Aloha

Well now, here’s a surprise. A small coalition of state lawmakers in Hawaii are taking a serious look at legalization.

Don’t expect any breakthroughs, though. At least not this year. A pair of bills are working their way through the committee process but are not expected to make it to the floor for a vote. That’s OK, this isn’t the sort of thing that is likely to pass the first time around anyway. These things take time, and this is not an issue that many politicians are likely to jump on without being certain of solid support from their constituents.

However, given that the economy in Hawaii is driven by tourism, it’s not so much of a long-shot as it would be in, oh, say… Utah.

So far the only naysayers are, predictably, the thought police vice detectives (who would be out of work if the bill passes). Oh, and of course the story has a token voice of dissent from the moralist camp:

These women should be helped out of their situation, but legitimizing them is not the answer, said Kelly Rosati, a spokeswoman for the Hawaii Catholic Church and executive director for the Hawaii Family Forum.

“Oftentimes, the point at which a woman is arrested is where help begins,” Rosati said. “This is exploitation, and the woman deserves to be helped out of this industry.”

Some day, I hope someone can explain that whole ‘we have to save them by putting them in jail’ argument. I just don’t get it.

Pwned

A coupla days ago, I blogged a bit about this story, an expose of the Craigslist prostitution scene by a local TV station in Salt Lake City. The story prominently features one of those anonymous, ‘in the shadows’ interviews with a prostitute, whose name was given as Eva. It occurred to me on the first read-through that we have an Eva up here in this neck of the woods, who also happens to have long, curly blond hair, just like the woman in the interview. I thought that maybe — just maybe — it could be the same woman, but the chances seemed too remote and there wasn’t an easy way to tie our Eva to the woman in the story.

It turns out that there is no need for sleuthing, now that Courtesan Eva of Portland has stepped forward to take credit.

You know folks… it’s one thing to be a whore. It’s another thing altogether to be an attention whore. Especially when being an attention whore also involves being a traitor.

(Notice that I didn’t use — and won’t be using — the word ‘courtesan’. Make no mistake about it, we are discussing a prostitute here.)

Had this been a story about prostitutes as victims of the system or victims of violent crime… I wouldn’t have an issue. Had this been a story about an effort to reform prostitution laws… I wouldn’t have an issue. Had this been almost anything other than a cheap-shot — a hit piece designed to stir up public outrage against the Hobby — I wouldn’t have an issue.

But that’s exactly what this was. It was nothing but an anti-hobby public awareness message, designed to generate outraged calls and letters to SLC’s police and politicians. The story said very little of substance, other than to tell the people of SLC that there is a ‘problem’. And clearly, Eva is all but giddy for having had a chance to help the Dark Side.

I can hear her now… “You mean I’ll be on TV? Really?!” Because clearly, that’s all that mattered to her — being the center of attention. Any resulting consequences for her peers in SLC were of no importance because, as she stated on TNA, she had already decided that she was leaving the area and not coming back.

Quite frankly, I’m amazed that she got through the interview without throwing in, “Oh, and by way… did I mention that I’m part of the 12% of all women who, uh… squirt?”

And now, she’s sooo full of herself that she thinks she’s going to write a book. You’re not going to write a book, sweetie… you’re not an author, you’re a hooker!