What Does The Law Say About Male Escorting?

Before you start escorting, it is important to get to grips with the various laws relevant to the industry, particularly in the area you live. Otherwise, there’s a real risk of getting into trouble with the law.

In this guide, learn:

Important note: this is only a guide, and is based on information available at the time of writing. If you have any specific questions or concerns, we advise you to contact someone in your area who is more familiar with the law.

Male Escorting: A Quick Definition

Before diving into the male escorting laws in the UK and the US, it helps to understand the exact definition of male escorting.

Male escorting is the act of providing companionship to a male or female client. Some male escorts are strictly straight, so they only meet up with female clients, whereas others operate as gay male escorts, so they meet male clients. Generally, it will involve meeting up in a public location, such as a restaurant, bar, or café, and simply spending time in one another’s company.

Escorting itself does not refer to sexual services, although sex may occur after meeting up. In some cases, sex is the main goal, and this will be established before the meet-up.

As the exchanging of sexual services is criminalised in certain countries and states, it’s important to know what’s legal before you start escorting.

Male Escorting vs Prostitution

It helps to remember that there’s a big difference between male escorting and prostitution. Escorting focuses more on offering companionship and time, whereas prostitution refers to the selling of sexual services. Of course, there can be crossover, as many male escorts also offer sex.

Male Escorting Laws in the UK

Are you wanting to work as a male escort in the UK, but want to know what you can and can’t do first? Here, we’ll dive into what is and isn’t legal in the male escorting industry in the UK, covering companionship escorting to selling sexual services.

What is Legal (UK)

General escorting

Escorting – the act of selling time and company – is completely legal all throughout the United Kingdom. That means you can advertise your companionship on a male escort agency without worrying about getting into trouble with the law.

Exchanging sexual services for money

In England, Wales, and Scotland, it’s legal to exchange sexual services for money. The laws are a little complicated, though. It states that you can legally sell sex, but some of the activities surrounding this activity are actually illegal (and we’ll go into them in more detail below).

Advertising Sexual Services

Under UK law, you are allowed to advertise non-sexual services on independent websites (like The Male Escort Agency), however, in all cases it is illegal to advertise the sale of sexual services. You can also advertise on a private website or forum.

Northern Ireland: Blurrier laws

It gets slightly more complicated in Northern Ireland. While working as an escort and selling sexual services is 100% legal in Northern Ireland, it’s actually a crime to pay for sex. As a male escort selling companionship or sexual services, you are personally still working within the law.

What is Illegal (UK)

Control from a third party

Here is where the laws surrounding selling sex in the UK get a little more nuanced. While you can sell sex as an individual, third-party control is against the law. That means a person cannot make money from another person selling sex. This is to prevent people-trafficking and forcing others into sexual slavery. As an independent advertising platform, The Male Escort Agency provides a space for escorts to market their own independent companionship services. We do not manage, direct, or control the escorts who use our site, only offer assistance where required.

Streets and brothels

In the UK, it is illegal to sell sex by loitering or soliciting in a public space. This is the most stereotypical type of prostitution, and nowhere in the UK is it allowed.

It’s also illegal to sell sexual services from a brothel, as this is seen as a third-party operation.

Using a Male Escort Agency in the UK

You might wonder: is it legal to use a male escort agency in the UK? Does it not count as a third party?

At The Male Escort Agency, we operate completely within the law. This is because agencies can legally put you in touch with clients seeking your services. However, under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, there are strict legal boundaries that limit third-party involvement in the exchange of sexual services. So, we operate as an introductory service, which essentially means you can advertise on our site to women/men seeking male companionship.

If you want to learn more about the specifics surrounding escorting laws in the UK, here are some of our best sources:

Male Escorting Laws in the US

When comparing male escorting and selling sexual service laws in the US and UK, it’s clear that they are stricter in the US.

Is escorting legal in the US?

Escorting in the United States is legal only if the service is strictly for companionship and there’s no initiation of sexual services. So, you can advertise yourself on a male escorting agency as a companion without breaking any laws, and this applies to all states.  

It gets a little murkier when looking into sexual services, which are mostly illegal throughout the United States, with a few outliers.

Is selling sex legal in the US?

For the most part, no. In all states in the United States other than Nevada and Maine, it is strictly illegal to sell or buy sexual services. That means meeting up with a client with the end goal of selling sex is against the law. However, you can meet up for companionship.

Nevada

The laws surrounding selling sexual services are slightly different in Nevada. In Nevada, you can buy or sell sexual services legally, but only if you work within very regulated brothels. Plus, there are major cities in Nevada, like Las Vegas, where it remains illegal altogether.

Maine

The law changed in Maine in 2023, when the state adopted the Equality Model for sex work. This meant that the selling of sexual services in all of Maine is completely decriminalised – however, buying sexual services remains illegal. So, as a male escort, you can sell sexual services without breaking the law if you operate in Maine, USA.

If you want to learn more about male escorting laws in the United States, check out these useful resources:

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