Just look at countries where it’s legal and see that it hasn’t created any higher crime rates and if managed right the level of sexually transmitted diseases are way lower

no reason it should be.
It is commerce...the worlds oldest profession

Prostitution needs to be decriminalized. Legalisation only puts a tax on the world’s oldest profession and makes the pocket books of politicians fatter.

It shouldn't be a crime to offer consenual, adult services in order to feed you and your family. I mean, that's basically what the institution of marriage was founded for anayay.

Men used to sell their daughters so that their families could eat. What's wrong with a woman taking advantage of her own body?

I'd want to track if legalizing it makes human trafficking decrease or increase, but I like the idea of harsh consequences for pimps and johns with treatment for prostitutes.

Having traveled the world a bit, I've met prostitutes who started out way too young when they couldn't consent and I wonder if they're really 100% willing later if that's the best way they know to make a living.

I don't think you should go to jail for it.

I think it could be illegal to buy sex. Most people in the sex trade were abused when they were younger. The prostitute ( male or female ) can be concidered a victim and the one buying sex a perpertrator ( held accountable by law ).

“Everything in the world is about sex except sex. Sex is about power.”
― Oscar Wilde

Men hate the power women have over them sexually and so attempt to control them. Making prostitution illegal is part of that control.

I think it has been shown with little doubt that if you make something which is frowned upon socially, like prostitution, drugs etc. legal the situation gets a lot better for everyone concerned.

I have known quite a few prostitutes and they all have very different lives. One female I know works very hard at her job and has bought a house and is set to retire at 30. Another is in prison for drug smuggling even though she comes from a very wealthy family. She loved being a prostitute as she had never had a boyfriend before and liked the adventure. Two of my male friends have been prostitutes and one still is. He does it mainly for the money but is quite promiscuous anyway so enjoys it mostly. I went out with a girl who’s ex. boyfriend/girlfriend was a transexual prostitute who loved it. She lived with him for year and still sees him socially now.

I mention this for those who have the idea that prostitution is only the result of hitting rock bottom. There are those stories but there are also many much more happy endings (pun intended).

Prostitution should not be legal, but it should be discouraged socially.
Prostitution should not be illegal, because that makes criminals of the prostitutes, but it should be discouraged socially.
People say prostitution is as old as civilization, and will never be eradicated, but that is a false argument. It's as old as civilization precisely because civilization is patriarchal, meaning that women as people are devalued, and sex is comodified. Slavery, child marriage, forced conscription and child abuse are all also as old as civilization, and that doesn't make them moral, or desirable, either.
Prostitution is the attempt to divorce sexual reciprocity from the emotions of love and connectiveness. The same is true of pornography. Yes, it can be done. But that doesn't make it a good idea.
In places where prostitution has been made legal, organized crime has moved in in a big way. In the red light district of Amsterdam, officials are rethinking the policies that have allowed prostitution to flourish there. Sex trafficking has increased, not decreased. Most of the women who work in the brothels are poor women (and girls) of color, who were brought to Amsterdam to service what has become a huge business, and nearly all the elements that go with this situation are undesireable in an advanced culture. The same is true in Germany, where 9 storey buildings house hundreds of impoverished third world prostitutes. Researchers in one study could not find a single German woman who chose to prostitute herself in one of these bordellos.
You can always find women who claim to love prostitution, and some who make a lot of money doing it. That doesn't negate the fact that for the vast majority of women and girls who make their living prostituting themselves, they would do anything else if they possibly could, and their lives are marked by suffering and degradation. Most cannot, and do not, escape the horrible life of sexual slavery.
Men (and women) who claim that prostitution is empowering for the women are deluding themselves. Just look at the evidence: it's not that hard to find. Women who leave prostitution have very sad stories about it. Men who visit prostitutes, and post their reviews, are horribly cruel and mysogynistic to the women they have just paid to fuck.
Upstanding male citizens who view porn and argue that prostitution should be legal, would generally not be thrilled to learn that a beloved daughter or granddaughter has decided to go into the sex trade. Why not, if it's just another job?
Because they know, even if they will not admit it, that "sex work" is degrading and dehumanizing.
In the Nordic model, only the purchasers of sex are prosecuted. This approach tends to shame men who are willing to engage prostitutes, and remarkably, the incidence of prostitution goes way down, when such an approach is implemented.
Isn't that more like the kind of culture we all want? Where prostitution is rare, rather than commonplace? Doesn't that reduce suffering more?

There are many facets to this topic. Its a women's rights issue- their body they should be able to do what they want. However, many problems regarding consensual sex and young women or sex trafficking. If prostitution was legal and regulated there would be no demand for sex trafficking.

Legalize it. While we at it legalize all drugs (the main ones not the off brands). We are adults we can deal with this. Prostitution go for it. Drugs if legal will help a lot of things out and you will not have to deal with the off brand stuff like croc and so on. Of course, do the stuff from across the pond and give the prostitutes some schooling so they can aptly do it. We have sex bots for fucks sakes why not this.

You do you. If you want 3 prostitutes while sniffing crack off ones back do it. If you OD your stupidity and thanks for taking yourself out of the gene pool moderation learn it.

I accidentally voted keep it illegal. I meant to vote for legalize.

Wow I am totally impressed with the people who have participated in this debate. 117 for legalize, 4 for other and only 4 for keep illegal. We have some very enlightened people among us here and a great many good points were made. Thanks all for a great debate.

It is legal in the form of escorting, nearly all escorts are up for that. And if you're that worried about it, just set up a video camera and call it porn...

No. Legalize it.

I get the impression most of the people posting or commenting to this post act in a responsible manner regarding their sexual activity. It HAS been an interesting discussion.

Well, again, I live in Nevada, so.....not really an issue here. Legalize, of course.

As someone who wouldn't be here if not for my biological mother being a prostitute, getting knocked up and not believing in abortions, I say legalize it! She made a lot of money doing it, but a good handful of it went to her pimp who was abusive and when she left him so she could lead a better life, he promised he would find her and kill her. She lives with fear because she saw one of his boys (I assume one of his thugs?) and one of his girls (another girl that worked for him) after she moved states away, she was for sure he was gonna find her. But she has not heard from him since and hasn't seen them. So, I hope she will be okay, but I'm sure she will as long as he doesn't bring a gun. She took self defense classes to protect herself in case something with a client went wrong. If they do regulate it though, they should teach self defense as something mandatory, in my opinion.

I think we should be careful with how we approach this issue. Particularly with the difference between legalization and decriminalization.

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Yes....I do agree, what adult person is doing it is their business not mine! And why would be a crime to have sex?

Legalize it for men & women, be sure to offer counseling if requested & even job training. Men tend to be driven by sexual desire more than women, & are in an inferior position when it comes to attaining that unless they are attractive, rich or brutal enough (tho there is the question of whether rape is all about dominance/power or sex). To have a safe accepted outlet for that drive may be beneficial to women in general. Sort of like having free transportation available to those too drunk to drive on New Year's Eve!

I don't use it... I don't understand what pleasure can be obtain of that. There is no Romance in Money Exchanging hands... I am a Romantic... plus I am a Hunter... If I can not Hunt the Tail I get... I should Not get Any. Like in "Carlitos Way" ..."if you don't get in... you don't get any". With all due respect to those who find value in the oldest profession, more power to you and do whatever right and good is necessary.

It's to be legal according to the age under control

Prostitution could be introduced legally as a form of therapy. Human beings need positive human contact.

Unionize and legalize.

I think through legalising... There will be a huge decline in rape cases..