this post was submitted on 02 Feb 2026
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Edit to add my opinion so I'm not just replying "I agree" to 90% of comments. I think it should be legal, properly regulated, taxed and viewed as a profession. I haven't personally engaged in it but I have no moral objection to it. I do hate the common sentiment that it was the individual's "only option" though.

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[–] Jumi@lemmy.world 1 points 22 minutes ago

If you buy a hooker you are a pathetic fucking loser and worthless piece of shit. I wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire.

[–] RamenDame@lemmy.world 2 points 59 minutes ago

Even in countries were it is legal and has some kind of regulation, it still has exploitative character. Not for all but for many. And I think forced labor, of different degrees, is more common then you think.

Even when regulated and legal, we need to think about the careers after sex work. Can those people freely transfer into a new position without discrimination?

And since there is discrimination, worker rights, and often women and gay rights, are neglected.

To establish a safe working space for sex workers it is not enough to regulate and make it legal. You need to actively support each group individually and make it clear, that as for every other form of employment you have rights and someone else is actively fighting for it. It is not enough to tell people they have rights and they have to fight all by themselves. Especially when we have established that human trafficking, exploitation, femizide, and so much more are common.

So I think the answer should not be: just make it legal and write regulation. It should be: what actually is a safe working space for all, no matter if selfemployed or working in a brothel.

[–] DavidDoesLemmy@aussie.zone 1 points 1 hour ago

It's legal and regulated. Seems to work fine. I don't know anyone who wants to outlaw it.

[–] psion1369@lemmy.world 4 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Regulated with provisions for safety. I'm all for the idea it should be in a specific license location, like love hotels or massage parlors or something like that. No going to someones house or a different hotel.

[–] Apytele@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

And unionized, and the employer pays for (without touching employee pay):

  • PPE (including gloves, dental dams, and male and female condoms, which are mandatory for any and all physical contact that includes genitals, mucous membranes, feet, or non-intact skin).
  • regular STD testing
  • vaccinations
  • optional pharmacologic prophylaxis
  • building security
  • both bedside and wearable panic alarms
  • identity monitoring and protection / assistance removing their personal information from publicly accessible records.

Every room should be required to have a poster listing employee rights.

Aside from pricing differently for specific services (handjob vs blowjob etc) tipping is illegal.

No employee (particularly owners or supervisors) are allowed to receive service at their own location or any owned by a same parent company.

The owner and any shift supervisors are required to take a class on these regulations and sit for and pass a licensure exam.

Independent workers can receive a special, less restrictive license (that includes basic sex ed but mostly focuses on informing them of their rights and that independent means independent not "your boss just doesn't want to get a license" and keeping people with intellectual disabilities or low educational level from being misinformed of their rights as a sex worker).

They worker will never face charges for not having a license but their boss or any John (Jane?) / client who can't prove the sex worker or company was licensed (or that they were significantly or intentionally misled) can.

[–] AceFuzzLord@lemmy.zip 3 points 5 hours ago

As long as the industry has regulations that help keep the prostitutes safe ( generic things like STD testing and time off to clear that all up, ways to deal with rowdy, rough customers, etcetera ) In have zero problem as long as the workers are consenting and at least in their mid to late 20s to keep the creepiest of people out.

[–] Washedupcynic@lemmy.ca 1 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

You know what would give women power over men? Allowing them to charge money for sex. This is why it's so demonized. It should be legalized so it can be regulated with health standards, and standards of engagement that protect everyone, like condom use, and having to do monthly or weekly STD/HIV checks. Make it 21+ ID is required to buy and sell services.

[–] LH0ezVT@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 hour ago

Nah, that's not it. Germany has legal and - theoretically - regulated prostitution, and society is not meaningfully different than, say, France in that redgard as far as I can tell.

There are other issues associated with it, but just that one argument alone doesn't seem to work based on what I've seen.

[–] Breezy@lemmy.world 5 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

As a dude, i sucked a dick for big money to some rich old guy. With inflation, over 900 dollars for like nothing. So im biased

I think it needs to be legalized world wide to give it an opportunity to be regulated. If its already happening might as well capitalism the industry. Its going to happen either way, or the world will continue to have deep state sex clubs.

