There are two schools of thought about the future of Vegas. One is that the local economy is in need of diversification, everyone agrees, only no one knows how to make that one happen. And the other view, far more common: Sin City needs to double down by going further with the sinning than ever before to attract tourists. And, so issues like legalizing marijuana are once again being discussed. But the first major change Nevada tourists might notice next year could be the arrival of two legal male prostitutes at a tiny brothel 150 miles from Vegas.
Bobbi Davis owner of the Shady Lady, a legal and licensed Nevada brothel, spoke to me about her upcoming plan. Today Davis is going before the Nevada State Board of Health to ask for a waiver from requirements that working brothel prostitutes in Nevada have cervical examinations. That rule has kept men from working as legal prostitutes in Nevada. Instead, Davis wants authorities to agree that her male studs have a urethral examination. If they do, she will be able to hire male prostitutes legally to work in her brothel. This issue has brought together some interesting allies and foes. Among those supporting Davis are the ACLU.
Opposed:the Nevada legal brothel industry— apparently on Biblical grounds. Seriously. In fact, in July, when Davis first began the process of trying to hire male prostitutes, I contacted the legal brothel industry’s longtime lobbyist, George Flint, who swore at me lots before hanging up the phone and telling me never to call him again. Here is an excerpt:
“I am sick of fucking stupid journalists thinking it is about the cervix. This is bigger than a medical issue. Throughout history prostitutes have been women. Check your Bible, my friend. It is filled with examples of prostitution, and it is all women.”
So, oddly the brothel industry has performed biblical exegesis to support their opposition to male prostitutes. By the way, where exactly does the bible offer a ringing endorsement of female prostitutes? Can this get any weirder?
In the months since our interview, Flint has apparently learned to be slightly more circumspect, based on an interview yesterday with Las Vegas Sun. Still, his refusal to discuss Shady Lady and his “None of you damn business” answer to if he will attend today’s hearing, suggests Flint’s hostility to male prostitutes has not changed. You would think the Nevada Brothel industry lobbyist would be supportive of expanding their business and customer base. Any theories as to why the brothel industry lobbyist is instead concerned that there are no male hookers in the bible?
Davis has heard that some brothel owners are opposed to what she is doing. But she is determined to continue as you can read:
Richard Abowitz: Have you found your first male prostitutes yet?
Bobbi Davis: We have found a couple of men we are going to try.
Abowitz: When do you hope to have guys working at Shady Lady as prostitutes?
Davis: As soon as we get the clearance to go ahead. If everything goes as it should, I hope by the first of the year.
Abowitz: What made you decide to do this now? How many years have you run Shady Lady?
Davis: 17 years. I thought the time was right for something different. We have come a long way. Women have their own money now. And, I noticed the increase in male revues like Thunder From Down Under in the Las Vegas area. And, in Las Vegas they even have male strippers in some strip clubs. And, I thought I should at least give it a try and see what happens. In this economy, you try to stay ahead of everybody and try to do something that makes you a little unique.
Abowitz: How many men applied?
Davis: We have had quite a few. We are narrowing it down. We want two at a time working around here.
Abowitz: How many women prostitutes do you have there?
Davis: Right now, four.
Abowitz: What are you looking for in a male hooker?
Davis: We’d like them to be 5 foot 10 inches tall, good shape, flat stomachs. They don’t have to be muscle men, but we want some definition. We were looking for men between mid-twenties and fifties. But we have changed that a little bit; now we are looking for no older than men in their mid-forties.
Abowitz: Why the change in age? I thought men got more distinguished as they got older?
Davis: We got a lot of applications, and we started asking women what age range they were looking for in men and that is what we came up with.
Abowitz: Can you say anything about pricing?
Davis: We are not sure what we are going to do yet on pricing. We do know women will probably want longer parties than men because they need more personal time, more foreplay.
Abowitz: What happened to women wanting brains and a great personality in a guy?
Davis: (Laughs) Well I hope they have some personality. We don’t want a total dummy. We want a good looking guy who can carry on a good conversation as well as do his other duties.
Abowitz: We are talking about women customers for the male hookers. Do you intend to accept gay customers?
Davis: The law says we can’t discriminate. It is up to the service provider [prostitute] what they want to do.
UPDATE: It is official, male brothel prostitutes are legal in Nevada, and we think brothel industry lobbyist George Flint might be choking on his homophobia as a result.
(Photo by Sarah Gerke/Davis sees Vegas tourists as ready to try male prostitutes)
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