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This week in Untangling the Massage Profession from Sex Work:
The numbers of places showing up on that awful website that I will not name, continues to grow in most states. The highest numbers are in CA, NY, FL and TX. See Facebook Post Images
One of the main ways to bring awareness to the issue is to stop calling them Illicit Massage Businesses. I found the term in many news stories this week as usual.
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION AND SURVIVOR SUPPORT FINAL REPORT (PDF)– JANUARY 9, 2023
EXECUTIVE ORDER GOAL 1:
Increase Enforcement through Focused Initiatives
• Holding both Traffickers and Customers Accountable.
• Expanding Partnerships with Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces.
• Developing an Executable Plan to Eliminate Illicit Massage Businesses from the Commonwealth.
Recommendations include:
• The eradication of illicit massage businesses through the development of comprehensive multidisciplinary teams and enhanced accountability for property owners and customers who create the demand.
Building Relationships with Law enforcement agencies in our local areas is what is needed to start shutting these places down. My article explains how.
Des Moines Iowa (from this news story from 2018) has an interesting law on the books that says:
“If a massage therapist is unlicensed, the city will place a placard in a “highly noticeable location” that reads partially “Unsafe to enter; unlicensed massage therapy must cease and is subject to criminal and/or civil penalty.” No one will be able to practice massage therapy at the “placarded” business unless it secures a state license or the chief of police or his designee removes the designation. Unregulated massage parlors have precipitated concerns that the illegitimate businesses are housing illegal prostitution and human trafficking activities. Several Iowa cities — including Johnston, Urbandale, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Coralville — have already approved similar ordinances, most of which include licensing requirements and “placard” penalties.” Look Before You Book a Massage in Iowa.
