MyNorthwest

News

Opinion

Sports

Tools

Connect

Watson case revives old fight for massage therapy industry

FILE - Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson sets up to throw during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. Professionals attending the American Massage Therapy Association national convention have gathered to talk about their work. It's a job that can be difficult and the pandemic, tragic murders in Georgia and the lingering stain of NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson's ongoing case have perpetuated the sex worker stigma around the industry. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)

Tonia McGeorge, 36, of Ipswich, S.D., poses at the American Massage Therapist Association national convention at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, Ohio, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022. NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson's case has revived the disconnect between what massage therapists do as opposed to the what people think they do. McGeorge's advice to young massage therapists is it doesn’t matter if a client is worth a $1 million because a therapist’s reputation matters much more than money. (AP Photo/Teresa Walker)

Amber Rasmussen, 43, of Rapid City, S.D., poses at the American Massage Therapist Association national convention at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, Ohio, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022. Professionals attending the American Massage Therapy Association national convention have gathered to talk about their work, and the lingering stain of NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson's ongoing case that has perpetuated the sex worker stigma around the industry. “It mind-boggles me that something like that can happen,” said Rasmussen, a therapist of 21 years. (AP Photo/Teresa Walker)

Dawn Menning, 55, of Aberdeen, S.D., poses at the American Massage Therapist Association national convention at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, Ohio, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022. Menning said she wears scrubs to help drive home the professional and therapeutic nature of massage. Menning also keeps a large wooden spoon nearby in case someone tries something inappropriate. (AP Photo/Teresa Walker)

Marcella Thompson, of Louisville, Ky., poses at the American Massage Therapist Association national convention at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, Ohio, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022. Professionals attending the American Massage Therapy Association national convention have gathered to talk about their work. It's a job that can be difficult and the pandemic, tragic murders in Georgia and the lingering stain of NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson's ongoing case have perpetuated the sex worker stigma around the industry. “We have to be less intimidated," Thompson said, “and be more stern and make sure those boundaries are completely clear." (AP Photo/Teresa Walker)

Mary Czech, 55, of Whitmore Lake, Mich., poses at the American Massage Therapist Association national convention at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, Ohio, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022. Therapists at the conference are focusing on education, vetting potential customers and setting the boundaries they can enforce. Czech said she has always had a plan of escape over her 20 years as a therapist, including knowing where the closest phone and police department are in case a client engages in inappropriate behavior. (AP Photo/Teresa Walker)

Retired firefighter Michelle Krause poses at the American Massage Therapist Association national convention at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, Ohio, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Teresa Walker)

Retired firefighter Michelle Krause checks her phone during a break at the American Massage Therapist Association national convention at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, Ohio, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022. In the background is FirstEnergy Stadium, home of the Cleveland Browns NFL football team. (AP Photo/Teresa Walker)

Watson case revives old fight for massage therapy industry