You’ve probably seen me (Melissa) on WBKO and WNKY this week speaking at an official press conference at the Bowling Green City Hall. I was part of a community team that has been working for the past nine months to develop a new ordinance regulating massage facilities. It will go for a vote at City Hall on Tuesday, September 4th. The purpose of this ordinance is not to go after law-abiding massage therapists, but to draw a clear line between them and “illicit sex businesses (ISBs)” cleverly disguised as massage businesses. We want to avoid calling them “massage parlors” because they aren’t legal massage anythings – let alone that stupid 1950s term. They are criminals and don’t deserve to steal the word “massage” from the good professionals in our community. Actually, it’s against the law for anyone to use that term or even the term “bodywork” without a license.
These mostly Chinese and Korean organized crime networks that open these ISBs are holding women captive and forcing them into prostitution (human sex trafficking) right here in Bowling Green. The language in the ordinance allows police and other city officials broader legal access to inspect facilities that claim to be a “massage facility” and shut them down permanently. Additionally, due to their nefarious criminal history and connections, they won’t be eligible to apply for a BG City Massage Facilities License, which will be readily available to legitimate, state-licensed massage therapists for a nominal fee of $50.
You may not know which business is legal and which is a criminal enterprise dealing drugs and sex, but there are plenty of signs. Are the windows wrapped in graphics so you can’t see in? Are there neon flashing lights? Are there doorbells? Do you enter from the rear? Are they open late into the night? You can read more here: 20 Red Flags to a Bad Massage Therapist.
Many people think that the women in these illicit sex businesses are having sex consensually with the men who pay for a “massage,” but that is not true. These sex-slaves have to produce enough money to be given food in some cases. I won’t go into the depths of horrifying treatment these women endure, but you can read our entire press conference here for a better understanding.
Two things you need to see posted at your massage therapist’s office by January 2026:
- State License Certificate with photo
- Bowling Green City Massage Facilities License
I’ll be excited to check back in on this topic in the new year to let you know how effective this ordinance has been. I have very high hopes.
This blog post has been updated. Click to see next week’s blog.