Tomorrow marks the seventh annual International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, celebrated every year on December 17th; vigils and demonstrations are being held across the world to honor those who have been assaulted or, in too many cases, who have died during the past year. The annual event began in 2003 as a …
International Day To End Violence Against Sex Workers Read More »
The Senate voted 36-2 in favor of the anti-prostitution bill tonight. As soon as the governor signs it–which he will, soon– it’s official: trading sex for money indoors is over. Immediately. This, despite the fact that the bill (and its harsh penalties) saw opposition from both the Rhode Island Coalition Against Human Trafficking and Day …
In order to secure itself a ‘Happy Ending’ to an otherwise unsuccessful session, the Rhode Island legislature has decided to hatchet its successful policy of allowing legal indoor sex-work. Seeing as how most sex workers prefer to keep very private, they make for a very easy scapegoat for Representatives and Senators who want to ‘feel …
RI State Legislature To Replace Successful Mistake With Proven Failure Read More »
[youtube]VFWo5uMrnYY[/youtube] In their most recent bulletin (PDF), Citizens Against Trafficking told a story about a guy who allegedly got a nasty rash while at one of the spas in town. Apparently the guy mentioned his affliction on a message board, warning others to stay away and wondering what to say to his new girlfriend. Citizens …
Conservative talk radio host Dan Yorke invited Megan Andelloux on his WPRO program on Monday show to talk about her battles opening the Center for Sexual Pleasure and Health in downtown Pawtucket, which we covered here before. Yorke was sympathetic to Andelloux, arguing that the market (and not the mayor) should decide whether or not …
Donna Hughes On Our Nation’s Autoerotic Asphyxiation Epidemic Read More »
Mayor Cicilline today submitted an ordinance to the City Council calling for a ban on indoor prostitution in the city. “While the Rhode Island General Assembly continues to work to enact laws on the state level, we have the responsibility in the City of Providence to put an end to indoor prostitution that has sprouted …
Cicilline Introduces Ordinance To Ban Prostitution In Providence Read More »
Donna Hughes, the URI professor who has made it her personal mission to ban prostitution in the Ocean State, has used a lot of tactics over the years. She has testified before the state house, she has written melodramatic newspaper editorials, she has put a lot of words in quotes for no reason, and she …
Sex Radicals’ International Conspiracy Afoot In RI, Apparently Read More »
State representatives David Segal and Edith Ajello have written a thoughtful piece in today’s Providence Journal laying out their reasons for voting against H5044, which would criminalize all prostitution (including that which occurs indoors). They lay out the realities that might actually cause this proposed legislation to weaken efforts to prosecute the traffickers while sending …
Happy Endings? a documentary by Tara Hurley explores . . . . . . the Asian massage parlor industry in Providence, RI, where a 25 year-old loophole has made the exchange of sex for money legal — as long as it happens behind closed doors. As the documentary follows a recent Korean immigrant, “Heather”, working …
Today the House of Reps will vote on a law that seeks to end private, indoor, sex-for-money trades in Rhode Island. I don’t think I have to guess if the Governor will sign this one, since it’s practically his only long-awaited opportunity to strangle your reproductive organs with his rosaries. I won’t deny that the …
Well, why not? Since prostitution is legal in Rhode Island, shouldn’t we be taxing it? Today’s ProJo reports that the general assembly is trying to tax its way out of a big, deep hole and is considering some new categories such as bowling, haircuts and opera. (Not my opera!) Although I do see something in …