C.O.Y.O.T.E: Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics!
The Sex Workers’ Rights Organization

Reviewed by Kathyrn Sokolowski
Some call it the oldest profession in the world, others just say it's down right wrong. Prostitution has been around since the beginning of humanity. Hookers, once upon a time, were identified as whore-goddesses.

Wow, whatever happened to that idea?

Nowadays, the word "whore" will capture the attention of a woman two blocks away and have her running down the street hunting your head. Prostitutes in today's society are looked upon by most as nothing more "then the scum in between the crevasses of little Alfalfa's toes", that is of coarse except for when people who are feeling a lonely go out to seek their services. In other words, no matter how much people may dislike the business, making it illegal does not eradicate the problems associated with it. There will always be a market for sex with money just waiting to be made.

COYOTE is an organization that was established in 1973. Their mission is to do away with prostitution laws and try to end the negative stigma associated with sex work. They believe that people are hanging on to "tired old ethics" that no longer apply to today's society. COYOTE offers a number of services to sex workers including crisis counseling, support groups, and referrals to legal and other service providers. They have help prostitutes, mostly women, and provide educational information about the industry to both prostitutes and general audiences.

So, is "tired old ethics" really the case? Is this organization really helping women? Before visiting their website I probably would have said, "no". However after visiting their site (www.walnet.org/csis/groups/coyote.html) and reading about what is going on in the real world, I have to say that if I was not a poor college student I would donate money to the cause.

Prostitution is not going away, although I believe that the problems associated with it could be prevented if it were legal.

Given that it is illegal, prostitutes do not have anywhere to turn if they are victims of violence. Due to anti-prostitution laws rape and other violent acts committed against prostitutes are rarely reported. This makes it very easy to get away with heinous crimes against these women. Acts of violence against sex workers are not only committed by pimps and customers but by law officials as well. It has been reported that in some areas police officers have demanded sexual favors from the prostitutes before they arrested them.

So are the laws really helping the problem or is it just helping a few sick cops get off without having to pay the price for their pleasure? If the law enforcement agencies are violating these women then whom can prostitutes really trust?

If, however, prostitution were legal, the law could decrease violent crimes within the business because if prostitutes do not fear being put in jail because of their career choice they will be more likely to report the crimes committed against them. I guess the real question here is whom does the law protect? Obviously it does not protect the women in sex work since there are still prostitutes being abused.

Some think that anti-prostitution laws protect against prostitutes spreading sexually transmitted diseases. My reply to these people is that some prostitutes do spread STDs, but most probably know more about STD protection than the average Jane or Joe. Furthermore, if prostitution were legal, prostitution businesses should also be required by law to provide their workers with condoms and other prophylactic materials. They should also require that the sex workers be trained in sexually transmitted disease prevention and provide healthcare that covers examination and treatment of STDs.

The strongest objection in my mind against prostitution is that it exploits women. I have given this a lot of thought and have come to the conclusion that if prostitutes want to use their bodies to sell sex, then that is their prerogative. Let me just say that they will probably make more money than I will ever make even with my degree. America has always been anmarket capitalistic society. There is a huge market for prostitution so why not let these people spend and make their money the way they would like to? It is not my place to tell others how to use their body, however, it is my place to say something about the violence that goes on within my society. I hope others will see my point of view. It is not about whether you like or dislike the profession. You don't have to agree with what they are doing but you should not suppress them out of fear.

Prostitutes should be able to make their money just like the rest of us without being ridiculed and patronized. They also should have the right to work while being protected by the law.

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