The city council of Houston, Texas unanimously passed
an updated ordinance Wednesday that effectively blocks a proposed "sex robot brothel" from opening.
A Canadian company that already operates an "adult love dolls rent before you buy service" in Toronto had hoped to open a location in Houston and even started construction before running into permit issues that halted work.
The company, KinkySdollS, sells and rents human-like dolls that can cost more than $3,000 each.
Prior to the council's Wednesday vote, locals had organized to express their concerns; a petition speaking out against the business gained more than 10,000 signatures.