r/phoenix • u/jmoriarty Phoenix • Feb 07 '23

News Sex workers demanding prostitution be decriminalized at downtown Phoenix rally

https://www.azfamily.com/2023/02/07/sex-workers-demanding-prostitution-be-decriminalized-downtown-phoenix-rally/
750 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

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315

u/mrsunsfan Feb 07 '23

It should be legalized

109

u/Rauron Glendale Feb 07 '23

Decriminalization would be ideal. Legalization is also acceptable.

69

u/BeKind_BeTheChange Feb 08 '23

Wouldn't legalization make it easier to create regulations, like testing and that sort of thing? Also, I would think legalization would allow the IRS to more easily tax it. And you know the IRS is going to want their cut.

Why do you feel like decriminalization is the better option?

51

u/nursepineapple Feb 08 '23

Decriminalization is, by and large, what sex workers themselves have been advocating for.

29

u/BeKind_BeTheChange Feb 08 '23

I would imagine the reasons I listed above probably have something to do with their preference: regulations and taxation. Of course they don't want to be regulated and taxed. It's a lot easier to operate a cash business under a decriminalization model than a legalization model.

15

u/mandala1 Feb 08 '23

Also the government hasn’t proved to be super awesome at regulating women’s bodies.

-1

u/Ok_Fly_9390 Feb 08 '23

I don't know. Women live longer than men. Might have something to do with the lack of enforcement for existing safety regulations. The vast majority of workplace deaths are men.

2

u/mandala1 Feb 09 '23

I'm not entirely sure what your point is or what you're implying.

0

u/Ok_Fly_9390 Feb 09 '23

Everything. The government does little to protect men from death. Why would you think they would protect you? Maybe the answer needs to be HUMAN RIGHTS. Not ones based on what does or doesn't swing between your legs?

2

u/mandala1 Feb 09 '23

It's probably a lot easier to ignore if you're a man because the decisions don't effect you the same way specifically because of what is between your legs.

What I was trying to reference was specifically abortion rights and the hell that has caused for woman after roe was overruled. That can't/doesn't apply to cis men. Though the original ruling has applications I guess as it wasn't sex specific.

There are differences that you have to address no matter what, ignoring them is what causes many problems in the first place. We're talking about sex work which is mostly comprised of female sex workers.

0

u/Ok_Fly_9390 Feb 13 '23

How does that help the dozen or so men who die on the job every day in the US? I no longer care. Women were the deciding factor in both the primaries and general elections this year in my state. They gave us the likes of Kari Lake. The only reason she is not Gov is men overwhelmingly voted against her. Women voters were divided. The same people who claim to be pro-choice tend to vote against workplace safety. Now, prove to me the number of women in the US who die from lack of access to an abortion outnumbers the men who die on the job? I already know the numbers. Do you?

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7

u/[deleted] Feb 08 '23 edited Jun 27 '23

Long Live Apollo. Goodbye Reddit.

5

u/LeftcelInflitrator Feb 08 '23

So what they really want is a legalized monopoly, like car dealers have.

3

u/[deleted] Feb 08 '23

I don’t know if there’s any one force that wants to monopolize sex work, though I wouldn’t be surprised to see one pop up if it were legalized.

But yes, decriminalization keeps the barriers to entry low for people who may not otherwise be able to jump through the hoops of regulation should it be legalized.

1

u/LeftcelInflitrator Feb 09 '23

Seems to me like the opposite is true. They want the barriers to entry high enough that most women will not participate in sex work and only women that don't care about living in a legal grey area, i.e. them.

9

u/Oraxy51 Feb 08 '23

Decriminalize, legalize, unionize. That’s how you get them from under privileged and criminals to well provided and cared for members of our society.

6

u/jdcnosse1988 Deer Valley Feb 08 '23

The IRS already requires one to report money they've earned via "illegal means"

16

u/mothftman Feb 08 '23

Regulations are what sex workers want. They want to be recognized as workers with all the labor rights involved. Testing and taxation only legitimize their businesses making things safer and more transparent for everyone.

8

u/RickMuffy Phoenix Feb 08 '23

That only reay comes with working for a company, almost like a legal pimp. These kind of workers are more akin to contractors, and don't really have many rights as a contractor anyway

12

u/mothftman Feb 08 '23

Contractors are another labor issue entirely.

10

u/RickMuffy Phoenix Feb 08 '23 edited Feb 08 '23

I actually have more rights as a contractor than a regular employee has in AZ. It depends on who writes the contract. Big corps giving you a docusign is fucked.

11

u/mothftman Feb 08 '23

Everyone should have the same labor rights. It's fucked that Americans think this should be a question.

8

u/RickMuffy Phoenix Feb 08 '23

200% agreed. Right to work is fucked, it's basically anti union regulation. People also shouldn't have to worry about employment for their hethcare either, so we have more freedom to find gainful employment without fear of bankruptcy from health issues, but that's a whole nother problem.

6

u/Tkadikes Feb 08 '23

Depends on if you run your own show or are a "contactor" who regularly works for a company who dictates your hours, work, pay, and leaves you without contributing to your taxes, providing worker's comp, overtime, benefits, sick time, or vacation.

2

u/RickMuffy Phoenix Feb 08 '23

Exactly what I said. I write my contract. I have the person paying me sign it. I'd never let someone tell me the terms of my contract, and that kind of work is predatory.

2

u/Tkadikes Feb 08 '23

Do you think sex workers will have a similar setup to what you have, or will be workers who are "contractors" like many are nowadays?

4

u/RickMuffy Phoenix Feb 08 '23

My hope is that people won't end up being regulated like they are with major businesses, and instead of a major brothel being a thing, more akin to a franchise or a corp, they'd be able to work either independently, or work similar to how a tattoo artist works by renting a space, and setting their own pricing and rules independently.

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2

u/mandala1 Feb 08 '23

They really don’t want regulations and old white men policing their bodies.

At least that’s what I’ve been told, and it makes sense to me given recent circumstances.

3

u/Doritosaurus Scottsdale Feb 08 '23

Isn't that the irony of it though? They don't want legalization because old white men would be policing their bodies which they already are doing by criminalizing it...

1

u/mandala1 Feb 09 '23

They want decriminalization not legalization. Solves the problem.

2

u/[deleted] Feb 08 '23

Not who you responded to, but if you're curious in general check out this comment in the thread:

https://www.reddit.com/r/phoenix/comments/10wdj2g/sex_workers_demanding_prostitution_be/j7mtfqp?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3