[–] nutsack@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 12 hours ago

how do i do this that sounds awesome

[–] jjjalljs@ttrpg.network 7 points 18 hours ago

Many complaints against prostitution also apply to trading labor for money/shelter in general. People just have a stronger emotional response.

Emotional responses are rarely a good foundation for policy.

Prostitution should be legal with safety regulations. All labor should have protections, unions, and such, to protect them from being abused by the wealthy.

Some specific things would probably remain illegal or disallowed, in the same sense that you're not allowed to work construction without safety gear. People can wear condoms as easily as hard hats and hi-viz vests.

[–] Oak_Kitten@slrpnk.net 10 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

As long as all parties involved are consenting adults it’s none of my business what they are up to. Except that prostitution should be legalized in a way in which they get equal rights and protections to other professions. The only reason it’s illegal in many countries in the first place is likely based on religious Puritanism, which I do not think laws should ever be based on.

[–] MuskyMelon@lemmy.world 3 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Even Calvinists in the Netherlands legalised prostitution.

[–] mojofrododojo@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (1 children)

suspect it's not in spite of their faith, but... in recognition of their humanity and lack of hypocrisy when it comes to humans.

unlike other places where they'll decry prostitution then rape the alterboys.

[–] LH0ezVT@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 hour ago

Wasn't a core philosophy of Calvinists basically "god loves capitalism" (before the word was really established)?

[–] daggermoon@lemmy.world 9 points 20 hours ago

So long as it's regulated and all parties are safe and consenting then it's none of my business. It's not something i'd be interested in however. To each their own.

[–] Novamdomum@fedia.io 11 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

The only thing more certain to exist till the end of time than prostitution is people complaining about it. I like it because it makes something explicit that is implicit in so many apparently non transactional relationships. There are so many people who say prostitution should be banned, who are also in relationships/marriages where they expect sex for shelter, food, safety or whatever. Prostitution makes the transaction clear. People point to the exploitative nature of it, but then reveal their real agenda by also rejecting the idea of making it safer for the people selling access to their bodies. The whole thing is a massively hypocritical pile of double standards. Mix into that cultures with backwards patriarchal religious doctrines and that's where you get the really angry people who talk about dishonor and stoning and all that jazz. Prostitution has been around since there were people and will always be around. When the puritans are in charge it just hides for a bit. This has been my TED talk, thanks lol

[–] MIDItheKID@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago

"Kyle, every boy pays for kisses. Do you know what I am saying? If you got a girl and she kisses you, sooner or later you're paying for it. You gotta take her out to lunch, take her to a movie, and then spend time listening to all her stupid problems. Look, look at Stan right there. He's got to sit there and listen to all her stupid motherf___ing problems 'cause she kisses him. If you ask me, that's a lot more than the $5 my company charges."

[–] jenesaisquoi@feddit.org 4 points 20 hours ago

We should find out which policy minimises harm to those participating in it. Then, regardless of how anyone might feel about that policy, implement it.

[–] melsaskca@lemmy.ca 1 points 17 hours ago

I think it should be legalized. The only thing wrong with sex outside of procreation is absolutely nothing. I have a hunch it would help with a lot of social ills out there. Why, in most depictions of the old west, you could go to town and get a prostitute. Eventually, powerful people with sexual hang-ups and twisted morals restricted the activity and pushed it underground where it's dirty and dangerous.

[–] Paragone@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago

One of the commenters said it was fundamentally gross to them..

It's fundamentally depressing to me: intimacy's .. unending.

There's no such thing as "a 1-night stand", or "just a fuck" .. you'll never be unmixed with that someone..

& doing it as mere-transaction, or mere-physicality .. ??

but apparently that view that most of a someone isn't physical, & most of sex isn't physical either, is deemed to be nonsense,

& pretending that merely-physical is "all that exists" is actually common ..

so, my perspective is deemed lunacy or idiocy by this world.

But seeing women being used for mere-physical sensation by random strangers, as a purchased-transaction .. that's depressing..

I wish the world didn't work that way.

I'm with all the people who want prostitution not-criminalized, who want it taxed & regulated, & I'd add that I want pimping criminalized: let women form cooperatives, or something, but nobody should coerce anybody into the biz of being used bodily.

_ /\ _

[–] remon@ani.social 93 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Never had anything to do with it personally, but just like with drugs it should be legal and regulated because it's impossible to prohibit it.

