Illinois Legislation would let prostitutes sue their pimps

http://qconline.com/archives/qco/sections.cgi?prcss=display&id=233491

"SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Olivia Howard says her 19 years as a prostitute were a blur of violence. She had a gun pointed at her head, was thrown out of cars and endured beatings and rapes.

Now she and other advocates want a law that would let prostitutes sue the pimps and brothels that profit from their suffering. They say it would hold people accountable for coercing women -- and often girls -- into prostitution.

An Illinois House committee approved the idea unanimously Wednesday, sending it to the House floor.

The legislation would give prostitutes up to 10 years to seek damages from those who profited from their prostitution or maintained them in the business. That means the women could be compensated for any physical or mental abuse they suffered."

Go here http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=150&topic_id=5649&mesg_id=5649 to get a local perspective.

...rights to begin with?

prostitution instead of trying to get welfare like they've had in Germany recently.

that story was 100% bull.

but I don't think we are as far off from it as you may think...

a pimp is a damn good idea. In fact I'm sort of amazed it's seriously being considered.

On the other hand, how are you going to collect from a pimp? Some of those guys are unbelievably scary and also can disappear if necessary.

Legalization, which would give prostitutes full rights and police protection, is really the only good way to protect these men and women, IMO.

...pretty dumb of me. You know: Illinois, mafia, hello! Can we say Mob controlled prostitution....! Thats probably the biggest stumbling block to legalizing prostitution in that state..

simpler than they are now. Have medical examinations once a week and a hot line to the police department.

Karl Rove? McClelland? Whoever pimped his way into the White House press corp, and possibly into more "sensitive" areas as well.

if they'd pass such a law in DC, that is.