Wednesday, Jan. 30, JSA convened in the Shark Tank to debate the legalization of prostitution. The debate was in the form of a thought talk. Unlike a formal debate, a thought talk allows anyone to speak and has a much more casual format. It should be noted that sometimes members of JSA state play devil’s advocate in order to advance debate. Opinions stated by speakers within JSA may not necessarily reflect their personal views. The debate was moderated by Vice President senior Shaun Flood, but senior Megan Ahmad took over as moderator halfway through so that Flood could speak. Senior Byung Choi spoke for the pro side for the first half of the debate and the con side for the latter half.
Speakers for the pro side included Flood, sophomore John Abughattas, senior and club president Anthony McKelroy, freshman Cassie Brower and sophomore Avi Bir. “Let women and men do what they want to do with their bodies,” Flood stated. Abughattas asserted that prostitution was basically already legal, as things like “sexual therapy” and “sugar daddies and sugar mammas” are not prohibited by law. McKelroy brought up that legalizing prostitution would “eliminate the stigma” and “change the clientele”, allowing “normal people” to visit prostitutes. Brower pointed out that current prostitutes are harassed, but if it were legalized, they would have people to protect them. “I see it all as a transaction,” said Bir, calling it a “personal service like getting a massage or getting your nails done”.
“If it was legal, at least there’d be some parameters,” added Bir.
Significantly less people were against the legalization of prostitution. Speakers for con side included senior Chad Serrao and senior Michael Ghebrial. Serrao began the debate by comparing pornography and prostitution. “In the porn industry, people are tested for STDS, but in prostitution, the service providers are the only ones being tested,” said Serrao. “The clientele isn’t changing, so this abuse isn’t going to stop,” added Serrao, asserting that “the trafficking is going to continue”. Ghebrial used John Locke’s notion of the Social Contract to support his anti-prostitution stance. “With freedom, comes regulation,” he said, in summary of the Social Contract. “If it’s harmful, then we cannot support it as a society….While you’re fulfilling that need, you’re also taking someone’s mental stability.”
At around 4 p.m., the resolution that prostitution should be legalized in all 50 states was put to a vote. It passed with 21 votes to 11 votes.
Photo credit: Jake Collins
