It's finally happened. We've finally reached the point where paying for a lap dance is actually a meaningful, necessary form of political protest. Even if you don't love strip clubs, if you love First Amendment rights you better engage in some nonviolent resistance this weekend.
Do you guys ever think about what we're doing? I mean we as Americans.
As you probably know, dancers all across Missouri have been forced to cover up under a new law that bans nudity and alcohol sales at adult-oriented businesses. (Read our feature story "Exit Boobies" for more on that.) Club owners tried to get a temporary restraining order blocking the law, at least until they got a chance to challenge it in court. An appeals court shot that down Wednesday, so now the law will remain in effect.
Kansas City strip clubs are still operating, except all the dancers have to dress in a very specific manner to avoid breaking the law -- which means an outfit that would be fine at the Jones pool is now criminal if you're wearing it on a stage with a silver pole. It's also probably created a lot of upset cops, embarrassed that they're spending valuable time measuring the location of a woman's areola -- but that's just assumption on my part.
"Some people in the middle of the state have lost performers," says Bazooka's owner Dick Snow. "We've had a couple gals go to Iowa or Kansas, but so far there hasn't been much attrition in Kansas City. I know one club in Columbia that just had a traumatic exodus of gals to Illinois.
"At this point we just proceed with our suit. So far, there hasnt been any evidence presented at this point. With all sincerity, we haven't had a minute in court to actually tell our side yet."
Snow says that business at Bazooka's was down this weekend, and he thought it was because most people thought the law had shut down the club.
"I do need to let people know we're not closed and we're not going to close," he says. "I'm getting 20 to 30 calls a day from people asking if we're still open."
At this point in the story, all you good-hearted Pitch readers out there are probably wondering what you can do to help the cause of freedom and keep an estimated 3,000 adult business employees from losing their jobs.
The answer is to get out to a club and throw down some cash. Ideally, the lawsuit to overturn this law will visit a courtroom soon enough. But legal battles like this can take years. In the meantime, it's your patriotic duty to show that you won't be told how to behave as an adult. That's not the America I love. Now get out there and make it rain with freedom. And 20s.
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I am so angry at society in general. I started dancing a year ago left my abusive ex and got accepted into a premed program at KU. Way to go me right. Now I won't have a job to support myself. It's perfectly legal for my ex-husband to brandish a weapon in front of me, but God forbid a show my weapons of mass destruction.
What has happened in almost major city that has enacted similar laws 1) dancers get ticketed or arrested for sexual offense (try getting a job after that) 2) vice police spend tax-payers money to get lap-dances or even buy and participate sex as the vice do in Dallas 3) there are real crimes like stalking and homicide that are actually crimes that can't be dealt with because of a lack of resources. In one study done in Australia (kinda far away but work with me here) after they tried to ban strip clubs based on secondary effects they found more violent crimes happened more often in churches (ha). What a waste of resources in a time of economic turmoil.
What about Roe vs Wade? I thought a woman had a right to privacy that extended to what she chose to do with her...womb
I have some understanding of this industry, having represented 5 establishments in another state. The Big Supremes won't touch it on the grounds that it's a state matter, or so they've said. As for the entertainers, many are single parents with deadbeat daddies. Others, like a law school classmate of mine, are hightly educated but find that the industry is more lucrative than other jobs (she, by the way, is now a senior partner in a large firm.) The ladies' stories are many and varied. FYI, there are no health care plans the them or their families.
If Rebeccah had read the previous Pitch article, she'd have seen that no only do dancers pay taxes, they also pay for a license, as do those who serve alcohol in the establishments, not to mention the enormous taxes on the alcohol served. That comment is the height of ignorance.
Has this law been overturned in other states? If so..how did the industry get the ruling overturned?
Those poor whores, having to go elsewhere for work.
Except not really, cause who cares, they're whores.
They can take the fags with them.
I provided payroll services for a few of these establishments and all the girls get a paycheck and they report thier tips which then go onto a W-2. Even if they don't file the IRS has totals reported to them so that they can go after anyone who doesn't file. An usually the withholding on each paycheck are enough to cover the tax liabilty. Hence if they don't file they have paid thier taxes through withholdings
Hey rebecwhore,
We do pay our taxes and work within the laws. Unfortunately the lawmakers I'm sure you donate to and voted for think they are the moality police and can tell grown adults what they can and can't look at. So go fuck yourself and your lawmakers you ignorant whore.
Umm... So you have to be over 18 to get into strip clubs and with this ban you dont get to see boobs or much cleavage at all for that matter. BUT its perfectly fine and legal to show pictures in detail about what is illegal for these girls to wear while working??? Like anyone can pick up the Pitch.. When do these ridiculous laws stop? I SUPPORT BOOBIES!!!!!
Just to add to my previous comment: even IF strippers didn't pay taxes, that still doesn't make it right to pass a law that legislates morality. What two consenting adults do is NONE of the business of the government.
Rebeccah, just a FYI, strippers DO pay taxes. You really shouldn't speak up on an issue you are obviously so ignorant about.
Also support your local ACLU, as they're generally allies to the skin biz.
Hey, Rebeccah, strippers do pay their taxes. I'm not in your state, so I'm sorry I can't help, but my quarterly federal and state payments add up to a healthy five-figure sum each year. I don't think the rate of tax evasion runs any higher in stripping than it does in any other tip-intensive business.
Chris,
Since we're making ignorant assumtions, I'll say that...well, no, i'll leave those to you.
I take it rebeccah is 1) not nearly as attractive as your run of the mill adult dancer and is (like most women) a lil jealous that her man would rather pay a lady to dance for them than have her do it for free. 2) a republican.. Nuff said.
Has anyone looked into the possibility of KC/Jackson passing an ordinance refusing to allocate city/county resources to enforce these regulations? I don't know if that would even be legal, but it might be an interesting strategy.
Here's a thought geniuses, maybe if these girls paid their taxes...henceforth generating ALL of the viable tax revenue the state of Missouri could be collecting from your businesses, then maybe the state legislatures would quit attacking strip clubs. Hmm, how can you do your patriotic duty club owners, and show you value your rights to the government ( also taking some of the tax burden off of a myriad of potential customers)? That's easy! Provide your entertainers with 1040 tax forms. Explain to them how to use them & that it's a crime not to report earnings. Maybe even bring in your accountants to educate them! See very simple & also patriotic!
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