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San Fransisco to decriminalize prostitution, Proposition K on November ballot
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by Tina Kells | October 22, 2008 at 03:31 pm
1748 views | 9 Recommendations | 10 comments
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When voters in San Fransisco cast their ballots next month, they won't just be choosing a president, they could decriminalize prostitution as well. Proposition K, an intiative that will not legalize prostitution but will severly limit the ability of law enforcement to prosecute prostitutes, will appear on the ballot in the bay area during the upcoming election.
If passed, Proposition K would make San Fransisco the first major city in the United States to decriminalize the world's oldest profession. Proponents claim that the intiative will free up more than $11 million, and will pave the way for prostitutes to form supportive collectives to ensure safety and access to critical services, like drug rehab and health care.
Nevada and Rhode Island already allow some form of prostitution. Proposition K would see California join the list of hooker friendly states. However, California would be the first jurisdiction to allow street prostitution, something both Rhode Island and Nevada do not permit.
The ballot question technically would not legalize prostitution, since state law still prohibits it, but the measure would eliminate the power of local law enforcement officials to go after prostitutes.Proponents say the measure will free up $11 million the police spend each year arresting prostitutes and allow them to form collectives.
"It will allow workers to organize for our rights and for our safety," said Patricia West, 22, who said she has been selling sex for about a year by placing ads on the Internet. She moved to San Francisco in May from Texas to work on Proposition K.
Even in tolerant San Francisco, where the sadomasochism fair draws thousands of tourists and a pornographic video company is housed in a former armory, the measure faces an uphill battle, with much of the political establishment opposing it.
Some form of prostitution is legal in two states. Brothels are allowed in rural counties in Nevada. And Rhode Island permits the sale of sex behind closed doors between consenting adults, but it prohibits street prostitution and brothels.
In 2004, almost two-thirds of voters in nearby Berkeley rejected decriminalization. But proponents of Proposition K say their proposal has a better shot in San Francisco, which they believe is more sexually liberal than the city across the bay.
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Donny Russ
San Diego, California, United States
Tina Kells
Vancouver, CanadaVertryn
Millsboro, Georgia, United States
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (10)
at 15:39 on October 22nd, 2008
It's the worlds oldest profession? I had no idea.
at 15:47 on October 22nd, 2008
Tina Kells, I like this story. It's good stuff.
I would be in favor of that law, not that I hire prostitutes, but I'd say what SHOULD be illegal is to advertise sex for sale as a female and then find your "hooker" has a johnson down in the amusement park region.
at 15:53 on October 22nd, 2008
I definitely favour this sort of thing. My minor in school was women's studies and I did lots of research on this, these women (and men) need the law to protect them, not add to their persecution. Then law enforcement can focus on slave traders, and child pimps, that sort of thing. Not to mention the benefits to ensuring prostitutes have access to health care and counselling.
I consider it a sad irony that it is legal to pay people to have sex so you can film it, distribute it and make a profit (aka the porn industry), but actually selling sex directly is still a crime. Maybe prostitutes should get brokers who pay them and their client (a token fee) to have sex with one another to take advantage of whatever loophole allows porn to be legal.
The top video that I added to this story addresses some of the core issues in this debate very well (all-be-it with a small bit of profanity, but it works in the context)
at 16:53 on October 22nd, 2008
I don't know much about this issue. Thanks for the information and your POV Tina.
at 18:08 on October 22nd, 2008
Tina Kells, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 21:39 on October 22nd, 2008
Prop K will ultimately encourage human trafficking. According to the CIA, there are over 14,000 people trafficked into the US each year, 80% of whom are fated for sexual slavery.
Visit polarisproject.org to learn more.
Consider this: According to Capt. Al Pardini of the SFPD Vice Unit: "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. 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.'"
The proposition would also prohibit police from accepting federal or state funds for sex trafficking investigations that involve racial profiling. Such investigations often arise from raids on brothels that advertise as Asian massage parlors.
VOTE NO ON K.
at 23:42 on October 22nd, 2008
I have been a sex worker for 6 years. I dont deserve to be arrested only for being a sex worker. Criminalization has never helped against trafficking and it will never.
at 04:28 on October 23rd, 2008
Tina Kells, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 11:02 on October 31st, 2008
The opponents of this proposition are telling lies, and scare tactics to get people to vote against it. By lying and saying that all prostitutes are forced to do it against their will. Yet they can never find anyone who was a victim of this. Where are all these victims? Why aren't they coming out and talking? It's just a made up lie. It is very difficult to force anyone to do something against their will. They would need 24 hour guards, and be watched over like being in prison, with no chance to escape. Try getting someone to do something they don't want to do and see how successful you are - you won't be. Since this is a victimless crime, the opponents and racial feminists need to invent a victim in order to get support. They could have chose the johns, the hookers or the city itself. They chose the hookers to be the victims even though it's the hookers who want to decriminalize because they realize it's the police, justice system and the government that hurts them, not the johns. By the way, there is a federal law the says any foreigner who was a victim of prostitution in the USA if they go to the justice department and complain and help prosecute their pimp, then they can stay in the USA, get a green card and become a US citizen. So that means these women will then be encouraged to lie about it, in order to become citizens. So if you are a woman, just lie, pick a random guy to be your pimp and you can become a US citizen, and get money from the government. Easy - isn't it?
at 09:11 on November 4th, 2008
I think this will help out alot of people in need of help. If you think about this people who do this kind of work are really putting theirself in alot of risk and know if they get caught they will get in trouble, and even if they dont get caught the risk of getting killed, raped, or abducted is really high. Now if they are going to do this they do need access to the help anyone else would get and not haft to be ashamed about what they do. They should try to keep the details of their job from their kids, only for their mental health later on down the road. No kid wants a prostitute mom or even dad. Keep it real, guys do it to, so it isnt like it aint going to happen legal or not. So set up restrictions and standards on how it is going to be run. Brothels are run better than most buissness i have ever seen. Taxes are rediculous but it is fair. Not right but fair. Hope i shed a lil bit of light on this. I am in school now and doing alot of research on this i was aginst it but well i changed. Still have reservations on propisition k because it doesnt have all the standards that SHOULD be implemented but it can be worked on later.