There is activity at both ends of the country right now to challenge the “War on Sex”.

First in California. The ninth circuit court of appeals is hearing arguments in a case that claims California’s prostitution laws violate residents right to privacy. They are trying to build on US Supreme Court case (Lawrence v. Texas) that struck down sodomy laws in Texas in 2003. The argument is that consensual sex between sex workers and clients should be treated the same. Or, as one of the judges on the Ninth Circuit put it, “Why should it be illegal to sell something that you can [legally] give away for free?

Next over to Washington DC where David Grosso, a DC Council member, is pushing a bill that would decriminalize prostitution. His bill repeals many laws and portions of laws that make exchanging sex for money illegal. Mr. Grosso points out that his bill follows the recommendations of several human rights organizations like those that I have written about in the past. Prostitution that involves coercion or minors would still be illegal.

Not surprisingly, Mr. Grosso is also for legal marijuana, safe injection sites and looser drug laws in general.