Photo by xiquinhosilva. CC BY 2.0.
A proposed law in Colorado would have dramatically changed how the state treats prostitution. The bill called for the statewide decriminalization of commercial sexual activity between consenting adults, repealing criminal penalties for prostitution, soliciting prostitution, operating a place of prostitution, and patronizing a prostitute. If enacted, Colorado would have joined Nevada as the only state fully legalizing and regulating prostitution. Thankfully, this bill failed in a senate committee and has been postponed indefinitely.
Despite this legislative victory, the push for legalization reflects deeper cultural and political shifts not only in Colorado but across the country. Colorado has already adopted a number of policies elevating so-called personal autonomy, including legalized marijuana, physician-assisted suicide, and even psychedelic drugs. In this environment, prostitution is increasingly framed as a matter of personal freedom rather than a social problem.
Supporters of this failed bill argue that prostitution should be viewed simply as another kind of work. The language of this bill attempts to normalize and sanitize a practice that has long been recognized as exploitative and harmful. Evidence shows that the consequences of legalizing prostitution extend far beyond the individuals involved. A Harvard study found that child sex trafficking increases in areas where prostitution is legal, regardless of how it is regulated. Organizations such as the National Center on Sexual Exploitation have also documented how prostitution frequently preys on vulnerable women and children and often leads to further exploitation.
From a Christian worldview, the problem goes even deeper. Prostitution violates God’s design for human sexuality and damages individuals, families, and communities. What is often described as freedom frequently becomes exploitation and bondage instead. Sexual sin rarely affects only consenting adults; its consequences ripple outward, harming others—especially children. We have a responsibility not only to oppose policies that normalize exploitation but also to offer a better vision of human sexuality. In the end, this debate over prostitution in Colorado reflects a deep clash of worldviews. The Biblical vision recognizes sexuality as a sacred gift meant for covenant relationships rather than commercial exchange. The choices we make today will affect our society for generations to come.
Traditional values are the building blocks of our nation. That’s why it’s so important we support strong marriages and family values. At PhyllisSchlafly.com, we oppose the left’s attempt to redefine sex and marriage. To join us, visit PhyllisSchlafly.com, and don’t forget to join us next time for the Phyllis Schlafly Report.
