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new zealand legalizes prostitution
Thursday 26 June, 2003 at 12:12PM (Nereus) :: permalink :: comments (11) This article in CNN world news came as a bit of a surprise to me. Yep, NZ has legalized prostitution, but only just. In the most intense lobbying seen since homosexuality was decriminalized 17 years ago, politicians voted Wednesday 60 to 59 in favor of the bill, with one abstention. The funny thing is that the one abstention was from New Zealand's only Muslim member of parliament, Ashraf Choudhary, who almost most certainly would not have supported legalization. If he had not abstained the bill would have failed and prostitution would remain illegal in NZ ..bet he regrets spending the day playing golf instead. Former prostitute and the world's only known transsexual member of parliament Georgina Beyer, urged politicians to vote in favor of the bill. Yes, NZ has a female Prime Minister and a transexual MP, as well as a dope-smoking dreadlocked rasta MP who's pretty switched on. We're an open-minded bunch in NZ. The general feeling was that while they did not condone or condemn prostitution, they agreed it could be harmful not to legalize sex workers who should be protected under health and employment laws. Fair enough. If it equates to even one less asshole committing rape, then it's a good thing (my theory being that a possible would-be rapist does his business with a prostitute rather than raping someone). Your thoughts on this? comments (11)
Seagoat I generally think that decriminalization of things like that will cut down on many of their risks - for that particular one, supplies will become more abundant for protecting oneself when engaging in such. But.. it won't affect rape very much. Most rapes aren't committed by random horny men who don't get any at home. They're committed by people exercising 'power' over the person/etc. being raped.. come on, why are so many children victims of such? Men aren't generally *so desperate* that instead of cultivating a relationship properly, they feel the need to rape their prospective partner, either - and if they are, they need to not be having sex with ANYONE any more than a blind person needs to be driving a car. Random $0.02. Nereus hmm true enough. Another issue I just thought of is the possibility of NZ becoming a sex capital.. although hopefully it will be policed enough so that Auckland doesn't turn into an international brothel. What a dilemma for the politicians - sex tourism dollars versus morals and the NZ clean green image. Brian Boyko The point about rape... See, it won't affect rape. Rape is about power, not sex. The way it will affect rape is that if a prostitute is sexually assaulted or beat up, they now have legal recourse. If an asshole will commit a crime, he'll do it to someone who can't go to the police. Now they can, and that'a a good thing. -- Brian Boyko leave a comment
 
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IceQueen
June 26, 2003 12:54 PM [link]
I think it means that we are on the road of accepting prostitution as a necessary evil. I am afraid that soon a teenager becoming a prostitute will be as acceptable as a teenager going to flip burgers at McDonald's -- and I don't know if I want it to be.