Do You Look Like a Prostitute? (Whatever That Means): It Might Mean No Taxi Cabs

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/sex/155994/do_you_look_like_a_prostitute_%28whatever_that_means%29%3A_it_might_mean_no_taxi_cabs/

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We're told that being a prostitute will mark a woman for life. Yet after several millennia of practice, lawmakers and social reformers still struggle to identify what a sex worker looks like.

You know,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg said (in a June 15 appearance on WOR's perfectly named "The John Gambling Show&quot when asked what might go wrong with a bill that could penalize taxi drivers who knowingly transport people in the sex trade, “if I were a young lady and I dressed in a ‘sporty way’ -- or however you want to phrase it, and there's nothing wrong with that -- I would not want somebody thinking that I’m a prostitute.”

Has Mayor Stop-and-Frisk given pause on an issue of criminal profiling? Even the reliably hooker-baiting New York Post came out swinging against the bill, citing a protest held by women bartenders, who “aren't hookers – they just look like they can be!” concerned that cab drivers would leave them stranded for fear of getting stung.

The intention of this bill, according to proponents like New York City Council Speaker (and mayoral hopeful) Christine Quinn, is to make it undesirable for taxi and livery drivers in the city to risk any involvement in what they call “sex trafficking.” But the bill doesn't actually say that: it hits taxi and livery drivers with a $10,000 fine and the revocation of their license if they “knowingly allow” their vehicle to be “used for the purpose of promoting prostitution.”

[KatChatter]

1. Teen Girls in the malls now days wear less then most sporting girls today

I must be getting old, christ I am only 50!

[Scootaloo]

2. How utterly vague and useless can a law be?

Well.. .I guess if the goal is just to give the NYPD even more license to violate the 4th fucking amendment, it's a pretty productive law...

[KatChatter]

3. This country is looking less like a free country and more like a police state with each passing day

I am really getting sick of it.

[PCIntern]

4. "sporty way"? Jesus...in what decade am I now living?

I'm gonna look out the window and see if Gatsby drives by...

[panzerfaust]

5. Look out the window now ...

[coalition_unwilling]

22. Don't do this to me while I have a mouthful of coffee :) - n/t

[Atman]

6. I was in NYC last weekend, on a warm sunny day...

...and while I can't say I was honestly "shocked," I sure as was amazed at some of the outfits I saw. Mostly on young, college-aged women (thankfully!); more than one woman was dressed in what amounted to nothing more than lingerie; super-super short skirts that barely covered their panties; all sorts of leather and chains. How the hell is a cab driver supposed to know who is a prostitute?

[dembotoz]

7. whats next christian burqas

i prob spelled it wrong but the spell check was no help

[FarCenter]

10. They're readily available

[kestrel91316]

8. Sexist and illegal discrimination - unconstitutional on its face.

This law is designed to make it more difficult for women to travel in the city. The net effect will be to hurt their ability to hold down a job.

[yardwork]

9. +1. Police state and continued discrimination against women.

It's none of the mayor's business how women choose to dress.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

14. Bloomberg is against this law.

It goes too far even for him.

[yardwork]

20. I was responding to this quote in the above article:

You know,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg said (in a June 15 appearance on WOR's perfectly named "The John Gambling Show&quot when asked what might go wrong with a bill that could penalize taxi drivers who knowingly transport people in the sex trade, “if I were a young lady and I dressed in a ‘sporty way’ -- or however you want to phrase it, and there's nothing wrong with that -- I would not want somebody thinking that I’m a prostitute.”

The likely mayor-elect is in favor of the law, too. Very disappointing as she is a lesbian and one would think she would know better but she's a Republican.

[TeeYiYi]

23. Republican lesbian...

What could possibly go wrong?

TYY

[yardwork]

26. Seriously. She just got married, too. SHE can get married in New York, but doesn't give a flip about

the rest of us lesbians living in most parts of the country who can't get married and have few rights, thanks to Republicans. Typical Republican self-centered greed.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

27. Point taken.

I haven't heard of this potential new mayor but she sounds like a piece of work.

[dsc]

32. she isn't a Republican

she is a Democrat.

