The Soho Forum Debates Should Paying for Sex Be a Crime?
Sep 16, 2025
In a spirited debate, Melanie Thompson, the Chief Advocacy Officer at the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, argues that paying for sex perpetuates inequality and exploitation. She highlights the structural pressures that compromise consent and point to increased harms in legalized systems. Opposing her is Caitlin Bailey, founder of Old Pros, who advocates for decriminalization, arguing that criminalizing buyers increases dangers for sex workers and doesn't reduce violence. The discussion dives deep into issues of consent, buyer culture, and historical injustices.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Survivor Testimony Drives The Argument
- Melanie Thompson described being kidnapped and sex trafficked as a child and becoming a survivor-advocate for 16 years.
- She uses her experience to argue that paying for sex fuels exploitation and harms marginalized people.
Money Transforms Sex Into Power
- Melanie argues money in sex transactions creates buyer control and removes mutuality, producing exploitation even when one-off encounters seem consensual.
- She asserts buyers benefit from vulnerabilities and market demand increases harm to marginalized people.
Buyer Forum Comments Reveal Cruelty
- Melanie read buyer comments from hobby boards describing drug dependence, body-shaming, and exploitation of sellers.
- She used these firsthand forum quotes to illustrate buyer cruelty that exists even where buying sex is illegal.