Houston rejects plan to operate ‘love dolls brothel’

HOUSTON — A Canadian company’s plan to open a so-called robot brothel in Houston has been short-circuited by city leaders.

Houston’s City Council on Wednesday updated one local ordinance to specifically ban individuals from having sex with an “anthropomorphic device,” a device that resembles a human being, at a sexually oriented business. But the change wouldn’t ban the company from selling the dolls for use elsewhere.

The company, Kinkysdolls, had previously said it wants to open a “love dolls brothel” in Houston in which people would be able to use its human-like dolls at a business that has drawn comparisons to the robotic hosts on the science fiction series “Westworld.”

It would have been the company’s second location. The first location opened in 2017 in Toronto. On its web site, the company says it provides an “adult love dolls rent before you buy service.”

On its web site, Kinkysdolls says its human-like dolls, which can speak and feel warm to the touch, are available for sale or rent. The dolls can cost more than $3,000 each.

Kinkysdolls, didn’t immediately return emails seeking comment Wednesday.

Before the City Council unanimously approved the change to the ordinance, council member Greg Travis called the proposed robot brothel “weird” and “gross.”

Travis said he believed that most residents don’t want the business to open in Houston.

“We are not sin city,” Travis said.