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Louisville Massage Therapists Report Surge in Sexual Requests as City Cracks Down on Illegal Businesses
Licensed massage therapists in Louisville say they are fielding more inappropriate sexual requests as authorities intensify enforcement against unlicensed massage businesses. The trend is forcing therapists to adopt new safety measures and raising concerns about the reputation of their profession.
Licensed massage therapists across Louisville are reporting a sharp increase in inappropriate sexual requests from clients, a trend they attribute in part to the city's ongoing crackdown on illegal massage businesses that operate as fronts for prostitution.
Therapists say the solicitationsâranging from explicit questions during sessions to requests made over the phoneâhave become more frequent and aggressive in recent months. Many describe being asked to perform sexual acts or being offered extra money for "extras," language commonly associated with illicit massage parlors.
"It's happening more and more," said one licensed therapist, who asked not to be named for safety reasons. "People call and ask questions that have nothing to do with therapeutic massage. When you tell them no, sometimes they get angry."
The problem, therapists say, is compounded by a perception problem: as illegal businesses are shut down, some clients appear to be casting a wider net, contacting legitimate spas and independent practitioners in search of services they previously obtained elsewhere.
Local law enforcement and city officials have been ramping up enforcement against unlicensed massage establishments, many of which are suspected of trafficking and prostitution. The crackdown has led to closures and citations, but therapists say the fallout is landing on their doorsteps.
"We're the ones who have to deal with the phone calls and the walk-ins," said another therapist. "It's exhausting and it's demeaning."
Industry advocates are calling for better education for the public about what legitimate massage therapy entails, as well as stronger protections for workers. Some therapists have begun screening new clients more carefully, requiring deposits or referrals, and installing panic buttons in their studios.
The Kentucky Board of Massage Therapy requires licensed therapists to complete hundreds of hours of training and adhere to a strict code of ethics. Legitimate therapists emphasize that their work is health care, not entertainment.
"We went to school for this," one therapist said. "We're professionals. We shouldn't have to defend that every time the phone rings."
The rise in requests comes as cities nationwide grapple with how to regulate massage businesses without stigmatizing legitimate practitioners. In Louisville, therapists hope the crackdown will ultimately make their industry saferâbut in the meantime, they say the burden of boundary-setting falls heavily on them.