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Breaking News
Mar. 03, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Rule barring cross-gender massages rescinded

By SCOTT WYLAND
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Massage therapist Dr. Heather Mehudar works on fellow therapist Laura Stendel in her home in Las Vegas on Tuesday afternoon. Clark County recently lifted a ban on cross-gender massages, which licensed therapists said hurt their business.
JASON BEAN/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

A longtime restriction on cross-gender massages in Clark County was rubbed out today.

County commissioners voted to rescind the rule that licensed massage therapists say lumped them with prostitutes and severely hampered their businesses.

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    • The rule mainly affected lone therapists doing outcalls at homes and hotel rooms. Casinos, spas and massage establishments were exempt.

    Lifting the rule aligns the county with the cities. Last year, Las Vegas repealed its restriction on massages to the opposite sex. Henderson and North Las Vegas also allow cross-gender massages.

    Those in the industry praised the action, saying it creates a uniform code across the valley and no longer treats legitimate therapists as prostitutes.

    Heather Mehudar, a massage therapist, said the rule made it difficult for her to survive in the tough economy.

    “Ninety percent of the calls I get for my business are males,” she said, “so I’m turning away 90 percent of my calls.”

    Commissioners also approved shifting responsibility for overseeing therapeutic massage to the state board. The county will issue business licenses to therapists and let the state handle code enforcement.

    Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani proposed the policy changes after state officials told her the county overstepped its authority in limiting what therapists could do.

    She recalls trying to get the cross-gender rule repealed in 1991 but to no avail.

    Having the state in charge of massage laws will make them consistent in every jurisdiction, Mehudar said.

    One of her clients, Laura Stendel, who helps oversee a large massage staff, said the cross-gender law was stifling because most therapists are women, and most men prefer to be massaged by women.

    She never dared to break the rule, she said, because undercover officers sometimes posed as customers. She blamed Nevada’s patchwork of legalized prostitution.

    “It’s really only this complicated in Las Vegas,” she said.

    Removing the cross-gender rule will simplify the profession and boost sales, said Becki Ortiz, a local therapist.

    “In my neighborhood, I could massage the wife but not the husband,” Ortiz said. “Now I can do both.”

     

    Contact reporter Scott Wyland at swyland@reviewjournal.com or 702-455-4519.

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    Not a big thing wrote on March 04, 2009 05:30 PM: I like those guy to guy messages.

    Harry


    Yankee Cranky wrote on March 03, 2009 09:16 PM: The majority of these joints are brothels. Anything goes with the right amount of money.


    Free Nevada wrote on March 03, 2009 05:33 PM: > Henderson also allows cross-gender massages.

    Right. Henderson only bans same-gender massages.


    ET wrote on March 03, 2009 04:06 PM: A decade ago? most of the County Commissioners in the era, went to prison.Turns out they were the Hos.


    Dawn wrote on March 03, 2009 03:10 PM: This is wonderful news! The law was archaic and irrelevant. Seeing progress is always refreshing. Well down to our city officials!


    Wahmp whamp wrote on March 03, 2009 02:37 PM: That's not all that's going to get rubbed out today


    Fist of Fury wrote on March 03, 2009 02:22 PM: Yes i agree it is nice to see that this could come to a a happy ending, I am glad that this "was rubbed out today"


    Navigator wrote on March 03, 2009 12:34 PM: I didn't even know such a law existed...how archaic and good riddance.


    Topper Harley wrote on March 03, 2009 12:34 PM: It's nice to see this story has a "happy ending."