Churches united against new brothel laws
Brisbane Australia Courier-Mail 22Jun99 L1
hurches united against new brothel laws

The LDS Church has joined religious leaders from seven other religions to oppose a plan to legalize brothels in the state of Queensland, Australia. The proposed plan would allow brothels in industrial areas subject to strict health conditions and controls. However, the eight churches issued a join statement which condemned the plan.

In the statement, the Churches claimed that legalized prostitution would harm society. "Prostitution brings an increase in sexual activity outside marriage and consequently an increase in family breakdown. It produces an inevitable escalation in the transmission of sexual diseases and it debases all those involved." The letter also warned that legalized prostitution would increase crime. "The evidence is clear that legalisation leads to a proliferation of prostitution, not its control or containment."

The statement was organized by the Family Council of Queensland and its vice-president, Alan Baker. He says this is the first time that these eight churches have worked together in Queensland.

At the same time, a group called Self-Health For Queensland Workers In The Sex Industry (SQWISI) indicated that it was also disappointed in the proposal because it would open the industry to corruption and exploitation and drive it underground. "Sex workers want to work legally but they (the Government) are making it exceptionally hard," said SQWISI president Jeffrey McLaren.