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Archives for March 2020

March 19, 2020 By NBA Staff

RGJ: Deemed ‘non-essential,’ brothels closing throughout Nevada because of COVID-19

(Amy Alonzo | Mason Valley News) – Coronavirus did what a federal lawsuit could not  it has shuttered Nevada’s brothels.One day after announcing they would not close, the Nevada Brothel Association announced on Thursday “a number of Nevada’s legal brothels have reassessed and are closing their doors” for 30 days because of the virus.

Gov. Sisolak on Wednesday added brothels to Nevada’s list of non-essential businesses.

“In light of that announcement, we’ve decided to voluntarily comply until further notice,” Lyon County brothel owner Suzette Cole said in the association’s press release.

According to the association, confirmed closures are: Mustang Ranch in Storey County; Sheri’s Ranch and Chicken Ranch in Nye County; Moonlite Bunny Ranch, Kit Kat Guest Ranch, Sagebrush Ranch and Love Ranch North in Lyon County; Inez’s D&D and Mona’s Ranch in Elko; and the Desert Rose Gentlemen’s Club in Elko.

A woman at the Moonlite Bunny Ranch who answered a phone call from the Reno Gazette Journal said, “all of our locations are closed until further notice.” She did not identify herself and said there was nobody else to speak with at the brothel about the matter.

The announcement comes just one day after Cole said the brothels would remain open with skeleton crews, but the businesses’ bars would close.

The day before the closure, Cole said closing the brothels would have a “devastating impact … on the lives and livelihoods of our workers.”

Amy Alonzo covers Mason Valley and rural Nevada.

Filed Under: In the News

March 19, 2020 By NBA Staff

Brothels Reassess Governor’s Shut-Down Request

(Carson City, Nevada) – After initially signaling a decision to remain open during Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak’s request that non-essential businesses shut down for 30 days, a number of Nevada’s legal brothels have reassessed and are closing their doors.

“Late Wednesday afternoon the governor’s office specifically added brothels to its list of designated non-essential businesses,” said Suzette Cole, owner of the Moonlite Bunny Ranch and three other legal brothels in Lyon County.  “In light of that announcement, we’ve decided to voluntarily comply until further notice.”

Cole said she concurs with what The Mustang Ranch in Storey County said in their own statement…

“While we very much support Storey County’s position that all businesses in the county may remain open during this challenging time, we also understand the intentions of the governor’s recent call for a 30-day statewide closure of many businesses.

“The health and safety of the women that work at the Mustang Ranch and our guests remains our foremost priority and we will work with local and state government to evaluate the need to close the Mustang Ranch for the full 30 days and make announcements regarding continue operations in the near future.”

Louis Goldberg, owner Inez’s D&D and Mona’s Ranch, and Gabriel Ornelas, owner of the Desert Rose Gentlemen’s Club, have also decided close operations in Elko until further notice.

“We want to be part of the solution, not the problem,” Goldberg said.

“We’re all in this together,” added Ornelas.  “In the end, we’ll all come out of this stronger, healthier and ready for the future.”

In addition, Sheri’s Ranch and the Chicken Ranch in Nye County have also closed operations.

# # #

Filed Under: Blog

March 18, 2020 By NBA Staff

Lyon Brothels Closing Bars but Remaining Open

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2020

(Mound House, Nevada) – Suzette Cole – owner of the Bunny Ranch, Love Ranch, Kit Kat and Sagebrush brothels in Lyon County – has announced, per the governor’s request, that she has closed all in-house bars at her properties; however, she will continue brothel operations with a skeleton crew.

“We will be operating on a low-key basis,” Cole said.

She further noted that enhanced health and safety precautions – including cancellation of scheduled group events and “social distancing” measures that have already been implemented – will continue.

Cole also advised that she’s been in contact with the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office and will continue operating under certain stipulations requested by his office.

“Considering the devastating impact immediate closure would have on the lives and livelihoods of our workers,” she concluded, “we believe the reasonable course of action is to safely remain open on a limited basis.”

# # #

Filed Under: Blog

March 18, 2020 By NBA Staff

Nevada Brothels Stay Open With Promises to Increase Hand-Washing

(Kelly Gilblom | Bloomberg) – The coronavirus may have stopped most of American life, but one pastime promises to persist. Nevada’s legal brothels say they are there for it.

The largest houses say they are still open, though they are taking precautions. For example, Chicken Ranch, in Pahrump said it will require brothel workers and staff to “wash their hands regularly and use hand sanitizers as needed,” according to a letter from its general manager. It’s also having staff take their temperatures daily.

The Nevada Brothel Association said workers are already subjected to weekly health tests, according to a blog post on its website. Still, it has asked businesses to turn away ill visitors and is encouraging “‘virtual happy hours’ with clients and friends to maintain human connections and social interactions during this stressful period of time,” according to a statement posted on its website.

The group also recommends brothels turn away clients who have been overseas during the past two weeks and reduce the number of stools in bars by half to encourage social distancing.

“Health and safety is, and always has been, our primary concern,” Suzette Cole, the owner of four brothels in Lyon County and head of the trade group’s political action committee, wrote in the blog post.

