It seems bizarre that state Rep. Joanne Giannini (D.-Providence) has to keep coming back, year after year, to try to end what is a national embarrassment for Rhode Island. The Ocean State is the only place — aside from certain counties in Nevada — where prostitution behind closed doors is legal.

Fortunately, a growing number of people, from state police and Atty. Gen. Patrick Lynch, to Ports-mouth Rep. Amy Rice, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, understand that promoting this unpleasant business is not compassionate, especially to women.

In this state, prostitution in the streets or in public is illegal, but not indoors. Representative Giannini has worked tirelessly for years now to close that loophole.

She is not doing so to punish women. To the contrary, she is concerned about the spread of potentially deadly disease, the destruction of families and the crime problems that surround prostitution. She voices particular concern about the suffering of prostitutes who are effectively forced into the business by pimps who threaten or deceive them, including teenaged children brought here from other countries under false pretenses.

To make it clear she is not aiming to hurt those victims, Representative Giannini submitted an amendment to her legislation exempting women who are “compelled into prostitution.”

Unfortunately, those who wish to keep the prostitution racket going seem to have the ear of legislative leaders. On the lobbying front, the Rhode Island branch of the American Civil Liberties Union and some women’s groups oppose making prostitution illegal.

One of the more troubling arguments against changing the law was advanced by Rose Perry, a member of the group Direct Action for Rights and Equality. She argued that some women need to turn to prostitution to help their families survive in tough economic times.

“What about the woman who has children who is mainly prostituting to provide for them?” Ms. Perry asked. If she gets arrested, “the children are going to go to [the Department of Children, Youth and Families], and that’s going to be more state expense and then more expense for the woman going to jail. It’s just ruining families.”

One could say the same thing, of course, about any other anti-social activity someone might engage in, including violent crime. But hard times do not justify victimizing people.

Given the risks of disease, violence and abuse, a life of prostitution is obviously not ideal for a young mother. This is hardly the kind of economic opportunity Rhode Island should be promoting.

The state would be much better off spurring an economy with legitimate jobs. We have long championed ways to do that: by making Rhode Island’s taxes and regulatory climate much more competitive, and by improving public schools, giving young people greater opportunities in life.

It is anything but compassionate to women and families to keep prostitution legal. House Speaker William Murphy and Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed should make this the year the state finally puts an end to this embarrassment. They have it in their power to do so.