watching what amounted to public foreplay “with eyes the size of saucers.” They sent him out to wait in the car. She also remarked, “You _can_ do the deed in the front seat of a Citroen 2CV.” \*Yet the city abounds with streetwalkers; imagine that. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prostitution-illegal/827482/82 "2019-01-14T17:57:15Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > … For example, why can’t the brothels advertise? If I pay a billboard company to advertise my brothel, and he willing accepts my money, who does it harm to tell someone an absolute truth that I have UltraVires’ Mustang Chicken Ranch off of State Route 50, if you arrive prior to 8pm and purchase a blow job, the second one costs only a penny? > > You seem to invoke the Libertarian ideal that the prostitution contract is semi-sacred and should not be touched by the government, but the regulations which also infringe on free choices and contracts are a-okay. Nope. It is the one who insists _“If X is tolerated then advertising X must be legal”_ who has drunk the Libertarian Kool-Aid. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prostitution-illegal/827482/83 "2019-01-14T18:23:08Z")
At least in the United States and some other countries prostitution is seen as a vice: something pleasurable or addictive but not healthy either for the individuals participating in it or the society at large that tolerates it. Comparable to drugs, alcohol, gambling, and smoking, all of which have been subject to varying levels of opprobrium at different times and places. It’s noteworthy that even when prostitution has been tolerated it has seldom been respectable (as some libertarian feminists say it should be). Prostitutes were often considered outcasts, beyond the pale of decent society. As were various “sin towns” or “dens of iniquity”; which provided they were across the tracks or outside some city or county line could be looked down on but considered someone else’s problem- while quietly attracting patrons from “respectable” society. This is a long standing alternative to something being either expressly legal or illegal and seriously enforced: consider it an externality. Hypocritical perhaps but often the least problematic muddle that can be managed. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prostitution-illegal/827482/84 "2019-01-15T01:01:10Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > This is a long standing alternative to something being either expressly legal or illegal and seriously enforced: consider it an externality. Hypocritical perhaps but often the least problematic muddle that can be managed. …I disagree. The least problematic way sex work can be managed is (in my most humblest opinions, which is backed up with objective data), what we’ve done down under. You wouldn’t believe how un-problematic its been since we stopped listening to the hypocrites and started listening to the people that are routinely ignored. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prostitution-illegal/827482/85 "2019-01-15T15:09:08Z")
> [@BenedictusXIV](#): > > Why do I have to do all the googling? :rolleyes: > > [Judaism](https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/prostitution-2) > [Islam](https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=pnGwP9-FhxYC&pg=PA36&dq=&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false) > Not sure about christianity given the take that Jesus slept with a hooker. Probably one of those controversions between new and old testament. > I believe Hinduism has no explicit prohibition. > > However, with most religions it doesn’t really matter what the scripture says, but how it is interpreted. You really do not have to do all the Googling. I would prefer you not make stuff up. You have not provided a cite of a religion forbidding prostitution. ---
**Author:** ![BenedictusXIV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b19c9b/32.png) [@BenedictusXIV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BenedictusXIV)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prostitution-illegal/827482/86 "2019-01-15T16:15:02Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > I would prefer you not make stuff up. That hurt my feelings. The URL on Judaism leads to an article titled “Issues in Jewish Ethics: Prostitution” If you bother to read the article, you will come across > [@](#): > > **The halakhah imposed a general prohibition on the professional prostitute** , and the term came to include any woman who abandoned herself to any man even if not for pay, and states that “Whoever hands his unmarried daughter [to a man] not for the purposes of matrimony,” as well as the woman who delivers herself not for the purposes of matrimony, could lead to the whole world being filled with mamzerim since “from his consorting with many women and not knowing with whom, or if she has had intercourse with many men and does not know with whom – he could marry his own daughter, or marry her to his son” (see Mamzer; Sifra, Kedoshim 7, 1–5). The book referenced in the second URL is a little less obvious, but > [@](#): > > In Iran, Saudi Arabia, Mauritania, Lybia…the penalties for \*zina \*are the primary legal vehicle used to control prostitution SInce the book was so much on topic of the discussion, I thought you would appreciate it, but oh well… Zina is essentialy any form of sex crime (from adultery to necrophilia). If you look it up in say…Wikipedia, you will find > [@](#): > > Zināʾ (زِنَاء) or zina (زِنًى or زِنًا) is an Islamic legal term referring to unlawful sexual intercourse.[1] According to traditional jurisprudence, zina can include adultery (of married parties), fornication (of unmarried parties), prostitution, bestiality, and rape.[1] Classification of homosexual intercourse as zina differs according to legal school.[2] The Quran disapproved of the promiscuity prevailing in Arabia at the time, and several verses refer to unlawful sexual intercourse, including one that prescribes the punishment of 100 lashes for fornicators.[2] Four witnesses are required to prove the offense.