MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — A bill has been proposed in the Vermont Legislature to decriminalize adult prostitution.

The legislation is co-sponsored by four female legislators. Rep. Selene Colburn, a Burlington progressive, said she thinks that decriminalizing sex work will improve safety and health of prostitutes, mynbc5.com reported. “The underlying question is do we need to criminalize consensual sex between adults on any terms?,” she said. Sex trafficking, exploitation and solicitation of minors will remain a serious felony, she said.

State Representative Joshua Elliott, the architect of removing the Religious Exemption from the state of Connecticut praised the state of Vermont for efforts to decriminalize prostitution.  He also is a champion of prison inmates rights, fighting for free phone calls to family.  He wants to protect the right to turn tricks while he literally turns his back and a deaf ear on thousands of families across the state. I'm not arguing against legalizing sex workers, or the rights of those who are incarcerated. I'm pointing out the juxtaposition of his opinions. He wants to pass a law to make using the religious exemption illegal. And that's the definition of criminalization.

Elliott owns two local health food stores.  Thyme and Season in Hamden and The Common Bond in Shelton (minutes from my home.)  

Perhaps he can start selling tie dyed, hemp micro-minidresses and 4 inch heels made from bamboo so that the sex workers can thank him by shopping there, the way so many of us USED to when we bought our supplements and natural foods at his stores? He can even change the store name to The Common Bondage!  I assume he'll soon post signs saying that unvaccinated children can not be present in his stores because of the grave threat they carry.

Our healthy kids will be criminals, forced to stay home from school.  And I ain't joshin' you.

Kim