occupational health and safety concerns in the legal By Magdalene Meretrix

rostitution is illegal every– sometimes dramatically, from P where in the United States establishment to establishment. of America except in the government-licensed brothels in Health Considerations the state of Nevada. There are One of the most obvious over thirty licensed brothels occupational health concerns for Sheri’s in Southern Nevada throughout the state, ranging prostitutes is sexually transmitted from tiny two worker estab– disease. The state of Nevada transmission (compared to lishments like the Shady Lady to believes that it has solved that teenagers who are responsible the giants like Madam Kitty’s, The problem by passing laws for 30% to 35% of STD and Sage Brush requiring regular blood tests and transmission). with thirty or more bedrooms filled pap smears and mandating the With such low transmission with workers. Since the Nevada use of condoms for all sexual rates, mandatory condom usage government legalized contact. The fact that no cases coupled with a mandatory on Christmas Day, 1970, of HIV seroconversion have education program for legal business has been booming – the occurred in the legal brothels is prostitutes should be more than Nevada brothels collectively often presented as evidence of sufficient as well as being less gross an estimated 13 million the efficacy of the mandatory expensive and intrusive than U.S. dollars per year from the testing and condom laws. weekly STD tests. If the burden visits of roughly 350,000 While the low STD rate is of testing were reduced to a customers. definitely laudable, it is monthly level rather than a weekly A second law was passed in questionable whether the current level it would reduce the financial 1971 that proscribed the licensing practices are as beneficial as a burden of the workers by over of brothels in counties with program of education would be. $1000/year while still providing an populations in excess of 400,000 The U.S. Centers for Disease added incentive for workers to in order to keep prostitution away Control’s most recent HIV/AIDS protect their health. It is readily from the tourist towns of Reno Surveillance Report cites no apparent that Nevada prostitutes and . There are four proven cases of HIV transmission are in greater need of quality levels of prostitution laws: federal, from prostitutes (legal and illegal safer sex education, which puts state, county and municipal. Due combined) to clients. The U.S. control of the worker’s health in to the variety of laws as well as Department of Health estimates her own hands, than weekly the individual owners and that all prostitution (legal and testing which allows her to be a management, it is important to illegal combined) is responsible passive bystander in regards to remember that conditions vary, for only 3% to 5% of STD her own health.

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DECEMBER 12, 2000 | safety AT WORK OHS in Nevada brothels | Continued from Page 15 During my time working in the these fences do deter the they feel inhibited at the thought Nevada brothels, I encountered average troublemaker, I of an office worker listening to otherwise intelligent women who witnessed three events while I them having sex. The workers maintained dangerous safe sex worked in Nevada that proved who dislike the intercoms should beliefs. Some women believed that fences and door buzzers are re-think their position because, that two condoms used only as effective as the security intrusive though they may seem, simultaneously were safer than personnel. the intercoms can save their one condom. Some women were On two occasions, a man lives, especially in combination confused about the difference climbed over the security fence. with the “panic button.” A panic between lubrications, believing In one case the man was spotted button is a button found either on that KY Jelly (a single-insertion and thwarted but in the other the face of the intercom or medical lubricant) was a sufficient case, the man was able to gain sometimes on the bed frame. lubrication or exhibiting no entry through a rear door that had When a worker pushes the panic knowledge of what “water-based” been carelessly left unlocked. On button, a light and alarm go off in means or why it is important to the third occasion, a man who the central office. Turning on the use a water-based lubricant. had already gained entry through intercom while alerting staff can Many women believed that they normal channels physically inform security personnel of what could not get an STD from assaulted a worker in her room sort of situation they’re entering. receiving unprotected oral sex. and walked calmly out the front It is crucial that these panic Mandatory testing will not protect door, gestured that he needed the buttons, their connected lights a worker if a condom breaks due gate opened and walked out and alarms and the intercoms, if to improper usage whereas when another customer pushed present, be kept in good repair. proper education can prevent that the security button for him. At one brothel, we workers breakage altogether. This last, most troubling, discovered that the lights and incident clearly indicates the need alarms connected to the panic for appropriate staff security buttons were broken. Discus– training. That particular brothel sions with management led to the did not have a designated repair of the system, but there’s security guard (though other no telling how long the brothel brothels have employed security workers went without security staff) because the owner believed measures before one worker that visible security guards would noticed the breakdown. The panic spoil the “party atmosphere” of button system can make the Chicken Ranch in Southern Nevada the brothel. In addition to an difference between life and death authorized security guard, the for a worker. Workplace Security non-security staff needs to be Both workers and staff can be Another important safety issue trained in basic skills. In the case trained to prevent a potentially in the Nevada brothels is worker of the in-brothel assault, the dangerous situation before it security. What safeguards are perpetrator could have easily starts. Training programs, available to protect the worker been detained if a staff member underwritten by the government from violence? In Lyon County, had noticed that he returned to or by brothel owners, are sorely brothels are required to surround the parlor from the private room needed. Workers need to be their property with a fence no area without a worker. Brothel trained in conflict management – shorter than six feet tall, equipped staff should be constantly vigilant how to recognize a dangerous with a buzzer and a locking about customers attempting to or excessively intoxicated client, device that can be opened enter or leave the private area how to attempt to effectively remotely from within the brothel. without a worker. talk their way out of a situation Because this is not a state law, Some brothels have room and how to physically defend most brothels outside of Lyon intercoms that link to a central themselves against an opponent, County are not fenced. (Lyon office. Many workers and especially a larger opponent. County currently contains four of customers complain about these Staff need to be trained in self- the Nevada brothels.) While intercom systems, saying that defense measures as well as to

