Text by Mikala Mikrut, Copyright 2023
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Prostitution in Nevada
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Prostitution has been a contentious issue in the United States for a long time, with many states having different laws regarding the practice. However, the state of Nevada stands out as the only state where prostitution is legal in certain counties. While this may seem surprising to some, the history of prostitution in Nevada is actually quite rich.
It’s important to note that not all counties in Nevada allow for legal prostitution. While it’s legal in 10 out of 17 counties, only 6 permit it in every municipality. The majority of active brothels are located in rural, isolated areas, with at least one in 7 different counties. However, prostitution is not allowed in Clark and Washoe counties, which include Las Vegas and Reno respectively, and it is also prohibited in Carson City. It’s worth noting that despite the legality of prostitution in certain counties, illegal prostitution is still much more prevalent in Nevada.
The history of legal prostitution in Nevada dates back to the mid-20th century. Weekly health checks for prostitutes became a regulated law in 1937, but it wasn’t until 1942 that prostitution near military bases was suppressed by order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1949, the Nevada Supreme Court upheld Reno officials who tried to shut down a brothel as a public nuisance after the order was lifted just a year before. In 1951, both Las Vegas and Reno closed their red-light districts as public nuisances. However, Joe Conforte, the owner of Mustang Ranch near Reno, managed to convince county officials to enact an ordinance that would allow for the licensing of brothels and prostitutes in 1971.
Under Nevada state law, any county with a population of up to 700,000 (as of the last decennial census) is allowed to license brothels. However, prostitution may be further regulated or prohibited altogether by incorporated towns or cities that allow it. Currently, there are only 21 legal brothels operating in Nevada, with about 200 women employed at any given time among the 21 locations. Some locales even have multi-unit complexes of several separate brothels run by the same owner.
In 1986, HIV testing became mandatory for sex workers, and in 1988, a mandatory condom law was passed to further protect the health of sex workers. A study conducted in 1995 on two legal brothels found that sexually transmitted diseases were absent and condom use was consistent among the sex workers. Few sex workers reported using condoms in their private lives, meaning that mandating condoms just for their work improved the health and livelihood of sex workers tremendously.
Despite the state’s efforts to make legal prostitution a safe and regulated business, illegal prostitution remains the most common form found in Nevada. In an effort to combat this, both Reno and Las Vegas have worked to expand their tourism base by attracting more families to hotels and casinos. Legislation against prostitution was enacted in 1971, making it illegal in Clark County to combat the street prostitution that was once rampant on the streets. However, sex workers can still be found in casinos and bars attempting to make contact with potential clients.
It’s worth noting that legal prostitution in Nevada only grosses about $75 million per year, while illegal prostitution in just the Las Vegas area grosses about $5 billion per year. This means that the majority of prostitution that actually occurs in Nevada is located in the metropolitan areas of Reno and Las Vegas, despite the state’s efforts to come up with solutions to make prostitution safe and regulated.
In conclusion, legal prostitution in Nevada is a complex issue that is surrounded by controversy. While it is legal in certain counties, illegal prostitution remains much more prevalent, particularly in urban areas. The state’s efforts to regulate and make prostitution safe for sex workers have had some positive impact, but there is still much work to be done.
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About The Author: Mikala Mikrut is a regular contributor to Tony Ward’s blog. To access additional articles by Mikala, click here: https://tonyward.com/mikala-mikrut-what-happens-in-vegas-stays-in-vegas/