Some sex news that got lost in the Supreme Court celebration last month: The New Zealand parliament voted, by a slim margin, to decriminalize prostitution. Hoo-ray! Now, I know NZed isn't exactly a superpower when it comes to culturally influencing countries like, say, the United States. But it's still heartening to see things moving in the right direction someplace in the world.
They must grow New Zealand politicos with more guts than we do here, because you sure won't catch any American politicians authoring bills to lift bans on the oldest profession the way MP Tim Barnett did. But living as we do in the land of constant consumer litigation, I'm surprised that none of the clients of U.S. prostitutes have sued to obtain the bend-over-backwards protections that are extended to customers of other commercial services. Sound absurd? So does people suing McDonald's for serving them hot coffee and fatty French fries, but it still happens. Of course, it would take more than one lawsuit--or even two, or three. Still, the courts seem a more likely avenue for eroding the remaining bans on adult, private, consensual sexual behavior than any legislature.
That's because our public servants are still in the Victorian era when it comes to this issue. Prostitution is dangerous! they say. Well, decriminalizing it would enable both clients and providers to keep themselves safer. It's immoral! I did not elect you to be guardian of my morality, so mind your own damn business. It's controlled by organized crime! Not anywhere near as often as you think, and again, you can address that by decriminalizing it. It's demeaning to women! So is cleaning toilets for minimum wage and appearing on reality TV shows. You gonna outlaw that, too? What about the children? Sorry, they don't get a discount. Okay, I'm joking. Seriously, though, I do get annoyed when people drag children into this debate. Yes, child sexual abuse exists, and it's a bad thing. However, it's a separate issue from consensual adult prostitution. The FBI says the average age of a woman when she first becomes a prostitute is 23. I've met some dumb 23-year-olds, but they are officially not children. Treating adults as if they were children needing protection from themselves--that's what's demeaning, to everyone involved.
I'm very happy that we've gotten the government out of our bedrooms as much as we have, but I'd like to see the day we slam the door in its face for good.
