Male Brothel Prostitutes Now Legal in Nevada
The Nevada Revised Statutes don't prohibit licensed brothels from hiring male prostitutes, but state health codes outlining the procedures for the regular medical testing of brothel prostitutes have always pertained only to female sex workers, thereby implicitly barring men from the profession. But now, the language of the state health codes has been changed to include a urethral testing, thereby acknowledging that men as well as women may legally work as brothel prostitutes.
But even though state health codes now account for male sex workers, individual counties are still free to continue granting work cards only to females. Nye County Sheriff Tony DeMeo said Friday, “We're going to look at it. We have some concerns. We're going to have to deal with it at our other six brothels in Nye County if they want to offer the same service. We want to make sure we protect customers and make sure the industry is regulated with clarity and understanding." Ever since state health codes have been implemented over twenty-five years ago requiring that licensed brothel prostitutes be regularly tested, not one of them has contracted HIV.
Although prostitution is legal in many of Nevada’s counties, Las Vegas prostitution law still prohibits the exchange of money for sexual favors. The behavior Las Vegas prostitution law proscribes is very broad, including not only actual intercourse but even sexual touching over the clothes and the verbal offering of sex (solicitation). Las Vegas prostitution law makes it a misdemeanor to engage in prostitution or solicitation, carrying up to six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.
