Why ask the kissing question?

[lovingboth]

You will probably be familiar with the story where George Bernard Shaw asks a woman if she'd sleep with him for a lot of money and, on being told yes, asks if she'd do it for a tiny amount of money.

“Certainly not!” she replies indignantly. “What do you think I am?”

“We’ve already established that,” Shaw is meant to have said. “Now we’re just haggling over price!”

Well...

... that's now about to be the situation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Offer to provide a sexual service for any financial arrangement, even just once and even if compelled to do so, and you're a prostitute forever according to section 51.

It was pointed out in the Lords, without contradiction from the government, that this would cover, for example, kissograms and people selling kisses at village fetes for charity.

Fortunately there don't seem to be any adverse consequences, but it does mean someone can happily employ you as a prostitute without failing at risk of section 52 'Causing or inciting prostitution for gain'. You're already a prostitute, according to this law, so no offence is caused by asking you to work as one!

Comments

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

So, you mean, if I'd accepted the offer made to me some years ago (I think I was about 19 at the time) of sleeping with someone for £2,000, I'd be a whore in perpetuity?

Still pleased I didn't do it (I was in a committed monogamous relationship at the time, and wasn't that attracted to the person in question anyway), but I can tell you, there've been times since I would have been glad of that two grand!

[lovingboth]

Yep, as far as this law is concerned.

Ditto offering to kiss someone for money, it seems...

[louis_mallow]

Karen, I'll kiss you for £1.00

Hey, I'm a prostitute! And it didn't hurt a bit...

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

Whaddya think I am, made of money? A POUND?

[louis_mallow]

Am I really not worth even a quid? Fifty pence then. Fifty pence and a Mars Bar.

[syllopsium.livejournal.com]

playing devils advocate.. maybe it's deliberate, given the late nights and marital fidelity of several MPs..

Shaw did have a good point though.

[pavlos.livejournal.com]

I find this objectionable. Even though there are no formal adverse effects (probably due to an unexpected interaction fo the laws more than anything) stamping a profession onto someone as a permanent characteristic is illogical, at best, and the motivation is very suspicious.

[lovingboth]

The bit I find particularly curious is that it doesn't matter whether or not you are forced into doing it.

I'm presuming it was considered important in the context of the child prostitution sections: it doesn't matter if the child wants to or not, if you're involved in controlling child prostitution, you're in trouble.

It is odd that a single offer, ever, means you're no longer protected from the nasty pimps inticing you though.

They're finally starting the consultation on the sex work laws, so watch this space...