[2] Zina thus belongs to the class of hadd (pl. hudud) crimes which have Quranically specified punishments.[2] There! I think I fulfilled my service to society. You seem rather determined to make a point that prostitution is not condemned in religion. I can’t imagine why this would be of any relevance (unless you live in the Middle-East and contemplate a career as sex worker), but I hope we can agree that at least two of the major religions say it’s a no-no. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prostitution-illegal/827482/87 "2019-01-15T22:51:50Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …you are entirely incorrect, yet you’ve inadvertently stumbled onto the real reason why sex work in most countries in the world isn’t legal. > > There are plenty of people care enough about pushing sex work to legality. There are unions and collectives and lobby groups and even the United Nations is in support of decriminalization. > > Who cares about about legalizing sex work? Sex workers. > > Sex work is an industry that is populated almost entirely by women that is subject to laws and regulations imposed on them by legislators who are almost exclusively men. Sex workers have been fighting hard and loudly for legalization for years. If you haven’t heard them its because you live in a society that marginalizes the voices of women, its because you haven’t been listening. > > Story time. Catherine Healy was a primary school teacher in the 80’s before she decided to enter the sex industry. She was frustrated less by “dodgy clients” and more by “the indignity of the law”. > > [Stuff](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/104330042/dame-catherine-healy-brought-in-from-the-cold-after-career-advocating-for-sex-workers) > > That was the genesis of the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective, a lobby group that fought on behalf of sex workers in New Zealand. In 1997, the NZPC, along with the New Zealand Federation of Business and Professional Women, the National Council of Women, the YWCA, as well as academics and members of parliament from both the left and right wing, came together at a forum to draft a bill. It was bought to parliament as a private members bill by Tim Barnett, and it surprisingly got narrowly passed into law with an impassioned speech by Georgina Byers (the first transgender member of parliament and a former sex worker) generally attributed as what pushed the bill over the line. > > What the bill does: > > [Prostitution in New Zealand - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_New_Zealand#Prostitution_Reform_Act_2003) > > Other resources for those that are interested: [Health and Safety Information for Operators of Businesses of Prostitution,](https://www.healthed.govt.nz/resource/health-and-safety-information-operators-businesses-prostitution-%E2%80%93-english-version)and [A Guide to Occupational Health and Safety in the New Zealand Sex Industry.](http://espu-usa.com/espu-ca/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/nz-health-and-safety-handbook.pdf) > > The introduction of the reform act changed the landscape of sex work in this country. What you didn’t see (as alluded to by some in this thread) was a noticeable increase (or decrease) in pregnancy or STD’s. What it does mean is that sex workers can go to the police and not fear that they will be arrested or have their livelihood threatened. That they will be listened too and taken [seriously](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/109401349/police-and-sex-workers-collaborate-on-guide-for-assault-survivors). It means that sex workers can go after their employers for sexual harassment: and [win](http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/9777879/Sex-worker-gets-25-000-over-harassment). > > The legislative framework we got in New Zealand is what happens when you listen. The [“Nordic Model”](https://medium.com/@aleknielsen/nordic-model-the-ongoing-criminalization-of-sex-workers-in-northern-europe-c1df02ba94ae) is what happens when you don’t. For her work in advocating and standing up for the rights of sex workers Healy was honored last year with a damehood (the female equivalent of a knighthood.) and deservedly so. Sorry for the belated response, and thank you for correcting me. While I was really talking about a lack of demand-side push for legal sex work, you’re right that I was sadly unaware of this kind of remarkable supply-side reform. You’ve also demonstrated yet another way New Zealand is more advanced than the U.S. Please work with Canada to take us over. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prostitution-illegal/827482/88 "2019-01-16T01:44:48Z")
> [@BenedictusXIV](#): > > You seem rather determined to make a point that prostitution is not condemned in religion. I can’t imagine why this would be of any relevance (unless you live in the Middle-East and contemplate a career as sex worker), but I hope we can agree that at least two of the major religions say it’s a no-no. I think we can imagine that personal attacks are the sign of a weak argument. Certainly we agree that you cannot cite a holy scripture of any name-brand religion condemning prostitution? Some authors have used religion as an excuse to condemn prostitution, just as some have probably condemned vegetarians. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prostitution-illegal/827482/89 "2019-01-16T10:13:19Z")
