Group criticizes brothel ad ruling

RENO -- A conservative group has criticized a federal court ruling that overturned a state ban on advertising legal bordellos in Nevada's largest cities, saying it takes away local control over the issue.

Janine Hansen of the Eagle Forum disagreed with civil rights advocates and brothel owners, who hailed U.S. District Judge James Mahan's ruling Thursday as a victory for free speech.

"A community has the right to protect its citizens and its families from indecent materials like pornography and the advertising of prostitution," Hansen told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

"The people of a community, the elected officials, should determine what the people in that county want. And here we have the courts overturning a sensible restriction. So what it does is undermines and destroys the rights of local government," the Elko woman added.

One Northern Nevada brothel owner said he plans an aggressive advertising campaign while another favored a cautious approach.

Dennis Hof, owner of the Moonlite BunnyRanch brothel in Lyon County, said he probably would triple his annual advertising budget to $300,000 under the ruling. It primarily will go toward television and newspaper ads.

"That's what we're mainly looking for ... tourists," Hof said. "The locals know where we're at and they can find it."

Lance Gilman, owner of the Wild Horse Resort and Spa and the World Famous Mustang Ranch brothels in Storey County, urged a low-key advertising approach, without graphics or suggestive photos.

"I'm old school," he said. "I respect the population at large, and I afford them that respect. I really think a standard (of tasteful advertising) should be developed within the industry."

Brooke Taylor, one of Hof's top earners, said she would consider advertising on her own because the working women at Nevada brothels are considered independent contractors.

"We are always looking for ways to promote ourselves," Taylor said.

American Civil Liberties Union attorney Allen Lichtenstein filed the lawsuit in March 2006 that challenged state laws dealing with brothel advertising.

He said other regulations will force bordello advertising to conform to the sensibilities of communities.

State and local laws allow licensed brothels in 10 rural counties, but not in the state's two most populous counties, Washoe County and Clark County.

The state laws had prohibited brothels from advertising in counties where prostitution is illegal.

Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto has not made a decision whether to appeal the ruling.