— With assistance by Christopher Palmeri

Filed Under: In the News

March 18, 2020 By Chuck Muth

Chicken Ranch Brothel Takes Steps in Battle Against Coronavirus

(Chuck Muth) – The World Famous Historic Chicken Ranch brothel in Pahrump, Nevada has announced steps it’s taking to keep its workers and clients safe and healthy during the COVID-19 crisis.

“We’ve always maintained a clean and safe environment here at the Chicken Ranch and I believe our risk of coronavirus exposure is pretty low,” said General Manager Trudy Kevoian.  “But in light of current circumstances we’ve expanded and enhanced our cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting procedures.”

Kevoian said ranch staff are following National Institute of Health standard protocols for normal day-to-day operations, as well as the Coronavirus Guidelines for America recommendations issued by the White House.

“We are reminding everyone to wash their hands regularly and use hand sanitizer as needed,” Kevoian continued.  “We’re also doing repeated cleanings of the front gate, handrails, all doors, the ATM machine, table tops, bar tops, chairs and restrooms with sanitizing wipes and spray disinfectants.”

The ranch is also banning smoking and vaping in public areas and encouraging “social distancing” by reducing the number of bar stools in the lounge area.

In addition, enhanced screening procedures to assess the health of all staff, customers and vendors have been put in place.

Anyone showing any signs of congestion, shortness of breath or other flu-like symptoms will have their temperature taken, and anyone above 99.5 will be asked to leave the premises until their health is back to normal.

“We are following all new developments and will adapt our practices as needed to provide the safe, high-standard level of service we are known for,” Kevoian concluded.  “Take care, stay well and come visit when you can.”

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.

Filed Under: Blog

March 17, 2020 By Chuck Muth

Nevada Brothels Confront, Tackle Virus Dangers

(Chuck Muth) – Nevada’s legal brothels – like every other business in the state, especially service businesses – are experiencing challenges posed by the continued spread of the Wuhan Virus.

But unlike most other businesses, brothels already have extensive experience in minimizing health risks to their workers, their clients and the public.

“The women working in our ranches are already subjected to weekly health tests,” noted Suzette Cole, owner of four brothels in Lyon County and president of the Nevada Brothel Association PAC.  “And our people have been fully trained to screen clients for potential health risks and take appropriate measures to protect everyone.”

“However,” she continued, “the coronavirus threat is far more serious than what we usually deal with, so we’ve taken a number of additional safety precautions at our properties that are in line with recommendations by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and other health care professionals.”

Among the additional steps detailed by Ms. Cole…

  • Regular staff memos and management reminders on good hygiene practices to all brothel workers, employees and patrons
  • Adding hand sanitizers to all entrances, exits and public areas
  • Enhanced deep-cleaning and sanitizing of high-contact surface areas – including restrooms, ATM machines, bar tops and door handles – every two hours
  • Suspension of all group staff meetings until further notice
  • Suspension of all group events, parties, social gatherings and celebrations until further notice
  • Reducing by half the number of bar stools to increase the space between customers
  • Implementing additional “social distancing” recommendations by the state’s Medical Advisory Team
  • Invoking an indoor smoking and vaping ban in all public areas, including the parlors and bars
  • Prohibiting clients and workers who have been overseas in the previous 14 days
  • Courteously and professionally asking patrons exhibiting signs of illness (coughing, fever or breathing difficulties) to come back at another time
  • Requiring independent contractors who are ill to return home or check into a hotel and self-quarantine until well
  • Sending employees home if sick and requiring a doctor’s note before being allowed to return to work

Ms. Cole added that she is monitoring press reports and communicating regularly with medical professionals, first responders, law-enforcement and elected officials to keep up-to-date with developments.

“Health and safety is, and always has been, our primary concern,” she concluded. “We’ll continue be vigilant, caring and sensitive in order to safeguard our workers and clients and do our part to bring this national crisis to a close as quickly as possible.”

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.

Filed Under: Blog

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Suzette Cole, CEO, Moonlite Bunny Ranch

“Prostitution is the oldest profession and will not go away.  Nevada has been doing it right since 1971 when we took it out of the criminal’s hands and put it into a highly-regulated industry.  As an added benefit, there has never been a case of HIV/AIDS in the history of legal brothels here…and you can’t say that about any other profession in the United States.”

John Stossel, Syndicated Columnist

“We don’t have to cheer for prostitution, or think it’s nice, to keep government out of it and let participants make up their own minds.  It’s wrong to ban sex workers’ options just to make ourselves feel better.”

Steve Chapman, Syndicated Columnist

“Prohibition doesn’t eliminate the harms generally associated with prostitution, such as violence, human trafficking and disease. On the contrary, it fosters them by driving the business underground.”

Christina Parreira, UNLV Researcher/Sex Worker

“Sex work is my CHOICE.  I’d like to continue to have the opportunity to make that choice legally.  We don’t need protection. We’re consenting, adult women.”

Washington, DC Councilman David Grosso

“We need to stop arresting people for things that are not really criminal acts. We should arrest someone for assault…but when it’s two adults engaging in a consensual sex act, I don’t see why that should be an arrestable offense”

New York Assemblyman Richard Gottfried

“Trying to stop sex work between consenting adults should not be the business of the criminal justice system.”

