Welcome news from Massachusetts State Senator Stan Rosenberg: On November 21st, Governor Patrick signed into law a House-Senate anti-human trafficking bill that is being hailed as one of the toughest laws of its kind in the nation. The new law includes criminal sentences up to five years in prison for attempted human trafficking, up to 20 […]
Ordinances and Regulations
ABC News: “HIV-Positive Performer Shuts Down L.A. Porn Industry”
Reported yesterday on ABC Nightline: A porn actor’s positive HIV test, which prompted a temporary shutdown of Los Angeles’ billion-dollar adult film industry Monday night, has reignited the debate over mandatory condom use in X-rated productions…“Testing is not a substitute for condom use, and it never will be,” said Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS […]
Vanity Fair: “Sex Trafficking of Americans: The Girls Next Door”
We’re glad to see this impressive 5/24/11 article is the most popular at VanityFair.com today. Among other things, it notes how escort ads in The Hartford Advocate facilitate prostitution. As Northampton honors the abolitionist and feminist legacy of Sojourner Truth this weekend, perhaps our local Valley Advocate will take a long, hard look in the mirror. […]
Melissa Farley: “The real harms of prostitution”
Dr. Melissa Farley has kindly given us permission to reprint this article. Visit her website at Prostitution Research & Education. The real harms of prostitution MELISSA FARLEY WWW.PROSTITUTIONRESEARCH.COM Before we decide whether to legalise prostitution, it is important to know what prostitution is and what it is not. It is not a job like any […]
Ars Technica: “Ex-child prostitute sues Village Voice over sex ads”
Ars Technica reports today: Ex-child prostitute sues Village Voice over sex ads A teenage child trafficking victim has filed a lawsuit against Village Voice Media, for knowingly allowing her pimp to post ads for her “services” on the popular backpage.com. The pimp, Latasha Jewell McFarland, has already pleaded guilty to prostitution charges, but the victim […]
MN Men’s Action Network: Winona County Passes Clean Hotel Policy
Good news today from the MN Men’s Action Network: Hello all, I am pleased to announce: Winona County Passes Clean Hotel Policy First in State The Winona County Board of Commissioners passed a clean hotel resolution and travel policy on Tuesday September 7th which provides reimbursement for county employees only when staying in hotels […]
Press Release: “Nevada Attorney General Masto Announces Ninth Circuit Court Decision Limiting Brothel Advertising”
Click to download a PDF of this press release:See also:United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (07-16633): Coyote Publishing v. Miller (PDF, 148KB, 3/11/10)…The State of Nevada, alone among the states, [permits] the sale of sexual services in some of its counties.1 Nevada combines partial legalization of prostitution with stringent licensing and regulation, including […]
Springfield Republican Reports on Strippers Lawsuit Against Strip Clubs
The February 5 Springfield Republican reports on a class-action suit filed by exotic dancers against area strip clubs: A class-action suit filed by exotic dancers over what they say are unfair labor practices at the Mardi Gras and four other area strip clubs parallels a similar suit filed by dancers earlier this year against a […]
Center for Public Integrity Report: Sexual Assault on Campus
The Center for Public Integrity published a valuable report on campus sexual assault on December 1. In an email to members they write: Students who have been the victim of sexual assaults on college campuses face a depressing litany of barriers that often either assure their silence or leave them feeling victimized a second time, according […]
Advocate.com: “Business Before Pleasure?”
Should porn performers enjoy the same workplace protections as other Americans? Matt Siegel raises the issue for The Advocate (8/12/09): Business Before Pleasure?…Tony Malice of JM Productions, a straight porn production company, says the business isn’t really set up for performers who refuse to work on camera without a condom: “If a girl only wants to work […]