Judi It’s time to make prostitution legal in New Jersey – New Jersey 101.5 FM Radio

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In Newark, a mom of three and activist called Janet Duran (not her real name) sits at the helm of a group called the New Jersey Red Umbrella Alliance, which has been defending and advocating for the rights of sex workers in the Garden State since 2013. She and others like her want New Jersey to decriminalize prostitution. And weve got to start to look at this in a new way.

Though Duran may not be someone youd wanna be friends with, she has a point. If a woman wants to sell her body for money, shouldnt she be protected? We often say that if New Jersey would only tax, regulate and license the business of prostitution the way it does with other popular industries in the state, wed reap the financial rewards as taxpayers, and youd see a lot less unemployment.

Like other victimless crimes, it seems illogical to call women (or men) who choose this line of work criminals. As we become more evolved when it comes to what people should be allowed to do with their own bodies, these laws should evolve as well.

Prostitution in the larger sense takes place every day in relationships only without money as the currency. Women, who are generally in charge of the sexual yay or nay routinely dole out sex in exchange for comfort, security, a lavish vacation or an expensive meal. Its just called wining and dining and not exchanging sex for goods. A happily married wife may promise a little somethin somethin' in exchange for that sports car or designer purse shes been dying for.

But the moment a monetary transaction is made it becomes a crime. In the case of massage parlors who offer or at least will provide, on request happy endings, whos to say what constitutes the actual act? What if a man merely derives sexual pleasure from the massage itself even without completion and then pays for the pleasure. Is THAT prostitution? Where is the line and who is to make that judgement?

The fact is this: when decisions are made by consenting adults whether they involve monetary compensation or not, it should be none of the governments business. These are personal choices and should be kept just that; personal. We are on the precipice of legalizing marijuana because weve finally realized that we can no longer deprive people of certain freedoms. And sex for money, especially with laws that provide for proper testing and safety is inarguably less risky.

If a woman says my body, my choice when it comes to abortion, but then thinks prostitution should remain illegal, shes a hypocrite. Dont sex workers abide by that same principle? Perhaps its time.

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Dennis and Judi are on the air weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tweet them@DennisandJudior@NJ1015.

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Judi It's time to make prostitution legal in New Jersey - New Jersey 101.5 FM Radio