Alice Little — who has reportedly earned more than $1 million in a single year working at a legal brothel in Nevada, which she says makes her the state’s highest-earning licensed sex worker — extended the offer in a YouTube video posted last Friday.
“You have a tremendous opportunity to be the first state to legalize sex work at the state level,” says Little, sitting on the foot of a bed. “As someone that’s been in this industry for the past four years, I want to help shape the future of sex work in America and ensure that we have a system that values everyone involved.”
Little’s employer, the Moonlite Bunny Ranch, is one of about 20 brothels in several Nevada counties that have legalized prostitution. Vermont, meanwhile, views it as a misdemeanor crime.
But while Colburn’s bill received significant media attention last month, the House Judiciary Committee instead backed a more incremental measure. The so-called “Good Samaritan” law would shield crime victims and witnesses from being prosecuted on charges such as prostitution and drug possession.
That bill, H.568, would also create a study committee to consider the ramifications of further changing the state’s prostitution laws — ranging from partial decriminalization to a fully legalized and regulated system. The group would need to submit a report to the legislature by December 2020.
Colburn, who also signed on to that bill, told Seven Days last month that while she has “serious” questions about criminalizing consensual sex between two adults, most people “wanted more time to dig into” what decriminalization would look like.
Mentioning Colburn by name, Little lauded the Vermont Progressive for taking the “first step forward in making American history.”
“I want to do everything in my power to enable your success,” Little said.
Colburn has been hearing from sex workers and advocates from around the country since her bill was introduced. She told Seven Days that she first saw Little’s video on Monday.
She had yet to speak with Little, and since her decriminalization bid is not moving forward this session, she said it’s unlikely any House committees will be taking further testimony about the issue. But Colburn said she plans to add Little to a list of potential sources for the study group, if one is formed.
“Most of the folks I have heard from are people who either aren’t advocating for or aren’t working in settings that are legalized and regulated,” Colburn said. “I do think it would be interesting to hear about the experience.”
Little has previously used her platform for advocacy. In 2018, she fought against a push to outlaw legal brothels in one Nevada county, and she later cofounded a political lobbying group that advocates for Nevada brothel owners and sex workers.
Her contributions to the field also include a weekly podcast, “Coffee with Alice,” and a YouTube page with videos ranging from sex toy reviews to industry insights. A video posted on Sunday, for example, shares tips on how to be both “submissive and sexy at the same time.”
For reasons unknown, that video already has more views than her message to Vermont lawmakers, which is here:
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I was astonished to see this headline. With the horrendous and absolutely evil problems of human trafficking, sex slavery and kidnapping in this country and the world, isn’t it obvious that prostitution is a fine line away? Legalizing it, on the face of it seems is a very dangerous step.
The retired teachers and Farmers are looking at this, but pot is still not legal. Awesome.
Sounds good to me!!
Like most things, the “horrendous and absolutely evil problems” are a direct result of criminalization. The establishment of regulation and oversight eliminates many of these problems. Prostitution has occurred throughout history and will continue to occur. Why not regulate it and provide protection to the men and women who choose to engage in it? As far as human trafficking and sex slavery, wouldn’t regulation and oversight make it easier to identify those who are being trafficked and held against their will?
I absolutely agree, Timothy – decriminalization would remove a significant barrier to sex sellers’ and buyers’ reporting suspected trafficking to law enforcement. Without the concern that they might end up being prosecuted themselves, people would be MUCH more likely to “see something, say something.” When you think about it, these are the people most likely to encounter people being exploited/abused.
I truly don’t understand the fuss – why do we continue wasting resources on arresting people for selling something that’s perfectly legal to give away? Just doesn’t make any sense.