Opinions Differ when it comes Decriminalizing Prostitution in the United States

PITTSBURGH – Some believe that prostitution is immoral, but looking at the laws of nature it is evident that for balance to be attained within a society, the positives and negatives must weigh equally. Therefore, if prostitution is legalized, its impact can cause a huge change in the country. However, everything that has advantages also has disadvantages.

Charles Pitts-Bonner, 32, Teacher and Youth Community Leader, stands on both sides of the fence.

“On one hand some individuals have nothing, and this is their only way to receive monetary means, he said, on the other hand it’s promoting the wrong image of woman.

Harvard Civil Right- Civil Liberties Law Review written by Annamarie Forestiere, talks about how the legalization of prostitution has had positive effects on sex workers across Europe. The country best known for legalizing prostitution is the Netherlands, where prostitution has been legal for almost 20 years. Additionally, sex workers are not considered criminals, so they have greater access to the justice system and are encouraged to report behavior that endangers themselves and other women in the industry.

“The underlying reason that people are uncomfortable listening to sex workers about legalizing prostitution has nothing to do with concern for the health and safety of women, said Annamarie, if that were the genuine concern, prostitution would be legal in the United States by now.”

“The underlying reason people disagree with legalizing prostitution is that prostitution is viewed as amoral because it involves (mostly) women selling their bodies for financial gain, she said, however, telling women what they can and cannot do with their bodies does not come from a place of morality: that comes from a place of control.” One person familiar with this right is Theresa Russell, 46, an Army veteran who has traveled abroad.

“I’ve witnessed woman run reputable businesses, she said, they paid their taxes and had medical check-ups regularly.”

Debating Europe published an article where they weighed in some of the pros and cons. It’s not glitter and gold as many think it may be, but instead degrading to woman. Often in Europe prostitution isn’t voluntary. Since the majority of prostitutes are women, its legalization would reinforce their oppression by male-dominated societies and represent a clear humiliation to the concept of gender equality. Removing legal barriers sends a message to new generations of men that women are nothing more than a sex commodity.

Women’s shelter Finance Advisor Tammara Ferrington, 36, didn’t shy away from expressing her feelings towards prostitution being legal.

“There may be a financial gain, she said, but the mental impact ends up being much greater in a bad way.”

She is one of the few people who felt this way.

However, in a interview with US News sex worker Bella Robinson who founded the Rhode Island chapter of Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics (COYOTE), a national grassroots network calling for the end of the criminalization of sex work believes certain aspects create a roadblock for sex workers.

“When you shame people who were poor for engaging in sex work … it's psychologically damaging," she says.”

National Bureau of Economic Research published an article in 2014 that analyzed Rhode Island from 2004 – 2009. “Our synthetic control model finds 824 fewer reported rape offenses a (31 percent decrease) and 1,035 fewer cases of female gonorrhea a (39 percent decrease.)

Some people like Andrea Dorsey, 35, Social Worker at Department of Human Services believe paying for sex should still be a crime.

“Sex should be intimate with someone you love and loves you, she said, I talk to many mentally ill women, and more than a few are greatly impacted by sexual abuse.”

Though there are still individuals who are against it, there is ample evidence that legalizing consensual adult prostitution reduces rape and improves the health and safety of sex workers.

Raoul LeGrande, 61, Truck Driver was clear of his feelings on the topic.

“If you have a girlfriend or wife, you spend a lot of money going out to dinner and buying gifts because of general principal, he said, it’s all the same to me.”