Prostitution

[tangoplus]

So they are in plain view... police does very little about it, from what it seems.

Does this bother anyone? Is it even a problem?

 

[cgguy]

I worked at the corner of Queen and River St. a couple of years ago. The Beer Store on that corner was (and likely still is) a popular pick up point for crack/meth addicted prostitutes.

From my corner window I would see everything from Tow Truck drivers to business men in expensive BMW's stop in to pick up one of the local ladies for a quick spin. Others would service their John's in the back alley behind the Beer Store.

In the two years I worked there I never ONCE saw a police officer so much as look in the general direction of these happenings. To say that law enforcement didn't care would be a gross understatement.

For the most part the prostitutes didn't cause too many problems in the area aside from discarded condoms and the occasional needle left in the back driveway of our building. You'd get occasional propositions for a "date" but a quick no thank you (or get lost) would more than suffice in getting them out of your way....which could not always be said for the more aggressive pan-handlers in that area.

It didn't really bother me, in fact I have a lifetime of funny stories to tell my friends over a beer involving some of the "characters in that neighborhood.

That said, I don't think I'd like to live in an area like Queen and River, and god knows I'd never bring my mother around there if I did.

 

[Eug]

For the most part the prostitutes didn't cause too many problems in the area aside from discarded condoms and the occasional needle left in the back driveway of our building.

That seems pretty significant to me, and that's not even considering all the creepy guys driving around looking for them.

 

[paraone]

I used to live right on the corner of Queen and Boulton and about 5 years ago, the prostitutes that frequent River st. would make thier way down there. From my window I could watch as the cops would set up stings every once in a while. My brother lives across the street near degrassi so we'd both be on our phones watching these guys get nailed. Some we kinda shocking like when an old man tried to run over the cop and fly through the hedge to get away. The saddest point was when they pulled over a mini van with like 3 kids sits in the back. Either way it's a lot cleaner now than it ever has been. They do thier sweeps every once in a while but it still has a way to go.

 

[PukeGreen]

They tend not to arrest or pursue the prostitutes themselves, but only the "Johns". I used to live on Jarvis near Gerrard about a decade ago and I would watch out the window as the cops stopped and chatted with the girls, sometimes giving them coffees, and then busted the guys who pulled up. I think the mentality is that the girls are often victims, and the men are the instigators. In most cases this is probably more or less true, I suppose.

I don't live in that type of neighbourhood anymore so I'm not sure if the situation is improving downtown or if it's just the old story of when one neighbourhood is cleaned up the problem just gets moved over a block or two. I guess I'm a bit of an idealist: I think the same laws should be enforced everywhere, and what is unacceptable in Yorkville or Rosedale should be equally unacceptable at Queen and River.

 

[dt_toronto_geek]

The tranny hookers (is that the correct term?) work one street over from me and very occasionally at the corner of my street. When I sit on my balcony at night it is very common to hear/see fights, screaming and other related problems.
I also had a prostitute live a couple of apartments away from me for a couple of years back in the mid-90's. The funny thing is I would see lots of men going in so I figured that part out but several different women too. No problems there though, ever. After the inevitable eviction I heard through the grapevine it was one woman but she wore different wigs and makeup so it wasn't several women at all.
I completely support legalizing prostitution, I mean it's about time. Something akin to red light districts should be created, perhaps central, north, east and west locations where this can take place in a secure environment thus eliminating the need for women and men to work dangerous streets and disrupt neighbourhoods at night. Also, they should be licensed for a nominal fee each year much like adult entertainers are (aka strippers) and must be subject to mandatory weekly tests for STI's via a public health bus or nearby affiliated clinic.
This is never going away so I think we should think of ways to embrace prostitution, keep it out of neighbourhoods and increase the safety for the women and men who offer these services.

 

[luxome]

The tranny hookers (is that the correct term?) work one street over from me and very occasionally at the corner of my street. When I sit on my balcony at night it is very common to hear/see fights, screaming and other related problems.
I also had a prostitute live a couple of apartments away from me for a couple of years back in the mid-90's. The funny thing is I would see lots of men going in so I figured that part out but several different women too. No problems there though, ever. After the inevitable eviction I heard through the grapevine it was one woman but she wore different wigs and makeup so it wasn't several women at all.
I completely support legalizing prostitution, I mean it's about time. Something akin to red light districts should be created, perhaps central, north, east and west locations where this can take place in a secure environment thus eliminating the need for women and men to work dangerous streets and disrupt neighbourhoods at night. Also, they should be licensed for a nominal fee each year much like adult entertainers are (aka strippers) and must be subject to mandatory weekly tests for STI's via a public health bus or nearby affiliated clinic.
This is never going away so I think we should think of ways to embrace prostitution, keep it out of neighbourhoods and increase the safety for the women and men who offer these services.

lmao! amen to that, amen! LOL. couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[Northern Light]

Well Said DT

Well Said, DT.

