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Politics | 10/22/2008 9:00 am

Sexually Liberal San Francisco Trying to Decriminalize Prostitution

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
© Shutterstock

Prostitution – the world’s oldest profession – has long been an institution in San Francisco.

Now, the sexually liberal city may well be the first major U.S. metropolitan area to decriminalize the practice.

If voters next month approve Proposition K, a measure that forbids local authorities from investigating, arresting or prosecuting anyone for selling sex, prostitution wouldn’t exactly be legalized, but ladies of the night couldn’t be chased down.

Proponents say the measure will free up $11 million the police spend each year arresting prostitutes and allow them to form collectives, the Associated Press reports.

"It will allow workers to organize for our rights and for our safety," said Patricia West, 22, who sells sex with ads on the Internet. She moved to San Francisco in May to help get Proposition K passed.

Despite the fact that the city has a sadomasochism fair that draws thousands of tourists and a pornographic video company in a former armory, the measure faces an uphill political battle.

Supporters say the measure will cut crime and protect prostitutes from assault and rape because they could report crimes without fear of being arrested. They also say it would eliminate the need for women to rely on pimps for protections. But opponents argue Proposition K would embolden pimps who trap drug addicts into prostitution.

If the proposal passes, "we wouldn’t be able to investigate prostitution, and it’s going to be pretty difficult for us to locate these folks who are victims of trafficking otherwise," Capt. Al Pardini, head of the police department’s vice unit, told the AP. "It’s pretty rare that we get a call that says, ‘I’m a victim of human trafficking’ or ‘I suspect human trafficking in my neighborhood.’"

Brothels are allowed in rural counties in Nevada, while Rhode Island allows the sale of sex behind closed doors between consenting adults, but prohibits street prostitution and brothels.

12 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Chrome Toe
you go San Francisco!!! I for one have believed prostitution should be legalized since I was old enough to know what it is. I’d like to see these women safe and protected and practicing their trade in a physically healthy environment. For the love of God or Allah or Buddha or whatever you believe in… it is NOT going away. Criminalizing it is simply creating crime and tax dollars and violence that need not be there.
By Chrome Toe on 10/22/2008 9:16 am
f p
Seconds your thoughts Kelly
By f p on 10/22/2008 9:40 am
Belinda Joy
How sad it is that women and men have such little self worth that they choose to use their bodies and sexuality as a commodity to be bargained for; and how pathetic it is that people feel the need to have to purchase sex. There was a time in our history when sex had a greater level of respect and reverence. Great, now the women and men of San Francisco can legally put a price tag on their vaginas and penises….I pity them.
By Belinda Joy on 10/22/2008 9:51 am
gulliver fourmyle
well, it may seem sad—-but there is more, as usual, than meets the eye here—-1st, i imagine the ‘risk-factor’ for sex-sales will plummet, as i’m betting the ‘ho’ population will be subject to HIV, any STD testing. 2nd, ‘vice-squad officers’ will be freed to play Real ‘cops & robbers’. 3rd, many do not realize a typical ‘vice-squad’ graduation often ends with a well-known ‘party’ where officers are ‘treated’, by those they will later ‘police’. 4th, how do you classify ‘mistresses’? they are classically defined as women who want sex and $$$, but no children or marriage—-are they not ‘hos’? then comes the ‘biological’ aspect. it gets clinical, so i’ll add a disclaimer—-don’t read if basic human biology offends you—-as it’s a ‘kicker’—- the male prostate is essentially a ‘modified’ breast gland, who’s secretions Harm males, it has been shown that sexually active w/females men have lower incidence of prostate cancer. on the other hand, said ‘stuff’ has positive effects on both the female’s immune-system and sense of ‘well-being’—-so it’s not just a matter of ‘sex-fun’, rather a 2-way street of health—- this was researched by an Indian Aids specialist, as HIV is an enormous problem in India—-interesting and very true story—-as a child, his father raised pigs—-male & female piggy groups were segregated—-about 10% of male pigs were receptive to anal intercourse—-and these pigs were clearly less healthy than the others—-upon butchering, numerous lower intestine tumors (mainly Kaposi’s-sarcoma) were found—-he never forgot—-and later, pursued that memory—-and proved Why the homosexual population seemed far more subject to HIV than ‘heteros’—-and yep, the stats were there, and yep—-religious fanatics jumped on this quickly, as proof of god’s wrath on ‘queers’. hardly the case, over millions of years, women had ‘acquired’ not only ‘resistance’ to seminal-fluid, but the ability to benefit, whether via vaginal, or oral sex with males. the dramatic decline of ‘gays’ becoming HIV+ as they shifted from ‘unprotected’ anal sex is a direct result of this Indian MD.’s research—-but now, we may leave that for another area—-Big Pharma—- we all know drugs are tested for breast-feeding women—-but where is any testing for said drugs being passed to the wives, SOs of ‘active’ couples via prostate secretions? Not A Word—-yet if i eat oysters, my ‘stuff’ smells like oyster, turns ‘oyster-color’—-the times i have been scripted anti-depressants? my ex became manic—-it follows the Indian research—-does Big Pharma warn of such fact? NO! but i’ve seen it in my marriage—-those of others—-so i ask, what will happen when Big Pharma admits its malfeasance, and advises happily married couples, where the male is ‘on’ their dope, ‘Raincoats’ are required? will their sales rise? or fall? prostitution is no simple matter of sex—-rather, given no STD risk, the ancient story of men, not simply paying for pleasure—-rather Life—-and the women? being paid for same—-as ‘Captain’ Jack Sparrow said—-‘Funny old world, isn’t it.’ i have never paid for sex—-whoops, i forgot that wedding ring, and later Rolexs—-
By gulliver fourmyle on 10/22/2008 7:36 pm
James the Game
I might have to move there!!! Just kidding. Actually, it’s not a laughing matter, with all of the sexually transmitted diseases going around these days. It’s always been sleazy, with the underworld of drugs, rapes, beatings, murders, etcetera. I suppose legalizing prostitution would remove some of those seedier aspects of the “business”. There are always the moral and ethical issues, which I’ll leave to others to kick around.
By James the Game on 10/22/2008 10:19 am
John G
Thousands of Nevadans can’t be wrong. Decriminalize hot-button illegalities (that exist solely for the politician’s slogan hunt) and spend your time and money fighting real crime…
By John G on 10/22/2008 10:32 am
John G
and BTW: Were not just sexually liberal here in the SF Bay Area. Were omni-liberal ;-) and proud of it.
By John G on 10/22/2008 10:40 am
HA BIBI
Sexually Liberal San Francisco I arrest my case!
By HA BIBI on 10/22/2008 11:07 am
John G
VOTE YES ON PROP 8!!!!!
By John G on 10/22/2008 12:11 pm
John G
I’M VOTING NO!!!!!!
By John G on 10/22/2008 12:12 pm
Elizabeth Bennett
Just because it is on the ballot does not mean that the citizens of SF have adopted it. It is fairly easy to get stuff on the ballot. In two weeks, this may be a story. In the meantime, have you noticed? Cities have to set priorities or declare bankruptcy. I do hope that the new stimulus bill helps to bail out cities and counties across the country who have much lower revenues due to reductions in property taxes due to foreclosures.
By Elizabeth Bennett on 10/22/2008 6:03 pm
gulliver fourmyle
have any of you been to Amsterdam? Frankfurt, Nice? Any hear of ‘sexual-surragates? already legal in some states? if ya can’t stop it, leave it alone, save ‘medical-screening’—-or just keep on feeding crooked futzing cops—-more out there, than you probably know—-
By gulliver fourmyle on 11/05/2008 12:12 am