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Prostitution

HSI agents making an arrest

Reason Roundup

Another Bogus 'Sex Trafficking Sting' Led by Homeland Security Agents

Plus: Everyone loves conspiracy theories, against national rent control, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 1.24.2023 9:30 AM

sex worker rights protest with people holding signs that say "FOSTA SESTA has a body count" and "sex work is work"

FOSTA

Appeals Court Panel Seems Skeptical That FOSTA Doesn't Violate the First Amendment

The 2018 law criminalizes websites that "promote or facilitate" prostitution. Two of three judges on the panel pushed back against government claims that this doesn't criminalize speech.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 1.18.2023 10:46 AM

Kaytlin-Bailey 8213212

Sex Work

Why Sex Work Should Be Destigmatized, Not Just Decriminalized

Kaytlin Bailey wants to decriminalize—and normalize—the world's oldest profession.

Nick Gillespie | 12.7.2022 2:20 PM

blue police light

Reason Roundup

Woman Reports Rape to Pennsylvania Cops, Winds Up In Prison for Prostitution

Plus: International attitudes about Russia and China, court rules against book publishers merging, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 11.2.2022 9:35 AM

Zar Amir Ebrahimi in 'Holy Spider'

Movies

Review: Holy Spider

Death on wheels.

Kurt Loder | 10.28.2022 7:30 AM

hands raised with handcuffs around the wrists

Prostitution

Underage Girls Arrested in Florida 'Human Trafficking' Sting

Once again, policies billed as helping people coerced into prostitution wind up harming those that cops say they're trying to help.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 10.25.2022 12:15 PM

Jelena Vermilion, executive director of Sex Workers' Action Program (SWAP) Hamilton, speaking about the challenge to Canada's anti-prostitution laws

Reason Roundup

Canadian Sex Workers Fight for Full Decriminalization of Prostitution

Plus: Why China didn't liberalize, rescheduling marijuana could take years, and more…

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 10.11.2022 9:36 AM

Michael Lacey in 2017

Criminal Justice

Retrial of Backpage Execs Wouldn't Be Double Jeopardy, Court Says

Former Backpage executives could now face trial again in 2023, after the government's first attempt resulted in a mistrial.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 9.22.2022 4:40 PM

John Stossel prostitute

Sex Work

'I Have My Own Life': The Case for Legalizing Sex Work

It would be far easier to prosecute sex trafficking if voluntary sex work were legal.

John Stossel | 9.14.2022 1:00 PM

minisHeidiWorld–The-Heidi-Fleiss-Story_iheartpodcasts

Podcasts

Review: HeidiWorld Wants You To Rethink Prostitution

Podcaster Molly Lambert's gambit to get listeners to critically examine the conflation of sex work is mostly successful.

Katherine Mangu-Ward | 9.2.2022 1:55 PM

Erotic massage

Brickbats

Brickbat: Bad Touch

Charles Oliver | 7.15.2022 4:00 AM

8185915_pod_thumbnail

The Soho Forum Debates

A Feminist Debate on Sex Work

Reason's Elizabeth Nolan Brown makes the case for legalizing sex work. Author Julie Bindel wants customers to be held criminally liable.

Gene Epstein and Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 5.20.2022 10:00 AM

8185672_thumbnail

Sex Work

Feminists Debate Sex Work: The Soho Forum

Reason's Elizabeth Nolan Brown makes the case for legalizing sex work. Author Julie Bindel wants customers to be held criminally liable.

Gene Epstein and Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 5.17.2022 11:00 AM

coyote

Sex Work

Rhode Island Senators Consider Two Paths To Decriminalizing Prostitution

One bill would repeal a range of laws against sex work, while the other would change them from criminal to civil offenses.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 4.5.2022 2:35 PM

belphotos311480

Sex Work

Belgium Decriminalizes Prostitution

Belgium is the first country in Europe to decriminalize selling and paying for sex.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 3.23.2022 3:20 PM

026-022-024-1920×1280

Criminal Justice

214 Sex Workers Arrested in Super Bowl 'Human Trafficking' Mission

In addition, 201 "sex buyers" were arrested.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 2.16.2022 4:26 PM

zumaamericassixteen848661

Prostitution

Ohio Mayor Warns That Ice Fishing Will Lead to Prostitution

Plus: Election laws and voter turnout, New York questions Spotify, and more…

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 2.10.2022 9:30 AM

krell

Backpage

Maggy Krell Repackages Her Bogus Backpage Prosecution Into a Book

The pimping charges Krell helped bring against Backpage's CEO and founders were twice thrown out of court.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 1.20.2022 2:55 PM

zumaamericasthirtythree221293

Reason Roundup

'Should Police Arrest Sex Workers for Standing Around?' No, of Course Not.

