Prostitution in Georgia (United States)

Independent sex workers beckoning to prospective customers in Lenox Square, Atlanta in March 2033

Prostitution has been fully legalized in the state of Georgia since 2 January 2030. It is regulated by the Georgia Adult Entertainment Commission, pursuant to the Prostitution and Adult Entertainment Act of 2029. It was the second state, after Nevada, to pass legislation to officially legalize and regulate the sex trade.

As of December 2034, Georgia is one of 6 states in which prostitution is fully legal. The others are Nevada, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas. In addition, the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands have also passed legislation to legalize prostitution.

Under the PAEA, in order to engage in legal prostitution, a prostitute must obtain a Sex Worker License (SWL). This applies to both independent (self-employed) sex workers and contracted employees of a licensed adult entertainment establishment. All SWLs are approved by the licensing department of the Georgia Adult Entertainment Commission, and must be renewed every 6 months. In order to obtain or renew an SWL, a number of conditions must be met, including requirements for regular drug testing and STD testing. Only biological women above the age of 18 are eligible to apply for an SWL.

The PAEA provides for certain protections for women in the sex trade. Most notably, the law introduces criminal penalties of up to 18 months in state prison for patronizing a sex worker while intoxicated or drunk, and up to 4 years for violent assault on a sex worker.

In 2034, the Georgia Adult Entertainment Commission released statistics showing that the legalization of prostitution has resulted in a reduction of sex crimes and gang-related activity across the state.

History

A streetwalker standing in the parking lot of a McDonald's drive-thru restaurant in Augusta, Georgia in August 2028

Following the Western Economic Crisis of 2026 and the Great Southern Famine in 2026-27, illegal prostitution rapidly became widespread as women turned to the trade in order to make a living. By the summer of 2028, the sight of streetwalkers in downtown Atlanta had become commonplace. The same trend was observed in Augusta, Savannah and other cities. Meanwhile, community websites and social media platforms became saturated with advertisements from escort agencies.

In 2027, the Atlanta Police Department reported 59,252 arrests for illegal solicitation, an increase of more than 250% from the previous year. In 2028, the total number of arrests increased further to 102,211. The number of cases grew to be so overwhelming that the District Attorney's Office was had started to decline to prosecute routine cases because there was insufficient space in the county jail.

Meanwhile, police departments around the state were also seeing an increase in violent crimes against prostitutes, ranging from assault to armed robbery.

In response, various state legislators began to advocate for prostitution to be legalized, citing fears that the situation would soon get out of hand. They argued that it was only a matter of time before gangs and criminal syndicates began to gain a foothold in the sex trade, and expressed concerns that the women were vulnerable to exploitation and violence.

In November 2027, Bryan McDermott, the commissioner of the APD, made a public statement in which he expressed concern for streetwalkers who were plying their trade outdoors in the harsh cold of winter. In addition, he also issued a warning to streetwalkers, stating that they were putting their own personal safety at risk.

Community leader Rev. Jackson Young speaking at a press conference and endorsing Proposition 17

Adoption of Proposition 17

In June 2028, it was announced that Proposition 17 would be introduced as a ballot proposition during the 2028 general election on 5 November.

In the run-up to the election, a number of high-profile public figures endorsed voting in favor of the proposition, including U.S. Representative Gillian Murphy of Georgia's 3rd congressional district, Southern Baptist pastor Rev. Jackson Young, and pop star Summer Ferguson.

When asked by reporters how he could reconcile his moral and religious beliefs with his support for Proposition 17, Young replied:

"Above all, God is about sustaining life, and He understands that in extraordinary times, we have to take extraordinary things to survive. These women are not doing this because they want to, but because they have no other choice."

Georgia's Republican Senator Jim O'Keefe opposed the proposition and stated that it would "cause the Great State of Georgia to languish in sin and infamy, just like Sodom and Gomorrah in Old Testament times". Eventually, the Proposition passed with 58.7% of the popular vote.