I too am persuaded that that more harm that good comes of criminalizing a behavior that is both socially pervasive, and when if conducted under legal regulation instead will likely cause minor or lesser social harm.

I might add at this point that there also should be no-wait-list, free drug addiction treatment for anyone who needs it (whether in the sex industry or not) so as to minimize any harm caused by abuse of narcotics.

****

Very much in keeping with this thread....

York U law Professor Alan Young is challenging the constitutionality of Canada's prostitution laws.

Which for the edification of anyone who didn't know....don't actually make prostitution, per se, illegal; rather our laws make everything around prostitution illegal (living off the avails of (pimping); common bawdy house (brothels) and communication for the purpose of ( soliciting).

Anyways, a link about Professor Young's fight

http://osgoode.yorku.ca/media2.nsf/...46a38dd050268da3852575de004a5fbf!OpenDocument

 

[Prometheus The Supremo]

but if they legalize prostitution, everyone's gonna wanna be one (a prostitute).

 

[simuls]

Personally, I think that the best case to switch the idiotic prostitution laws, is to buy a couple hundred flips, hand them out to the prostitutes and/or the johns, then when the cops try to bust somebody, just say you were making a porno. It's incredulous that a) two people can be paid to have sex, b) you can film that sex, and c) you can make money off the public viewing and sale of that film/sex, but if you only do a), you're breaking the law. Ridiculous. These prostitutes need to be protected and allowed to do their job safely and with benefits. Not to make light of the situation, but remember "NightShift"? That always made sense to me!

 

[toraerach]

Personally, I think that the best case to switch the idiotic prostitution laws, is to buy a couple hundred flips, hand them out to the prostitutes and/or the johns, then when the cops try to bust somebody, just say you were making a porno. It's incredulous that a) two people can be paid to have sex, b) you can film that sex, and c) you can make money off the public viewing and sale of that film/sex, but if you only do a), you're breaking the law. Ridiculous. These prostitutes need to be protected and allowed to do their job safely and with benefits. Not to make light of the situation, but remember "NightShift"? That always made sense to me!

Yeah, legalizing pornography without legalizing solicitation has always struck me as somewhat hypocritical.

The laws surrounding prostitution need to be changed to guarantee the safety and health of prostitutes. For example, a legal and regulated brothel is far safer than streetwalking. Additionally, the laws against living off of the avails of prostitution mean that it's illegal, for example, for a prostitute to use money she earned (legally) to feed her children. Anti-pimping laws should be made more specific with the goal of protecting prostitutes from exploitation.

In general, resources should be used to combat harmful and exploitative behaviour, not used to harass willing prostitutes. Sex trafficking does occur in Canada, though due to geography it's a little harder to smuggle sex slaves into Canada than it is Germany, the Netherlands, or the UK for example. Thankfully we got rid of the erotic dancer visa program that was abused extensively by sex traffickers.

I'm picturing a red-light-district-ed Woodbine Live! for some reason.

 

[adma]

So they are in plain view... police does very little about it, from what it seems.

Does this bother anyone? Is it even a problem?

Funny: I've always thought the "plain view" ones were wan anachronisms. Today's real version of this problem: high-rise brothels in Agincourt, etc

 

[OttoSchloss]

it is legal. it's solicitation which is a crime.

no it doesn't bother me. sure there are better ways someone can earn a living, yes it tends to be exploitative but as a career choice for some, it's inevitable. but if it were decriminalized and regulated a lot of these girls and boys might be better served -especially taking control away from the pimps and slavers that proliferate in the industry.

 

[Jonny5]

Funny: I've always thought the "plain view" ones were wan anachronisms. Today's real version of this problem: high-rise brothels in Agincourt, etc

I agree. Given the endless ads in the back pages of NOW and EYE and on craigslist, I'd be shocked if even 10% of prostitution occours via the "traditional" method, on a street corner.

 

[afransen]

The argument toward liberalisation on prostitution is similar to that for marijuana:
(a) it happens anyway
(b) because of (a), prohibition creates a black market exploited by organized crime/gangs that represents billion dollar industries, the proceeds of which fuel violent crime in turf wars, civil wars within gangs, etc.
(c) you overburden the courts with largely insignificant court cases, possibly incarcerating people who pose no significant harm to society
(d) it makes regulation and harm reduction more difficult
(e) it forgoes tax revenues that could be used to fund harm reduction or displace taxes on useful activities, like income