While prostitution is not illegal in America Jr., operating a brothel is. As a result, Canadian sex workers organized to overturn laws that prohibit bawdy houses just in time for the 2010 Olympics. The games are scheduled to take place in Vancouver next year and by that time Canadian hookers hoped to create a situation for themselves similar to that of the many massage parlours that now operate as fronts for paid sex. Supporters of the new legislation argued that under the former law, Canadian prostitutes couldn’t work indoors and were putting themselves in more danger by working on the streets. It looks as though they made their case, and judges have approved a legal co-op brothel in time for the games.

Legislation aside, prostitutes in Canada are already in training for the Olympics, but wait, not like that (insert disappointing ‘aww’ here). A local organization dedicated to providing support to Vancouver’s sex workers plans to prep them on how to handle requests for photographs and interviews during the 2010 games. A spokeswoman for the Prostitution Alternatives Counselling and Education Society (PACE) told the Canadian Press. “Media attention to the area can be a little less than compassionate and we don’t want them to feel like animals in a zoo.” That is, unless they are good, paying customers.

$@bs

I’m really curious as to why there hasn’t been any kind of legislation passed to prevent this disgusting act. In researching the topic, Wikipedia let me know that social attitudes towards spitting have changed greatly; esp. in Western Europe since the Middle Ages.

Then, frequent spitting was part of everyday life, and at all levels of society, it was thought ill-mannered to suck back saliva to avoid spitting. By the early 1700s, spitting had become seen as something which should be concealed, and by 1859 many viewed the spitting on the floor or street as vulgar, especially in mixed company. I could not agree more!

Spittoons were used openly during the nineteenth century to provide an acceptable outlet for spitters. Spittoons became far less common after the influenza epidemic of 1918, and their use has since virtually disappeared, though each justice of the Supreme Court of the United States continues to be provided with a personal cuspidor.

About the only legislation I could find regarding the subject is that spitting may be considered an assault and battery. Seems really lenient for such a nasty, disease spreading habit.

$@bs