[TeeYiYi]

34. Good to hear. What's her name?

TYY

[dsc]

36. chirstine quinn

current president of nyc city council.

[yardwork]

38. Lordy, you're right! But her politics are so right wing.

I assumed that she was a Republican. Thank you for the correction. She is in favor of this law, though, along with a slew of other right-wing ideas.

[malthaussen]

11. Legalize prostitution and the "problem" goes away

I have to agree with the people who think this is just another move to terrorize women.

-- Mal

[treestar]

12. This is the problem they are trying to solve?

Crime must be way down in the city. No mugging, stabbings or shootings. If they have time for this, the rest must be solved.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

13. Well, wearing provocative clothing

is like attending a lynching. (I read it here.)

[HopeHoops]

17. Provocative clothing is the ONLY reason women get raped.

I'm really getting sick of this shit.

[KurtNYC]

15. So now taxi drivers have to be bullet-proof AND a mind reader

Grandma Bloomberg should find other things to obsess about.

If a woman is sexy and has a 20 oz Sprite should the cab driver stop, pour our 4 oz for her and then deny her a ride ?

[HopeHoops]

16. I always look like a prostitute, well, if you like jeans, a T-shirt, long hair, and full facial hair

[mmonk]

18. They should wear business suits and American Flag lapel pins

like the ones in Washington do.

[coalition_unwilling]

25. Hah! Good one - n/t

[TheKentuckian]

29. Fucking classic!

[PavePusher]

42. The differrence between a prostitute and a politician is...

You have a lot better chance of getting your money's worth from a prostitute.

Prostitutes generally won't come back six months later and insist on charging you again.

With a prostitute, you know in advance that you're paying for being lied to.



Add your own, the list is endless.

[NYC Liberal]

19. Can it be 2014 yet? Please just get this guy out.

[seabeyond]

21. everything wrong about this bill. in all ways. nt

[coalition_unwilling]

24. Woot-woot! Let's bring back sumptuary laws on our

trip back to the merrie old days of the 17th Century! Back then, the city was called Neue Amsterdam

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

28. How about prostitutes who dress like businessmen/women - aka: politicians.

[LadyHawkAZ]

30. By which they basically mean "Do you look female?"

When I worked, most of the street workers wore jeans and sneakers- for the very good reason that it made us blend in. Only the escorts and the undercover cops dressed up.

If NYC follows the statistical line, their prostitutes are 20% male, but of course this has everyone looking at (and for) sexy women. It's totally not about discrimination though, I'm sure. No, it's all about sex trafficking- never mind that a trafficked woman won't be out on the street hailing a cab.

The stupid is thick on the ground these days, must be an election year.

[MadHound]

31. I'm glad I visited New York when I was a young man,

Because now it sounds as though it is becoming an increasingly hostile police state.

[DeSwiss]

33. K&R

PROSTITUTE

pros·ti·tute verb \ˈpräs-tə-ˌtüt, -ˌtyüt\
pros·ti·tut·ed pros·ti·tut·ing

Definition of PROSTITUTE - transitive verb

1 : to offer indiscriminately for sexual intercourse especially for money
[font size=3]2 : to devote to corrupt for unworthy purposes : debase <prostitute one's talents> [/font]

[frogmarch]

35. That is one of the stupidest

bills I have ever heard of! Proponents of asinine bills that attempt to legislate the republican version of morality should have the bills shoved up their patooties.

[NYC Liberal]

37. How about cracking down on cabbies who refuse to travel outside of Manhattan,

who talk on their cell phones while driving, who make all kinds of excuses not to take credit cards (and yell at you if you try to)?

[closeupready]

39. My rule: "never get into a cab where the driver rolls down the window

as you approach - no matter what. This means, he has no intention of taking you where you want to go, if he doesn't want to."

So if the driver rolls down the window and asks where I'm going, I walk away, without response.

But if I DO get into the cab, then I will not exit until he takes me where I need to go.

[NYC Liberal]

40. Yep. But sometimes they'll refuse even when you're already in the cab.

You can call 311 and report them right there, but if it's 11 PM and you just want to get home, that's not going to help you much.

[closeupready]

41. Right. I can tell that you, like me, are a veteran at this.