Archives for June 2019

(Chuck Muth) – When was the last time a local race for district attorney made national news?

Answer: This morning.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting at the time of this column, Tiffany Cabán is leading in the Democrat primary for Queens district attorney in New York by 1,090 votes, with some 3,400 absentee ballots still to be counted.

But with a six-candidate field, it’s unlikely the runner up, Melinda Katz – Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s and the political establishment’s pick – will be able overtake the 31-year-old insurgent, who declared victory Tuesday night.

And while this race probably wasn’t on the radar screen for 99 percent of the American electorate, it was a closely watched race by commercial sex workers.  Why?

Because Cabán, a public defender, ran on a platform of comprehensive criminal justice reform.  And she said that if elected she would issue a memo “on day one” instructing her attorneys to stop prosecuting sex workers and/or their clients.

Cabán added, however, that her office would continue to maintain a hard line against non-consensual sex trafficking and sexual assaults.

In other words, she hasn’t bought into the puritan propaganda of prostitution abolitionists who falsely equate voluntary “sex work” with involuntary “sex trafficking.”

“Through decriminalization,” Cabán said in a recent interview, “you make it safe for survivors and victims to go to law enforcement and be the witnesses needed to hold these traffickers, who are doing harm, accountable.”

If Cabán goes on to win the general election in November, BuzzFeed notes “it would mark one of the biggest successes for the sex work decriminalization movement that, after years of struggling to gain mainstream traction, has growing popularity and political influence across the country.”

Still, declining to prosecute cases isn’t the same as changing the law – though the New York Legislature is currently mulling just such a bill.

“When we talk about decriminalization, we’re talking about consenting adults,” said Julia Salazar, who introduced the bill in the Senate. “Anything that involved children or coercion are things that we feel very strongly need to remain in the penal code.”

The bill was expected to face an uphill battle, but it’ll be interesting to see if Cabán’s stunning victory shifts the political landscape to any significant degree.

Currently, prostitution in the United States is only legal in a handful of licensed and regulated brothels in rural Nevada, but not Las Vegas and Reno.

Mr. Muth is president of Citizen Outreach, a limited-government grassroots advocacy organization, and government affairs counsel to the Nevada Brothel Association

(Jeremy Lemur) – Will 2020 be the year of the sex worker? As a movement to decriminalize prostitution gains unprecedented traction in New York and Washington D.C., and Democratic hopefuls such as Kamala Harris and Tulsi Gabbard speak openly about their support of sex workers, the 2020 presidential election may be the first to include the decriminalization of prostitution as a talking point.

Just this month, Democratic lawmakers in New York State introduced a highly publicized bill that seeks to make it legal to engage in the consensual sale of sex. If more states follow New York’s lead, sex worker rights will certainly become a key issue during the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.

With Nevada’s unique status as the only state in the union that has successfully legalized prostitution in the form of regulated brothels, Nevadans can expect the eyes of the nation to be on them as pundits look to a bona fide, time-tested example of legalized prostitution in America.

This past year, Nevada’s sex industry faced its own political challenges.

In 2018, anti-sex work activists sought a referendum to ban brothels in Lyon and Nye counties and, in early 2019, a bill aiming to shut down the state’s licensed bordellos was introduced in the Nevada Senate. Furthermore, the brothel industry’s most famous spokesperson, controversial Moonlite Bunny Ranch owner Dennis Hof, died suddenly in October, creating a perceived void in pro-brothel leadership.

In a cosmically appropriate way, Hof’s death occurred at the perfect time. He went out on top, brilliantly executing the last in a long line of publicity coups: running for Assembly and not only beating established politicians in the Republican primary, but also winning the seat posthumously.

Perhaps more significantly, Hof died during a sea change in the country and in Nevada. The women-empowering #MeToo movement was running full tilt and Nevada’s Legislature was about to make history as the first with a majority of female lawmakers. It was time for fresh voices to surface, and they did.

In the wake of Hof’s demise, a “new” Nevada brothel industry was revealed – the real brothel industry. An industry made up of the hundreds of women that practice their trade as sex workers and female sex industry leaders throughout the state.

Shortly after Hof’s death, the female proprietor of Bella’s Hacienda Ranch in Wells, Nevada formed an advocacy organization, the Onesta Foundation, with a mission to provide sex industry awareness and education.

A refurbished Nevada Brothel Association was also established. Founded by three women, two legal sex workers and the current owner of the Bunny Ranch, the association pushed hard against the anti-brothel campaigns, holding town hall meetings, championing the merits of legal prostitution through blog posts and social media, and generally making it clear that Nevada’s sex workers will not be silent when their livelihood is questioned.

