10/12/2026
Massage Therapy Is Healthcare, Not a Sexual Service.
Recently, I saw a comment on a local page suggesting that slipping a massage therapist an extra $20 could get you s*xual favors.
As a Licensed Massage Therapist and Instructor, I find this mentality deeply concerning.
These comments aren't harmless. They normalize s*xual harassment, undermine our profession, and create unsafe working environments for therapists.
Let's be clear about the law:
- Texas Occupations Code §455.002 recognizes therapeutic massage as a healthcare service.
- Texas Occupations Code §455.202 prohibits s*xual contact in licensed massage establishments.
- Texas Penal Code §43.021 makes solicitation of prostitution a state jail felony.
- Federal law, 18 U.S.C. §1591, criminalizes s*x trafficking involving minors or force, fraud, or coercion.
Massage therapists frequently work alone, behind closed doors, with clients in vulnerable positions. The suggestion that our professional boundaries can be purchased is not funny. It's degrading, and it contributes to an environment where harassment and inappropriate behavior are tolerated.
Our community should be holding people to a higher standard, not laughing along.
Licensed massage therapists deserve the same professional respect and physical safety as anyone else providing healthcare services.
