Memphis City Council member Shea Flinn wants the the city to study the idea of creating an ‘adult entertainment district’ for strip clubs and other sex-oriented businesses. He wants a committee to look into a possible location as well as answer the question whether “this is the right thing to do.”

Is it the right thing to do? Why or why not?

Is it right for Memphis to create an ‘adult entertainment district’ for strip clubs and other sex-oriented businesses?

Absolutely not.

Memphis leaders should do everything within their power to radically reduce or completely remove these businesses from the Mid South. The reality is that sex-oriented businesses victimize those who work them, those who frequent them, and the families of both.

But as long as these establishments continue to exist, the faith community should engage in rescue and redemption. My friend Scott Sagar helped launch what is now called New Friends New Life in Dallas. This faith-based non-profit organization helps women leave the sex industry and build new lives (http://www.newfriendsnewlife.org/). It provides a model for the ways in which Memphis congregations can minister fruitfully and effectively to those harmed by adult entertainment.

Memphis City Council member Shea Flinn wants the the city to study the idea of creating an ‘adult entertainment district’ for strip clubs and other sex-oriented businesses. He wants a committee to look into a possible location as well as answer the question whether “this is the right thing to do.”

Is it the right thing to do? Why or why not?

The task for everyone who loves our city is to do everything possible to eliminate sex-oriented businesses, which degrade women, corrupt men, undermine families, and despoil our communal life. We should enact public policy that delegitimizes rather than legitimizes such businesses.

Memphis City Council member Shea Flinn wants the the city to study the idea of creating an ‘adult entertainment district’ for strip clubs and other sex-oriented businesses. He wants a committee to look into a possible location as well as answer the question whether “this is the right thing to do.”

Is it the right thing to do? Why or why not?

That our city officials are considering the remote possibility of developing a special district for adult entertainment anywhere in our community is deeply troubling. There are no redeeming virtues for such businesses in any part of any town. Nothing good can possibly come from capitulation to the corruption associated with the adult entertainment industry. It is a social and economic blight to any community. The fostering of exploitation of women and participation in the sex-slave trafficking that is directly connected with this industry is repulsive to any moral person living in our community. My suggestion is that our city officials use their positions responsibly in trying to find ways to remove any and all adult entertainment businesses by any legal means possible. This would be a much wiser use of tax dollars related to such a study – not to mention the moral and ethical thing to do.

Memphis City Council member Shea Flinn wants the the city to study the idea of creating an ‘adult entertainment district’ for strip clubs and other sex-oriented businesses. He wants a committee to look into a possible location as well as answer the question whether “this is the right thing to do.”

Is it the right thing to do? Why or why not?

No one who is sincerely dedicated to divine morality will advocate the development of an “Adult Entertainment District,” nor would one advocate spreading these places all over the city. Both options are repulsive by nature to people of religious sincerity. What is presented is a choice between two evils. There may be a third choice: We don’t want this in our community. This option should be on the table for the voters in our city. That is the “right” thing to do!

Memphis City Council member Shea Flinn wants the the city to study the idea of creating an ‘adult entertainment district’ for strip clubs and other sex-oriented businesses. He wants a committee to look into a possible location as well as answer the question whether “this is the right thing to do.”

Is it the right thing to do? Why or why not?

Even the term “Adult Entertainment” should be an oxymoron; what is so “Adult” about such entertainment? It gives a very bad and negative understanding to the term “Adult.” Teenagers would want to go there because it is the “Adult Thing” to do. Furthermore we have enough trouble in our beloved city, creating a zone for irresponsible entertainment is just another way of inviting trouble.

Memphis City Council member Shea Flinn wants the the city to study the idea of creating an ‘adult entertainment district’ for strip clubs and other sex-oriented businesses. He wants a committee to look into a possible location as well as answer the question whether “this is the right thing to do.”

Is it the right thing to do? Why or why not?

The Adult Entertainment business, whether confined to a ‘district’ or not, exploits women and the faith community ought to oppose the whole industry, period! What kind of good can come from this kind of evil?

Getting money from taxation for the city coffers can never justify this sort of exploitation. The role of the faith community on issues of ‘politics’ as this is made out to be, and in public life for that matter is to stand and work for truth and justice and decency. No faith community, Christian, Jewish, or Muslim can stand for the overt exploitation of women that the Adult Entertainment business fosters. Nor should we turn our backs to exploitation of our brothers and sisters in any way. We must stand for justice everywhere. As William Wilberforce stated: “God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners.” His example is still before us: we must always work to suppress injustice and reform our society.