Madams and sex workers from brothels like the Mustang Ranch and Sheri’s Ranch rose to the occasion and defended their position at legislative hearings and via news outlets.

These women prevailed triumphantly. The brothel ban referendum in Lyon County was rejected by 80 percent of voters and a similar effort to ban brothels in Nye County failed to get enough signatures on a referendum petition. The ill-fated bill to criminalize brothels statewide also foundered in the Legislature.

As 2020 approaches, and sex workers across the United States bravely fight against tremendous stigma for the right to lawfully practice their trade, Nevada’s ever-evolving legal prostitution experiment nears its 50th year. Thanks to the women who are (and always have been) its lifeblood, the Silver State’s sex industry appears as contemporary and forward-thinking as ever.

The women of Nevada’s brothels just might influence legislators in other states to seriously consider changing laws pertaining to the consensual sale of sex because lawmakers can no longer ignore the power of sex worker voices in Nevada and throughout the nation.

Mr. Lemur is a communications professional and legal prostitution advocate living in Henderson, Nevada. In the past decade he served on staff at the Moonlite Bunny Ranch, Sheri’s Ranch, and other brothels in Lyon and Nye counties.

The Inquisition, what a show!
The Inquisition, here we go!
We know you’re wishin’ that we go away
You better change your point of views today
’cause the Inquisition’s here and it’s here to stay!

 – Mel Brooks, “History of the World: Part 1”

(Chuck Muth) – Nevada’s decades-old legal brothels have been under a withering assault by the Morality Police for the better part of the last two years, led by a creepy Reno lawyer named Jason Guinasso.

Aiding and abetting this home-grown gaggle of crusaders has been a national group calling itself “Exodus Cry.”

Exodus Cry, like Guinasso, intentionally misleads the public with their incendiary propaganda by conflating voluntary prostitution – including in Nevada’s legal brothels – with “slavery” and “human trafficking.”

It’s despicably dishonest – and the group’s arguments should be dismissed out of hand on that basis alone.

But a new development reveals why this new-fangled group of sex puritans – and as you’ll see, I mean that literally, not figuratively – shouldn’t be given the time of day by anyone wanting to have a serious discussion of this issue.

However, before I get to the explosive Exodus Cry “Chapter Application” that was uncovered and publicized this past weekend, let’s set to rest once and for all the true motivation of these people, as explained by Laila Mickelwait, the group’s “Director of Abolition,” in a tweet on June 14…

“It’s not the legal status of prostitution that causes the harm, it’s the prostitution itself. The longer a woman is in prostitution – legal or illegal – the more she is psychologically damaged and physically harmed. The only way to make her safe is to get her out of prostitution.”

As you can plainly see, Mickelwait’s focus isn’t on “slavery” or “human trafficking.”  She’s a commercial sex-work abolitionist.  A religious puritan bent on forcibly “saving” consenting, adult women who don’t buy into her pop psychology and don’t want to be “saved.”

But let’s say you share Laila’s “savior complex” and want to join her modern-day Inquisition crusade.  Well, first you have to fill out an application.

Or, you DID – until the “Chapter Application” itself was “outed” last weekend by Dr. Gemma Ahearne (@princessjack).  And boy, is it ever a revelatory doozy!

“Thank you for your interest in working with Exodus Cry to see the ending of human slavery,” the organization declares in its opening statement on the application.  “As you start a chapter in your city, you are committing to host a weekly prayer meeting focused on the ending of slavery and to work to bring awareness in your community on the issue of human trafficking.”

Got it?  “Slavery” and “human trafficking.”  Who can argue with that, right

Ah, but later on we get to the group’s “Mission Statement” which adds “the outlawing of Prostitution worldwide” – which is decidedly NOT the same as “slavery” and “human trafficking.”

Funny how that wasn’t included in their opening statement, huh?

Onward…

Applicants wishing to start an Exodus Cry chapter in their city have eight “requirements” they must fulfill to join the Inquisition – including a commitment to the Exodus Cry “Purity Covenant” and “Statement of Faith.”

Hmm.  Sounds a little more like a religious crusade than an effort to end slavery, but maybe that’s just me.  Let’s see…

“Jesus taught that when we go out into this world, our primary focus should be to reconcile others to God,” reads the “Values” statement applicants must agree to.  “Our social justice methodology is fueled with a desire to see the salvation of both the oppressed and the oppressor.”

Nope, I was right.  This is Evangelism 101.

But if you’re still not convinced, let’s move to Exodus Cry’s chapter application “Questionnaire”…

Question #1: “What are your past church/spiritual affiliations?”