> [@BenedictusXIV](#): > > Not sure about christianity given the take that Jesus slept with a hooker. Take from whom? There’s also people who claim he was gay, people who claim he was an alien (as in “from outer space”)… ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prostitution-illegal/827482/90 "2019-01-16T10:19:48Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Take from whom? There’s also people who claim he was gay, people who claim he was an alien (as in “from outer space”)… Presumably this is a reference to Mary Magdalene and/or other women with which she has been conflated. > [@Wikipedia](#): > > During the Middle Ages, Mary Magdalene was conflated in western tradition with Mary of Bethany and the unnamed “sinful woman” who anoints Jesus’s feet in Luke 7:36–50, resulting in a widespread but inaccurate belief that she was a repentant prostitute or promiscuous woman. Elaborate medieval legends from western Europe tell exaggerated tales of Mary Magdalene’s wealth and beauty, as well as her alleged journey to southern France. The identification of Mary Magdalene with Mary of Bethany and the unnamed “sinful woman” was a major controversy in the years leading up to the Reformation and some Protestant leaders rejected it. During the Counter-Reformation, the Catholic Church used Mary Magdalene as a symbol of penance. > > In 1969, the identification of Mary Magdalene with Mary of Bethany and the “sinful woman” was removed from the General Roman Calendar, but the view of her as a former prostitute has persisted in popular culture. Mary Magdalene is considered to be a saint by the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran churches—with a feast day of July 22. Other Protestant churches honor her as a heroine of the faith. The Eastern Orthodox churches also commemorate her on the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers, the Orthodox equivalent of one of the Western Three Marys traditions. Speculations that Mary Magdalene was Jesus’s wife or that she had a sexual relationship with him are regarded by most historians as highly dubious. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prostitution-illegal/827482/91 "2019-01-16T15:19:39Z")
> [@BenedictusXIV](#): > > My point is that you can be morally opposed to prostitution (or whatever), but that is no basis for prohibition. Society as a whole is perfectly capable of handling moral issues without government involvement. > > Where do I draw the line? Quite simple, when people get harmed (physically or otherwise). That is when the government/the law should be there to protect you. So, you would agree that New Zealand is wrong for prohibiting advertising of brothels or for requiring condom use? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prostitution-illegal/827482/92 "2019-01-16T15:25:29Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > It also accurately describes the act between you and your wife. Still, I doubt that you’re using these word when you talk to her. There’s nothing that makes the sex between a prostitute and her patron, the sex during a one night stand between two partners who just want a good fuck, the sex between two fuck buddies, the sex between occasional lovers, and the sex between you and your wife more or less vile or more or less noble. > > I think you can’t grasp the concept that not everybody perceives sex as being inherently degrading unless done in some very special circumstances, as you do. I find it astounding that you believe that sex within a marriage is no more “noble” than sex with a prostitute. If we did a poll asking the public that question and it had the option of sex within marriage as being “more noble,” “less noble,” or “equal” which choice do you think would win? And does that majority not have the option to enact their beliefs into law? Unless you are arguing that prostitution is a fundamental liberty interest, which no serious legal scholar suggests, then your bald declaration does not make it the correct thing. Indeed, my position does not hamper a majority from legalizing prostitution, but it tests your ridiculous idea that sex with a prostitute is not different than sex with your spouse. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prostitution-illegal/827482/93 "2019-01-16T16:36:18Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > So, you would agree that New Zealand is wrong for prohibiting advertising of brothels or for requiring condom use? I would think “requiring condom use” falls very solidly under “preventing harm”. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prostitution-illegal/827482/94 "2019-01-16T17:06:44Z")
The distinction between using your hands to pick crops in the fields for hours for pay and using your hands to stimulate someone’s genitals for pay seems very arbitrary. Why is one legal and one not? Most of the good reasons our ancestors had, supporting children of prostitutes, STDs, etc. for banning the practice are handled better with other methods in the modern era. So my remaining objections were some form of “EWWW!” But I realize that my “EWWW!” is someone else’s “RAWR!” and that person is as much a part of society as I am. The “EWWW!” of the majority has long been a force for injustice, from the stigmatization and criminalization of homosexuality to the marginalization of racial minorities. Still, I wouldn’t want to be a prostitute, and most of the stories I’ve heard of people who lived that life are pretty negative, so I wouldn’t want my kids going into that line of work. I was still about 60-40 on the legalize/prohibit spectrum. I’ve become more convinced that we need to legalize sexwork recently(~10 years ago) by legal decisions banning smoking in bars. I was of the opinion that a bar could choose to be a smoking area and the patrons, knowing that in advance, could choose to visit it or not. But what that does is force the employees of the bar, who are often nonsmokers, or may smoke less than the patrons, to become second-hand smokers as a condition of their employment. This is an undue burden to me and I agreed with the decisions to ban smoking entirely to protect the workplace from foreseeable hazards. Being exposed to carcinogens as a condition of employment is not ok with asbestos or tobacco. Similarly, the sexworkers of the world could have a safer, better work environment with legal protections for their work than they have now. The pimps and madams of the world, not to mention the traffickers and abusers, are there to fulfill a role that society has abdicated, and that’s not ok. I’d rather have cops be called when a client is abusing a sexworker than a pimp be called. I’d rather swallow my “EWWW!” than have them continue on like this. