The Pros and Pros of Legalizing Prostitution in America
Full-scale prohibition is rarely the answer for any vice. It didn’t work for alcohol. Damn sure isn’t working for drugs. And never in a million years will it work for the sex trade. Because like it or not, commercialized sex is a booming, recession-proof industry that thrives around the clock.
It’s well past time to legalize prostitution in America. I could facetiously dickhead my way through it, but I’ve compiled legit reasons to support a compelling case for the argument.
Mo Money, Honey!
Several European companies have demonstrated that legalization can be a lucrative path to tax revenues. In Germany, for example, sex workers are required to register as service providers and pay income tax like everyday professionals. The government collects millions of euros annually from taxes on prostitution, which contributes to essential public services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
If the U.S. hops on the gravy train, a legal prostitution industry could become a significant source of revenue. Of course Uncle Sam gets its cut, but the American economy would also benefit from the money shelled out for licensing fees, business taxes, and personal income taxes from sex workers. By formalizing the industry, federal and local governments could generate billions of dollars in tax revenue annually, not unlike the massive tax dollars accrued from legalizing cannabis just at the state level.
Job Endowment
Now obviously, legalized sex work instantly creates a new market for anyone deciding on a career field. But the potential to stimulate the job economy stems beyond even that. The industry would depend on various services and areas of expertise to support sex work. This might include roles related to management, marketing, and even healthcare.
The influx of new jobs could go a long way in reducing unemployment and stimulating local economies across the board, especially in areas with a high demand for adult entertainment services. Take Nevada, for example. Prostitution is regulated in select counties, allowing local brothels to provide gainful employment for sex workers and support staff alike.
A Cleaner Bill of Health
I first encountered the term “harm reduction” when exploring the online drug community. Instead of ostracizing people for their choices, the community focuses on providing information to minimize the potential risks of drug use. A similar concept is applicable to sex work. Another legalized prostitution hub, New Zealand emphasizes harm reduction and worker safety. Legalization has led to the establishment of standards for working conditions, including regular health check-ups, access to protective measures, and labor rights protections.
The illicit prostitution market, largely run by organized crime rings and street pimps, is scrutinized for good reason. When sex work is driven underground due to legal restrictions, service providers are at higher risk of exploitation, violence, and health issues. Legalization can help mitigate these risks by creating a safer and more regulated environment for workers.
Regulation could make the act of commercial sex itself a lot safer. Australia has seen a sharp decline in sexually transmitted diseases among prostitutes. The country requires mandatory testing for sex workers, which helps prevent the spread of diseases to clients and the wider community.
In the U.S., where prostitution prohibition reigns supreme, criminalization often discourages sex workers from seeking healthcare, for fear of arrest or discrimination. Legalizing and regulating the industry could encourage routine testing and health check-ups, reducing STD transmission rates and improving public health overall.
Anti-Crime Time
By now, you might be thinking, “Wouldn’t legalizing prostitution make human trafficking an even bigger problem?” I’m here to tell you that evidence from across the pond suggests otherwise. Through regulation, authorities in New Zealand and the Netherlands have created infrastructures that can better monitor the industry for signs of trafficking and forced labor.
When the sex trade operates in a legal, transparent environment, it becomes easier to identify and protect victims of trafficking. Legalization also diverts law enforcement resources to target the most dangerous actors: traffickers and exploitative networks. As a result, less time is wasted criminalizing and prosecuting consenting adults who engage in transactional sex.
Legalized prostitution can help clean up the streets on a broader scale by tackling drug trafficking, violence, and other crimes associated with illicit solicitation. In countries like Germany, regulated zones and licensed brothels have helped reduce the visibility of street-based sex work, leading to fewer public disturbances and a lesser strain on law enforcement resources. Such a shift allows law enforcement to focus on more pressing community issues that enhance public safety.
Protect Prostitutes at All Costs
In countries where prostitution is legal, sex workers can access labor protections, unionize, and benefit from workers’ rights like any other profession. This includes protection against exploitation, harassment, and unfair working conditions. In New Zealand, for instance, sex workers report greater empowerment and morale due to the ability to refuse clients and negotiate better terms for their services.
Slow Down on Slut Shaming
In the U.S., where prostitution remains criminalized in most states, workers face stigma and discrimination that often prevents them from seeking help or reporting abuses. Legalizing the industry would provide sex workers with legal recourse to fight discrimination, abuse, or wage theft, thus safeguarding their rights as professionals.
Legalization could also help destigmatize sex work over time, fostering social acceptance and understanding of the profession as a legitimate means of employment. Countries where prostitution is legal, like Switzerland, treat sex work as a profession, giving workers the same social security and pension benefits as any other occupation. This normalization helps reduce the societal stigma attached to sex work, enabling workers to lead more dignified and integrated lives.
Moral of the Story
No matter how you spin it, some people will always view prostitution as a morally objectionable practice. However, I think it’s best to frame as it as an issue of labor rights and personal freedoms. The New Zealands of the world get it right by centering their focus on laws that legally protect adults who choose to engage in sex work. Recognizing prostitution as legitimate employment is consistent with individual choice, bodily autonomy, and harm reduction, principles widely endorsed in many traditional industries.
While fears that legalized prostitution could increase exploitation and trafficking are legitimate, evidence from working systems suggests that effective regulation can reduce, rather than exacerbate, exploitation. By establishing clear laws and enforcing them rigorously, authorities can minimize illegal activities associated with the industry and ensure that sex workers operate in habitual safe spaces … if they want to.
Conclusion
Will we ever see regulated sex work in America? Probably not in my lifetime. Would be a real shame, too, because legalizing prostitution has the potential to deliver significant benefits on an economic, public health, and social scale. By learning from countries where prostitution is already legal, the U.S. can design policies that ensure safer working conditions, increase tax revenue, and reduce crime, all while empowering sex workers in the process.
Although challenges remain, the evidence suggests that a well-regulated system can improve outcomes for sex workers and society alike. As debates continue, considering the successes and limitations of other approaches will be crucial for shaping a policy that aligns with American values and goals. Because legal or illegal, sex sells!
Contel Bradford is a mystical and complex individual. You can attempt to unravel some of the mystery by visiting his author site at countkrewpublications.com.