Odd.  Does this mean only actively practicing religious people can fight slavery and human trafficking?

Question #2: “Were you the victim of any kind of child abuse?”

Well, Mom made me eat broccoli.  Does that count?

OK, sorry.  That was flippant.

Real child abuse is a serious matter – and anyone who hurts an innocent, defenseless child should be drawn and quartered.

But this still seems like an awfully personal question for an employment-like application to fight slavery, doesn’t it?

Question #3: “Are you currently in a relationship, outside of marriage, which involves ongoing sexual activity.”

Seriously?  You can’t join the crusade against slavery, human trafficking and even prostitution if you’re having pre-marital sex?

Question #4: “Do you have any non-sexual compulsive behaviors?”

Uh-oh.  I guess my friend and UNLV sex researcher Christina Parreira’s compulsion for Christian Louboutin shoes is a disqualifier, even though the word “Christian” is in the name!

Question #5: “Have you completed an inner healing program/ministry of any kind?”

Um, no.  Guess I’m out, too.  Christina, let’s go shopping!

Question #6: “Are you currently or have you ever been in professional counseling?”

So I guess if you’ve ever been to a marriage counselor to save your marriage – and the permissible married sexual activity that comes with it! – you can’t be a soldier in the Exodus Cry crusade against slavery and human trafficking.

Question #7: “Do you use alcohol, illegal drugs or other mood-altering substances?”

Well, there goes Homer Simpson and the gang at Moe’s Tavern!

Also, all the Catholics who drink wine with communion at mass on Sunday.

Question #8: “Are you currently taking any prescribed medication?”

So much for diabetics and folks suffering from high blood pressure.

Seriously, what the Hades do these questions have to do with fighting slavery and human trafficking?

But if you want to know what REALLY pushes these folks’ buttons, check out the next two questions…

Question #9: “Are you or have you struggled with homosexual thoughts, feelings or behaviors?”

And…

Question #10: “Do you believe that homosexual physical contact or inordinate emotional closeness with the same sex is sinful?”

OK, this isn’t as bad as the Westboro Baptist Church’s “God Hates Fags” campaign, but the sentiment sure sounds similar.

In any event, why can’t gays join Exodus Cry’s crusade against slavery and human trafficking?

And, um, by the way…what’s the definition of “inordinate emotional closeness”?  Does it include the guys in the “I Love You, Man” Bud Lite commercials?

Oh, wait.  They’re already disqualified for drinking beer.  Bad example.  Onward…

Question #11: “Do you believe heterosexual sex outside of marriage is sinful?”

OK, this one is kinda redundant redundant.  See #3 above.

Question #12: “Are you currently struggling with pornography?”

Question #13: “Have you struggled with pornography in the past?”

Um, does that include the Victoria’s Secret catalogue?  What about the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition?  Inquiring minds wanna know.

OK, kidding aside, these people aren’t out to eliminate “slavery” and “human trafficking.”  Their true agenda is revealed in the group’s “Purity Covenant” that applicants must sign…

“The Purity Covenant is a personal commitment to wholehearted sexual purity.  One of the great battles facing our generation is the battle for sexual purity.”

What exactly does that mean, you might ask?

Well, clearly these folks are committed to eliminating sex entirely unless it’s between one married man and one married woman – as long as they’re married to each other, of course.

And, I’m guessing, you can only do it “missionary style” for the sole purpose of making a baby – and the woman may NOT enjoy it.

Anything else is considered by this group to be “licentious sexual activity” which puts you “into agreement with Satan” and “releases demonic energy into the realm of the spirit.”

Lord, I hope South Park does an episode on this!

Then there’s the group’s “Statement of Faith,” which is immersed in extreme religious dogma only a tiny minority of people ascribe to.

I’m not even going to get into that.  If you want to read the entire thing yourself, click here to see the series of screen shots Dr. Ahearne took before Exodus Cry removed the application from their website.

Personally, I find the entire document to be absurd.  However…

I’m a live-and-let-live kinda guy.  If this is what some folks choose to believe, fine.  As Thomas Jefferson so eloquently put it…

“It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.”

But when it comes to using the power of government to enforce their brand of morality on those who don’t share their beliefs, that’s where we need to draw the line.

The fact that Exodus Cry has gone to such great lengths to mislead the public – hiding behind “slavery” and “human trafficking” to promote their “sex purity” crusade – demands they be called out.

Which I just did.

Now…it’s Miller Time.

Mr. Muth is president of Citizen Outreach, a limited-government grassroots advocacy organization, and government affairs counsel to the Nevada Brothel Association.  His views are his own.