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DECEMBER 12, 2000 | safety AT WORK OHS in Nevada brothels | Continued from Page 16 turn away dangerous or management can take are to customers in the parlor, all intoxicated clients before they watch the workers for signs of workers are required to be in the reach the workers. At a brothel prolonged intoxication and take parlor entertaining them and where I worked, the staff allowed measures to provide a drug-free attempting to entice them to me to take a customer to my workplace in a manner that partake of services in the private room even though they knew that infringes on the worker’s free- area. Other brothels allow their he had tried to choke other time outside the brothel as little workers to work shifts but most workers. Not surprisingly, the as possible. Dealing with the of these aren’t much better as the customer tried to choke me and aftermath of infighting is equally required shift is twelve hours long had to be subdued with a important. When I was attacked and fourteen hours on weekends. combination of self-defense by a co-worker, I was offered the This creates a 64 to 88 hour measures and the panic button option of pressing charges workweek that quickly becomes in my room. This is unacceptable. against my colleague from the intolerable. Staff should be instructed to inside of a jail cell or dropping Because brothel management remember abusive clients and charges and going to the reports the workers as refuse them entry. emergency room for medical independent contractors, brothel While it seems obvious to take treatment. I was told that this is workers have no worker’s measures to assist the staff and the standard policy in Lyon compensation benefits if they workers to protect themselves County: if two brothel workers become injured on the job. against drunk and dangerous have a fight, either both go to jail Brothel workers have no job clients, it’s easy to overlook the or both go free no matter the security, no unemployment security problems related to circumstances of the conflict. benefits and no retirement infighting. The competition and This is an unacceptable and benefits. But it’s questionable as workplace stress of brothel work inhumane way to treat workers. to whether the workers are often combine to create an The choice between pressing actually employees or explosive atmosphere. The charges and receiving medical independent contractors. This is rambling halls and doors with no attention is not a real choice. an important distinction to make, locks provide an environment as the workers currently receive well suited to ambush. Excessive Workplace Stress none of the benefits of drug and alcohol use among the Many avoidable factors independent contractor status workers can exacerbate contribute to unnecessary and and none of the benefits of antagonistic behavior. Protecting excessive workplace stress in employee status, thus getting the the workers from one another is Nevada brothels. One prime worst of two worlds. perhaps the most complex tasks contributor is the long hours Because there is no of brothel management and often workers are required to serve. In government agency charged with the least considered task as well. some brothels, workers are “on overseeing the treatment of the There are no easy answers to the clock” all the time – that is, brothel workers, some brothels infighting, but a few steps so long as there are potential maintain abusive working conditions. Many women report virtual imprisonment in the brothels. The management will not let the workers leave the brothel without a staff escort unless they are leaving their job altogether. These “lock down” conditions extend to bars on the windows and no telephone privileges over the weekend. Some of the more remotely located brothels grossly overcharge the workers for basic necessities and at least one Madam Kitty’s Fantasy Ranch in Northern Nevada 17 Continued on Page 18

DECEMBER 12, 2000 | safety AT WORK OHS in Nevada brothels | Continued from Page 17 confiscates workers’ condoms have no legal competition, there [Editor’s Note: The photos when they arrive and then sells is no regulatory or grievance contained in this article them back to the worker. committee and the control of the have been reproduced with As if these working conditions workplace environment is largely permission of the author and weren’t bad enough, it is illegal out of the worker’s hands, The Homestead Road Website for the workers to have a romantic opportunities for abuse will http://www.angelfire.com/nv/ relationship on their own time, abound. homesteadroad] outside the brothel. Nevada state For regular updates on law (NRS 201.360) declares that: Magdalene Meretrix’s writing, recording and appearances plus “A person who […] lives with exclusive short erotic fiction and or accepts any earnings of a reviews of books, products and common prostitute, or entices or web sites sign on to the bi- solicits a person to go to a house monthly newsletter: of prostitution to engage in sexual http://www.egroups.com/group/ conduct with a common Meretrix prostitute; […]shall be punished: http:/www.magdalenemeretrix.com […]where no physical force or http://www.realm-of-shade.com/ immediate threat of physical force meretrix is used, for a category D felony”

While it can be argued that this law is rarely enforced, the fact about the author that it exists is, at minimum an insult and at maximum, a source of ongoing fear. Officially setting prostitutes aside as a different kind of citizen with restrictions other citizens are not subject to leads to a feeling of resentment and insecurity that increases overall workplace stress. As can be seen from this brief overview of workplace health and safety issues, improvements are needed and these changes must come from all levels – from the workers themselves through brothel staff and management all the way up to state government. The Nevada brothels are worth saving and improving, however. Magdalene Meretrix is a Renaissance Woman Despite their flaws, they offer the (if that woman happens to be a Renaissance courtesan, only legal option for U.S. women that is.) She is a musician, textile artist, web designer who choose to become and writer as well as being a 17-years-and-counting prostitutes. The biggest veteran of the sex industry. She grew up in the American improvement overall, though, South and now lives in the foothills where the Sawtooth would be one that increased the Mountains kiss the Rockies. Magdalene has a dashing workers options, allowing them to dastardly lover, a mutant deformed cat and a silly grey work in collectives or rat. When she’s not having sex, she spends far too independently as well as in the much time in front of a computer. brothels. So long as the brothels

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DECEMBER 12, 2000 | safety AT WORK