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prostitution-illegal/827482/95 "2019-01-16T21:03:14Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > I find it astounding that you believe that sex within a marriage is no more “noble” than sex with a prostitute. If we did a poll asking the public that question and it had the option of sex within marriage as being “more noble,” “less noble,” or “equal” which choice do you think would win? Noble? That’s the problem right there. Sex in marriage is pleasurable, and it helps build closeness. So does having dinner together, taking road trips together, going shopping together, and going to shows together. I assume you think that marriage is good. I do. Some married couples are sexually incompatible. Should a marriage break up only for that? If not, should one or both partners be frustrated by the other partner? If not, what is better - a mistress or male equivalent which risks an emotional involvement which could a marriage or risk or prostitution which does not. I’m assuming openness here, since keeping secrets is bad for a marriage. If prostitution can be pro-marriage, let’s make it safe. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prostitution-illegal/827482/96 "2019-01-17T07:28:19Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > I find it astounding that you believe that sex within a marriage is no more “noble” than sex with a prostitute. Then be astounded. Sex is just sex. It can be great or not that great. It can be greater with a loving partner. But it’s not noble, and more importantly it’s not vile. It’s not something dirty that needs to be washed in marriage vows. Enjoy your marital sex and let others enjoy their sex, whatever it is. > [@](#): > > If we did a poll asking the public that question and it had the option of sex within marriage as being “more noble,” “less noble,” or “equal” which choice do you think would win? Ho! I do not doubt that your side would win by a very large margin. But I also have no doubt that a very large part of the population has completely fucked up views about sex. Our culture is very clearly sex-negative, and sex is considered a bad, dirty, dangerous thing by default, that can only become acceptable if very specific conditions (conditions vary depending on who you ask) are met at which point it magically becomes the greatest thing since (and before) the invention of sliced bread. > [@](#): > > And does that majority not have the option to enact their beliefs into law? No, definitely not. And since I understand that you’re a lawyer, I’m in turn astounded that you would make such a statement. > [@](#): > > Unless you are arguing that prostitution is a fundamental liberty interest, which no serious legal scholar suggests, then your bald declaration does not make it the correct thing. Neither does yours. And yes, I believe that being able to have sex with whom I want, when I want, how I want, and for any reason I want is one of the most important freedom there is. And the whom, why, how and when is _absolutely_ none of anybody business besides my partners. People have always wanted to regulate other people’s sexuality, in ways they wouldn’t dare to try regulate any other activity. Generations after generations and still to this day, they want to prevent others from having any kind of sex that is different from their own. They feel entitled to control other people’s bedrooms. They spew their hatred and their despise on everybody who doesn’t fuck in a way they approve of with the people they approve of. As you did in this very thread. “Don’t you see how vile and repugnant your sperm pumping is? Don’t you want to partake instead in our noble, ethereal and pure act of divine adoration? And anyway if you don’t want to, we’re going to force you to, you perv!” When you have sex with your wife, you’re using the same organs we all do and release the same bodily fluids we all do. Stop pretending that what happens when you move your loins with sweat dripping from your forehead or when you lick the area your partner use to pee is any nobler because you have a fancy piece of paper in your cupboard. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prostitution-illegal/827482/97 "2019-01-17T07:54:10Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Presumably this is a reference to Mary Magdalene and/or other women with which she has been conflated. I know, but as your own quote says, “speculation that he had sex with [any of the aforementioned women] [are late inventions and nothing pointing to that is found in the actual Bible]”. And if you asked Spaniards about the nobility of sex and allowed write-in answers, a lot of what you’d get would be along the lines of “can I make my cunt a duchess?” ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prostitution-illegal/827482/98 "2019-01-17T20:36:48Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > And if you asked Spaniards about the nobility of sex and allowed write-in answers, a lot of what you’d get would be along the lines of “can I make my cunt a duchess?” I sure hope so, since I can say as an American that our President is a dick. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prostitution-illegal/827482/99 "2019-01-18T22:25:37Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > What is the problem you are trying to solve by having sex work illegal? As I recall the historical examples, either (1) to stop exploitation, or (2) as the result of international pressure. ---
**Author:** ![Littleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ccd318/32.png) [@Littleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Littleman)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prostitution-illegal/827482/100 "2019-01-20T16:39:06Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > The weird thing is that making a porn movie _is_ legal, protected under the First Amendment. So payment for sex is okay provided you film it. (That doesn’t mean it’s legal to hire a hooker provided you just film it on your phone, it’s regulated with licensing requirements.) Nope, payment for the right to film sex and distribute tge film is legal. Payment for the sex is not. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prostitution-illegal/827482.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prostitution-illegal/827482.md?page=6)