Across the United States, an unprecedented number of legislators and leaders have been taking a second look at how their states' laws regulate sex work. This past June, Gov. Janet Mills of Maine approved a bill that partially reduces the legal penalties associated with sex work in the state. Under the new law, sex workers will no longer face criminal charges, but individuals who pay for sexual services or are suspected of trafficking sex workers will still be subject to criminal prosecution.

Hawaii, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont, among several others, are also actively pursuing the modification of prostitution laws in response to growing awareness that the criminalization of sex work has negative consequences for human rights. By adjusting legislation, these states aim to create a more equitable and compassionate approach that prioritizes the well-being and rights of individuals involved in the sex work industry.

This current wave of proposed legislative change is certainly a step in the right direction. For years, human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have lauded the merits of non-criminalized sex work. However, it is pertinent to point out that when it comes to sex work legislation in the United States, Nevada is the modern-day pioneer.

As a woman with nearly 40 years of experience owning and operating a legal brothel, I’m amazed by how long it has taken the rest of the nation to recognize the benefits of decriminalizing and regulating sex work. Additionally, I'm disappointed by the lack of recognition that the Silver State receives when discussions surrounding sex work extend beyond Nevada's borders.

For almost half a century, Nevada has legalized prostitution in a majority of rural counties throughout the state. Nevada legitimized its brothels in the 1970s and established fair-yet-stringent laws regulating the operation of these adult entertainment establishments. For over 50 years, this ongoing socioeconomic experiment demonstrates how sex work can be addressed with all of its intricacies in a humane and compassionate manner through regulation. There are many reasons why Nevada’s approach is highly effective.   

Enhanced safety: The regulated brothel system pioneered by Nevada emphasizes worker, customer and community safety, which is its most crucial advantage. This system enables sex workers to undergo health checks frequently, thereby making sure that they can render their services in a safe manner, while the unregulated sectors continue to be ridden with risk of disease. The fact that sex workers are provided a risk-free environment is a testament to Nevada’s dedication to keeping its sex workers safe and healthy.

Nevada's legal brothels have been studied extensively, particularly by researchers from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Sex workers in the legal brothel industry have reported experiencing dramatically less violence and a considerably increased sense of safety compared to those who engage in the same occupation illegally in other settings. 

Freedom of choice: Sex workers are empowered through legalization as legal repercussions do not dictate their work-based choices. The women working in Nevada’s legal brothels willingly choose their profession in order to attain financial independence and freedom in their lives. Many of these women have been happily working in legal brothels for years, some for well over a decade. A large number of these women are prospering financially as the primary provider of their households.

Contribution to the county or city revenue: Rural counties and cities significantly benefit from legal brothels, helping enhance their infrastructure and resources. In addition to revenue generated from taxes and licensing fees, these areas benefit economically from tourism and jobs created by legal brothels. Consequently, people in these communities are overwhelmingly in favor of legal brothels.

In 2018, anti-sex work groups attempted to initiate a referendum with the goal of prohibiting legal brothels in Lyon and Nye counties. However, these efforts faced significant opposition from citizens. The referendum to ban brothels in Lyon County was met with an 80 percent rejection from voters, while the attempt to gather enough signatures for the petition in Nye County failed.

Minimized stigma: It should be clear from the approach employed by Nevada that it has been devised to mitigate the stigma frequently associated with sex work. The discourse surrounding the rights of sex workers will gain traction once it is no longer considered a taboo, which becomes a possibility through the regulation of sex work and allowing its open practice.

Just recently, because I own a legal brothel business, I was able to lobby my local city council to change the language on sex worker licenses to be less derogatory. The simple fact that a brothel owner can meet with government leaders and attempt to implement incremental changes that positively impact sex workers is evidence of the value of legalized sex work.

Although there will always be shortcomings underlying a regulated sex work system, which is typically the case with any forward-looking solution, Nevada’s attempt to regulate brothels has undoubtedly contributed to the management of sex work in an effective and sympathetic manner. It is the objective of the state, communities, sex workers and brothel owners to ensure that every stakeholder is guaranteed safety and their well-being is prioritized by eliminating criminal repercussions imposed on sex workers as it often makes them more prone to exploitation.

Thus, in this current wave of modifying sex work legislation, states such as New York and Vermont can highly benefit from assessing Nevada’s regulated brothel system and its successful implementation. States must transcend beyond the decriminalization of sex work to devise a comprehensive solution that addresses the empowerment of sex workers along with their safety and health.

While there is scope for improvement in Nevada's model, it does function as a time-tested example to replicate for states hoping to address sex work regulation with compassion and fairness. It is high time that the country recognizes Nevada's efforts in spearheading this much-required revolution in the sex work industry.

Madam Bella Cummins is the owner of Bella’s Hacienda Ranch, a legal brothel in Wells, Nevada. She is also the founder of the Onesta Foundation, a nonprofit organization with a mission to support Nevada sex workers and advocate for prostitution legalization throughout the United States.