Dozens of county leaders in Western Kentucky have launched a pre-emptive strike against the invasion of sexually oriented businesses (SOB’s) by passing laws that discourage their activity. Since December 2003, 15 counties have passed comprehensive ordinances restricting SOB’s, and another 19 counties are likely to pass similar restrictions within the next few months.

Jim Henderson, Simpson County judge executive, led his county to enact an ordinance in March after seeing two sexually oriented businesses open up just north of his county on I-65. “Without some type of SOB regulation these establishments can locate almost anywhere,” Henderson said.  “Who would have thought that an outlet mall in Horse Cave, Kentucky could become the next ‘porno capitol’ of the South?” Horse Cave, located north of Bowling Green, is just one of several rural Kentucky communities recently invaded by such businesses.

Larue County Judge Executive Tommy Turner saw a sexually oriented business move into his community almost “overnight” over two years ago.  But it was the county instead of the sex business that was left exposed since it didn’t have any regulations.

"These establishments used to be found only in urban city areas,” Turner said.  “However, rural Kentucky now appears to be a prime target with the opening of many adult bookstores, video stores, ‘gentlemen’s clubs’ and other businesses of a sexually oriented nature.”

Interstates, urban sprawl and an increasing demand for pornography are key reasons why rural counties today face the prospect of strip joints and adult bookstores setting up shop overnight, but there is another factor: lack of regulations. Kentucky is particularly vulnerable to sex business entrepreneurs because it lacks tough state-wide laws like those passed by legislatures in Indiana and Tennessee.  Critics say that without tough state and local regulations, SOB’s will continue to proliferate in the commonwealth.

Richard Nelson, policy analyst for The Family Foundation, isn’t waiting any longer for the legislature to act.  For the past several months he has been helping western Kentucky counties enact strong regulations, which discourage SOB’s.  “I have yet to hear any county leader say, ‘Yeah, I’d love for one of these businesses to locate here,’” Nelson said. “But unless they are proactive and pass a comprehensive ordinance, their inaction may be construed as an open invitation to SOB’s.”  Nelson, who has spoken to several fiscal courts, says that most county leaders want to take action after they realize the scope of the problem.

One common obstacle against passing an ordinance is that the county has never had to deal with such businesses and therefore has no inclination to be concerned. According to Nelson, some leaders just don’t think it will ever happen in their community, but he reminds them of Knox, Hart and Meade counties — rural areas where SOB’s moved in within the last nine months. A few county leaders have expedited action upon learning that the Knox County porn shop — Dreamworld — opened across the street from a daycare center — something totally legal in the absence of regulations.

“Every county leader has an obligation to protect the children and families in their communities,” Nelson said.  “SOB’s endanger children, exploit women and threaten families.  They decrease property values, increase crime and are a blight to any community.” 

In 2001, nine out of ten counties in Western Kentucky failed to regulate sexually oriented businesses, but with the rapid influx of such businesses, it is expected that by the end of 2004 that number will be inverted, with between a quarter to one-third of all Kentucky counties passing comprehensive regulations. 

Jim Henderson hopes the number is even higher.  “I would encourage all my fellow judge executives and other municipal leaders across the commonwealth to seriously consider passing an ordinance regulating sexually oriented business in their community.”