I now live in Australia where prostitution is legal, and I believe should stay that way. Legalizing it solves a lot of problems, let's face it, it exiists, legal or otherwise, and that isn't going to change. It becomes safer for everyone when it is legal.

It should be legal but regulated. I spent a few years in places where it was legal and used the services on occasions.
Safe practices should be priority and the law.

It’s the definition of insanity, keeping doing the same thing and expecting different results. As long as there’s sexuality there will be prostitution, in one manner or another.

As long as it's not a human trafficking situation . not my cup of tea .. but if it gets you through the day and you are ok with it ..

There is a reason why it's the oldest profession on earth. Its been around as long as homosapians and that'll never change..

Legalized prostitution would be a huge boon for low-income people. It would offer better protection from sources like the police, and largely take out the abusive pimps from the picture. I'm all for it!

Prostitution is as old as civilization, but that doesn't make it moral. Slavery, child labor, forced marriage, etc. are also as old as civilization, and they are not moral, either. Prostitution is a feature of patriarchy, and is bolstered by the belief that sex is a commodity, and that men are entitled to sex. The problem with prostitution, from my point of view, is the power imbalance. In countries where prostitution is legal and promoted, such as Germany and the Netherlands, human trafficking has increased and the criminal element has dug in hard. Most of the prostituted women in both these countries are poor women of color, from other countries, who have been brought in to satisfy what is becoming the demands of an ugly industry. In a recent study, researchers in Germany were unable to find a single German woman selling herself in the brothels they visited. Even in the Netherlands, authorities are rethinking the situation. (See link.)[independent.co.uk]

The prostitute is an archetype we all have. We prostitute ourselves for money, for self-gain, for power. In the sense of a female prostitute she is doing the same thing.

Legalise & regulate. Look toward those countries that have done this.

I don't think there's any sensible and effective way to criminalize prostitution.

I won't call it a victimless crime right now, although the basic transaction of sex for money is not the problem. It's all the other crap that's associated with it. Legalized prostitution would have less harm associated with it -- less likelihood of the prostitutes being trafficked or enslaved; less likelihood that STD's would be spread; less likelihood of violence being done against either the trick or the john; less stigma and shame and thus less likelihood of self-medication and addiction as a coping mechanism.

Let's not fool ourselves that legalized, regulated prostitution would eliminate these problems (and probably others I haven't thought of off the top of my head). But less of them is better than what's going on now, and when confronting public policy questions, it's often better to not allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good.

It is a victimless crime - all prostitution is, is an exchange of money and services just like any other manual labor job - anything that is "immoral" surrounding prostitution is a byproduct of its illegality and lack of regulation: drugs, abuse, people becoming trapped, etc. Legalize it, regulate it, and set up systems to help people who are in it to find other jobs if they so desire. Just like drug use - if we legalize it, regulate it, and set up systems to help people addicted we are all going to be much better off.

It’s ludricous to arrest 2 consenting adults for something that’s been going on for thousands of years and is never going to go away no matter what you do to try to stop it.

As per me - While I would never use such a service myself, I see no reason for it to be illegal. As long as the people engaging into such an occupation are not driven to it by force, coercion, deception or other means that infringe their own right of consent.

One of my big problems with organized religions is their unmitigated gall in telling others how to live! Legalize it so the pimps are OUT & women can choose this career path if they wish!

Of course it should be legal, and regulated. Here in Australia, the laws vary between the states. Brothels are legal only in some states, where prostitution is regulated. In other states. independent sex work is legal, but brothels aren't.

Legalize, regulate and fornicate. As long as everyone is of an age to consent, and the money is going to the service provider, I trust women with contol over their bodies and making the decisions that are in their own best interests.

If it’s not your body, it’s not your choice. Period.

As long as people practice safe consensual sex who are we to say what type of sex should or shouldn't be done. If you want to pay and someone wants to charge why should I care?

And so I will go boldly and just speak from my heart here. I don't like the idea that if a single mom needs a job, suddenly sucking dick is an acceptable option to pay the bills. Prostitution is old, and so is abusing women. I wonder myself how it affects women who work as prostitutes mentally. I really don't know, is it actually good for them? Sex is a sensitive thing and what she likes matters too. Notice most of us think of female prostitutes when we think of prostitutes, unless you think of men prostituting themselves for other men. This isn't because women don't have sex drives or enjoy sex. Women have been given neurosis for a long time that entraps them in regards to sex, you are a slut or you are frigid. The sex entertainment industry caters to men generally speaking and aims it more as a sport than an interaction between two human beings with mutual wants and needs. Personally, I feel like being that close with someone requires trust and the persons involved caring for each other. Now, do I think that throwing prostitutes in jail is solving anything? No. I think society in general being more compassionate and understanding towards the needs of both men and women is needed.

Prostitution IS by far the Oldest Profession in Human History, it's a historical FACT that innumerable Brothels in Rome for Centuries were OWNED and Operated by Cardinals, etc, etc, and frequented by others INCLUDING Popes themselves YET the Catholic Church in its High and Mighty Self-Righteousness frowns upon Prostitution even to this day. Bigotry is very much alive and thriving in religions, especially Catholicism.
YES, legalise Prostitution, monitor it, regulate it and eradicate ALL stigma and the filthy, parasitic Pimps associated with it.

It's legal in Nevada.

It should be legal .If it is legal it can be taxed and generate money .It will also save on the waste of time and money it costs police departments and the judicial system .It will also be safer because prostitutes will have to under go periodical testing for sexually transmitted diseases

It's now legal in New Zealand - there is even a sex workers collective which attempts to protect sex workers' rights. I hear the people who say it often isn't a choice for some women who are thereby "coerced through circumstance" . No one should ever be "forced" into prostitution but if it is legalized, the stigma of being a sex worker is taken away and if the link between sex work and drug dependency taken away I see no harm in it.

Completely agree.

Of course it should be legal. The Christain idiots are what keeps it illegal here in the US. Some are hypocrites like Jimmy Swaggart who preached about morals and the wrongs of prostitution but frequented a brothel himself.