David Maung The business of sex has for decades been conducted openly along these few blocks near the U. But in recent days, the mere mention of its name has become a touchy political subject. Advertisement Near the U. On any given night, scores of U. Prostitution is prohibited in most of the United States, permitted only in a handful of counties in Nevada. But, as in other parts of the world, it is a tolerated activity in Mexico — neither formally endorsed nor expressly forbidden.
City officials did not reply to requests for the number of registered card-carriers, but Clark, the human rights activist, said there are approximately 1, signed up with municipal health authorities — a fraction of the 5, to 6, sex workers that business owners have told him operate in La Cohuila and other parts of the city.
As the city has grown, he said, a few smaller tolerance zones have sprung up. In some cities, like Tijuana, they grew on the margins of traditional tourist areas. The years after saw the emergence of enclosed compounds such as Boystown in Nuevo Laredo on the Texas border, he said. Doron now owns one of the oldest shops on the street, Hand Art, which sells embroidered dresses and blouses. He heads a merchants group called Ceturmex.
