Brothels: Serving It Right

Unhappy ending for body rub parlours?
By IRWIN LOY, 24 HOURS

The city of Vancouver will look at bylaw changes that in effect ban what some sex-trade advocates call the closest thing the city has to a "legal" brothel.

The city's chief licence inspector is recommending changes to zoning bylaws that would streamline regulations for new businesses. But those efforts would also eliminate the term "body-rub parlour" from its list of allowable businesses, something sex-trade worker and advocate Susan Davis says is a mistake.

"It's the closest thing to an actual legal brothel we have," said Davis, who sits on a city committee discussing how to reduce harm to street prostitutes. "If they're going to rewrite those laws there should be some sort of community discussion about it."

The city's chief licence inspector, Paul Teichroeb, says the definition of a body rub parlour has become redundant over the years. Vancouver currently only has one such licensed business.
The city does not officially condone prostitution, nor is it legal even within the confines of a so-called body-rub parlour. But critics say the wording of the bylaw regarding "body-rub parlours" and "social escort services" offers tacit approval.

Davis herself is a licensed escort who sells sex for a living, while paying the city about $1,000 a year for her licence.

She says letting sex work stay indoors, explicitly or otherwise, keeps women safe.
Council will be asked to approve the bylaw change today.