Duke-student-turned-porn-star Belle Knox claims that "prostitutes are people, not criminals" in her most recent article.

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In a Rolling Stone article Belle Knox took a less popular stance on the porn and prostitution claiming that neither are criminal acts, and by claiming that it's time for "the world's oldest profession to be legalized for public health, safety and opportunity."

In the article, she said that as a porn actress, one of the perverse tragedies of public policy she often contemplates is the fact that people can pay to watch her have sex on camera, but are considered criminals if they pay to have sex behind closed doors.

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In the article, she says that people are trying to make an "honest living on the streets." She said that governments cannot eliminate market demand for sex and so ultimately should just legalize the act.

Knox makes sure to differentiate between a "sex worker" and "human traffickers" as well: "Prostitution opponents love to promote images of abused hookers and human traffickers to trump up hostility towards sex work. While it's true ill-intentioned criminals do exist and should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, these conditions do not apply to the vast majority of sex workers."

She also said that like herself, most sex workers enter the industry via their own consent and genuinely enjoy the work they are doing. She admits that her initial motive was to pay for her tuition at Duke University, but has "grown to appreciate the empowerment opportunities that sex" has provided for her.

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