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker

“Yes, sex work should be decriminalized.  As a general matter, I don’t believe that we should be criminalizing activity between consenting adults, and especially when doing so causes even more harm for those involved.”

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders

“I think the idea of legalizing prostitution is something that should be considered…(and) certainly needs to be discussed.”

U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris

“When you’re talking about consenting adults, I think that, yes, we should really consider that we can’t criminalize consensual behavior, as long as no one is being harmed. … We should not be criminalizing women who are engaged in consensual opportunities for employment.”

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren

“I believe humans should have autonomy over their own bodies and they get to make their own decisions. … I am open to decriminalizing sex work. Sex workers, like all workers, deserve autonomy and are particularly vulnerable to physical and financial abuse.”

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard

“If a consenting adult wants to engage in sex work, that is their right, and it should not be a crime. All people should have autonomy over their bodies and their labor.”

Gov. John Hickenlooper

“Legalizing prostitution and regulating it, so there are norms and protections and we understand more clearly how people are being treated and make sure we prevent abuse, I think it should be really looked at.”

Mike Gravel, former Alaska Senator

“Sex workers are workers, and they deserve the dignity and respect that every worker deserves. For too long, we’ve denied them that. Sex workers, not politicians, should lead the way in crafting sex work policy.”

Prof. Ronald Weitzer, George Washington University:

“Unlike illegal street prostitution in many other places, Nevada’s legal brothels do not disturb public order, create nuisances, or negatively impact local communities in other ways. Instead, they provide needed tax revenue for cash-strapped rural towns.”

Prof. Barbara Brents, UNLV author, “State of Sex”:

“Teams of scholars…have concluded that Nevada’s legal brothels provide a far safer environment for sex workers than the criminalized system in the rest of the United States.”

Prof. Sarah Blithe, UNR author, “Sex and Stigma”:

“Discussions of legal prostitution are rife with misinformation.  Academic work and popular press publications alike often conflate legal prostitution in the United States with illegal prostitution.”

Lee Herz Dixon:

“Do I think eradicating legal prostitution from all Nevada counties will erase the practice of the oldest profession in the state, or break the nexus of drugs, crime, and exploitation of the vulnerable? I do not.”

Journalist Michael Cernovich:

“It’s empirically proven that criminalizing sex work allows children to be sex trafficked more readily as they are afraid to turn to authorities and wonder if they will be arrested.”

Enrique Carmona:

“We need to put aside moralistic prejudices, whether based on religion or an idealistic form of feminism, and figure out what is in the best interests of the sex workers and public interest as well.”

Ruby Rae, professional courtesan

“In the brothels, we have the choice, always, to say which clients we will say yes and no to. We have staff that would never let a man hurt us, and we have a clientele that do not come here to hurt us.”

Kiki Lover, professional courtesan:

“We are human beings who chose to do sex work on our own free will. We get treated with respect and like family at the brothels. It’s a job just like any other job. We sell a service that all humans need.”

Paris Envy, professional courtesan:

“I’m not ‘exploited.’ I’m not ‘trafficked.’ I’m not ‘brainwashed.’ I don’t need to be ‘saved.’ I’ve freely chosen this line of work, which is a legal, private transaction between consenting adults.”

Alice Little, professional courtesan:

“It’s ILLEGAL sex work that exploits children. It’s ILLEGAL sex work that traffics. It’s ILLEGAL sex work that sees women exploited and abused by pimps.”

Jim Shedd, Nevadan

“Prostitution should be licensed, regulated, taxed like any other service industry.  There are many single or widowed men and women who should be able to take advantage of such services provided by consenting adults for consenting adults. Let’s act to at least reduce illegal sex trafficking and other sex crimes by creating safe and legal outlets for paying adults who wish to use them.”

Paul Bourassa, brothel customer:

“Some people are just never given a chance in the dating scene, so brothels offer those of us with no experience a chance to learn what it’s like to be on a date.”

Lewis Dawkins, brothel customer:

“It’s not always about sex. Little compliments and encouragements offered by the ladies help build my self-confidence. It’s a business, yes. But the ladies care personally about their clients. That means a lot.”

Brett Caton, brothel customer:

“I think brothels provide an important function in society. Legal ones give a safe outlet to their customers and for some men it is the only way they get so much as a hug.”

Recent Posts

  • Nevada brothels reopen after long hiatus, sex workers look forward to return to work
  • Nevada sex workers adjust to COVID safety measures, offer deals as brothels set to reopen
  • Lyon County Brothels to Reopen on Saturday
  • Statement on Passage of Lyon County’s “Economic Emergency” Resolution
  • Highest-paid legal sex worker sues governor to reopen Nevada’s brothels after losing 95% of her $1m-a-year earnings

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Mission

The Nevada Brothel Association PAC is a coalition of legal brothel owners, brothel workers, brothel clients and brothel supporters dedicated to defending a woman’s right to choose professional sex work as a career, protecting the public’s health and safety, and preserving Nevada’s rich live-and-let-live heritage.

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P.O. Box 20902
Carson City, NV  89721

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