[–] bizarroland@lemmy.world 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Hard agree.

Regulate it, tax it, protect the workers and users. Prevent the spread of diseases and use the money to ensure their futures.

Minimize harm, maximize happiness.

Failure to do so is a failure of society.

After all, we already have so many people making money on onlyfans and through doing pornography, which is legalized prostitution anyway, so the people that do that in a non-video scenario should have at least the same protections.

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[–] yermaw@sh.itjust.works 34 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Absolutely should be legal and taxed, with rules and regulations in place to protect clients and workers.

I pretty much do have moral objections to it, its fundamentally gross to me, but its not going to stop and id rather these prostitutes work in a safe place and pay their taxes like the rest of us than get their passports taken by a guy named The Scorpion with a spider Web tattooed on his neck.

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[–] Goldholz@lemmy.blahaj.zone 54 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

As a former prostitute its work and legitamite work but it needs more protection

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I'm not going to read through to find where Carlin was already quoted, but I stick with "selling is legal, f****** is legal, why isn't selling f****** legal?

[–] Greg@lemmy.ca 47 points 1 day ago (9 children)

It should be legal, safe, and taxed

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[–] Corporal_Punishment@feddit.uk 28 points 1 day ago (1 children)

If the individual selling their services is doing so freely and isn't being exploited in any sort of way then I don't have a problem with it.

[–] AquaTofana@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago

We never used it but I did look into it when we lived in Nevada for a friend who had been celibate for over a decade at that point. Nice dude, but extremely quiet and just has zero confidence/game.

I loved that the ladies were independent contractors who set their OWN rates, and they advertised what THEY were comfortable doing/ their explicit "no-go" list. There was also a strict consent banner on the site I used that said any of the ladies could kick anyone out at any time and there were panic buttons in the rooms.

Never actually did end up contacting them because we ended up being too poor at the time. Wasn't mad though, those ladies were setting prices that they deemed fair for their bodies and I have mad respect for that. Whether people agree with prostitution as a concept or not, its not going away and its referred to as the "world's oldest occupation" for a reason. The best thing to do is protect the people who are choosing to engage in it/ensure they're getting paid extremely well for their time.

[–] BigTuffAl@lemmy.zip 36 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Sex work is just work, as long as it is all between consenting adults.

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[–] RegularJoe@lemmy.world 36 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Looking at the pros and the cons, it must be the opposite of CONstitution.

...I'll see myself out.

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[–] Stern@lemmy.world 30 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

So long as everyone is able to legally and safely consent I don't see an issue.

I don't have a problem with prostitution, I have a problem when socioeconomic conditions lead people to feeling like they have to sell their bodies to survive. If prostitution is completely voluntary, then it's fine.

[–] 1984@lemmy.today 7 points 1 day ago (5 children)

Im old school and think humans should not legally be able to do this. But since they will do it anyway, without legal support, the issue is more complicated.

I guess its better if they have legal support if they are going to do it anyway.

[–] Akasazh@lemmy.world 1 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

I'm curious. I don't subscribe to your way of thinking, I won't downvote over it as it's your honesty opinion.

Do you think similarly about people using sexuality to further their career efforts? Because that's a pretty vague area. You have models who sell their good looks, you have people furthering their career by seducing their bosses and you have people marrying to increase their position in life.

Could you demarcate where you would draw the line?

[–] 1984@lemmy.today 2 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

I mean, its fine if you dont subscribe to my way of thinking. You wouldnt have the same thinking in a monk or a businessman. Two people cant even agree on what color they want at home sometimes.

I dont think we will agree on this topic. For me, I see a human being as a more spiritual being than you do, with a soul and a purpose. If you subscribe to the typical western idea of humans just being animals, then I totally understand why its fine to behave in any way that benefit you (as long as it doesnt put you in trouble of course).

[–] Akasazh@lemmy.world 1 points 18 hours ago

Well that is a good point, and an important clarification.

I do object a bit about the 'humans being animals'part, that seems to undersell the soulfulness of most animals (but that's a bit off topic).

If a person were entirely filled with enjoyment of sexual acts and in full control over whomever they rendered their professional pleasure to would that scenario be more or less soul destroying than, say, a standard workman grinding a job he doesn't like for things (s)he finds most important, like family?

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Same as my opinion on walking though the self checkout line. My body my choice.

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