The arc of history is weird: Here we are, over 50 years after whatever it was that people call the sexual revolution, long past the anti-porn crusade of the late 20th century, a few decades out from third-wave feminists embracing sex positivity and slut walks, and well into an age of hookup apps, OnlyFans, and a movie about a stripper who sleeps her way into the heart of a Russian oligarch's son just winning the Best Picture Oscar. But states keep escalating law enforcement attacks on prostitution, with bipartisan support, and lawmakers won't stop putting out proposals to ratchet up penalties for people who pay for sex.
So far this year, at least 12 states are considering increased penalties for solicitation, with many of these proposals aimed at moving it from a misdemeanor to a felony. Some would rechristen the crime solicitation of prostitution as "commercial sexual exploitation," and others would make those convicted of solicitation register as sex offenders.