Plus: Censorship in New York, how zoning laws are creating a housing crisis, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 1.4.2022 9:30 AM

IMG_6736

Backpage

Biased Testimony in Backpage Case Triggers Mistrial

Judge said she has concerns that the government crossed the line several times.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 9.14.2021 11:10 AM

Screen Shot 2021-09-08 at 10.28.40 AM

Backpage

Backpage Defense Lawyers Call for Mistrial After 'Inflammatory' Opening Statements

The defendants are not on trial for child sex trafficking, yet prosecutor Reggie Jones wouldn't stop talking about it.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 9.8.2021 11:45 AM

whphotos215741

Sex Crimes

Plymouth County Keeps Puritanism Alive With Bogus Sex Trafficking Stings

Five men face "trafficking a person for sexual servitude" charges after meeting an undercover cop at a hotel.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 8.18.2021 11:15 AM

minis_margostjames_com

Web Video

Celebration of Life for Margo St. James

St. James fought for sex workers at a time when the mainstream U.S. feminist movement was hostile to them and leftist organizers portrayed them as victims.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 7.2.2021 6:00 AM

thumb 2

Police Abuse

Don't Be Surprised When Stupid Laws Are Maintained With Force

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids railed against cops for enforcing the same kind of anti-vaping rule they help pass.

Billy Binion | 6.15.2021 5:10 PM

Screen Shot 2021-05-25 at 9.06.47 AM

Reason Roundup

Texas Deputies Say They Were 'Molested and Traumatized' by Colleagues During Federally Funded Prostitution Stings

Plus: Georgia loses suit over anti-boycotting law, conservatives rally against Biden's IRS plan, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 5.25.2021 9:38 AM

301996_242060205839961_1416853871_n(1)

Sex Trafficking

Former Oregon House Speaker Gets Busted by Prostitution Law He Helped Put in Place

Portland police are calling it "human trafficking," but it was just an old-fashioned vice bust.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 5.4.2021 4:30 PM

sipaphotoseleven049266

Criminal Justice

Manhattan Will Drop Charges for Prostitution and Unlicensed Massage but Continue Prosecuting Prostitution Patrons

The Nordic Model comes to Manhattan.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 4.21.2021 1:30 PM

Money

Weed Week

The Return of Reefer Madness in the GOP

Certain politicians and pundits are living in a 1930s fantasy world.

Billy Binion | 4.19.2021 7:00 AM

sexymassage_1161x653

Brickbats

Brickbat: Nice Work if You Can Get It

Charles Oliver | 4.12.2021 4:00 AM

1402181_569686799746259_686648021_o(1)

Reason Roundup

Backpage Judge Accused of Bias Will Remain on Case

Plus: Effort to decriminalize psychedelics gains traction in California, crony capitalism at its worst, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 4.7.2021 9:45 AM

krtillustrationslive013369

Reason Roundup

Matt Gaetz Story Shifts From Child Sex Trafficking to Consorting With Sugar Babies

Plus: Marijuana legalization in New Mexico, Republicans are coming for OnlyFans, and more…

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 4.2.2021 10:06 AM

37557608_10155407282126956_3265881883359051776_n

Reason Roundup

Violent Crime in Baltimore Plunges After City Ditches Prosecution of Prostitution, Drug Possession, Other Minor Offenses

Plus: The "infrastructure plan" that isn't, the Institute for Justice challenges cash seizures at airports, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 4.1.2021 9:31 AM

ptsphotoshotfour067152

Reason Roundup

Science-Based Policy Means Decriminalizing Sex Work, Say Hundreds of Researchers

Plus: ACLU joins fight for donor privacy, Parler drops lawsuit against Amazon, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 3.3.2021 9:30 AM

polspphotos550915

Sex Trafficking

Federal Suit Seeks Damages for Men Illegally Recorded at Florida Massage Parlors, Falsely Smeared as Sex Traffickers

Two women still face felony charges, though the cases against all male defendants were dropped.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 2.25.2021 11:02 AM

Free Speech

Conviction for Praising Prostitutes (as "Promoting Prostitution") Upheld

Not sure that paying for sex makes you an "extraordinary gentleman," even if you do try to "give something back" by providing expert consumer reviews.

Eugene Volokh |The Volokh Conspiracy | 2.24.2021 8:01 AM

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