‘Stripper bill of rights’ passes Legislature: Measure addresses dancers’ safety, clears way for alcohol salesSubscriber Exclusive

The state Legislature on Tuesday passed a bill dubbed the “stripper bill of rights.” If signed by the governor, not only will the legislation strengthen protections for strippers, it also clears the way for Washington strip clubs to serve alcohol.

This could have implications for Clark County, which has never had strip clubs. Nearby Portland — in a state that permits liquor sales in strip clubs — has the highest number per capita in the country.

Washington has been the only state to ban alcohol in strip clubs. To make up for the lack of revenue from alcohol sales, strip clubs have exploited dancers, said Madison Zack-Wu, the campaign manager for Strippers Are Workers, a Washington organization of strippers who advocate for workers’ rights.

Dancers can work for hours and leave owing the club money because they have to pay a fee to dance. If the dancer hasn’t made enough to pay that fee by the end of the night, they owe the club. Dancers can end up thousands of dollars in debt because fees can carry over.

Senate Bill 6105 caps club fees at $150 or 30 percent of the money a dancer made during a shift (whichever is less) and bans clubs from carrying over debts from previous shifts.

“Dancers don’t have to worry about paying clubs more than they take home,” Zack-Wu said. “There will never be indebtedness from dancers to clubs in Washington state.”

Washington dancers shared stories of abuse and sexual assault in clubs during legislative hearings for the bill, asking lawmakers to create safety measures for their workspaces.

The bill requires a security guard at clubs, keypad codes to enter dressing rooms, sexual harassment and de-escalation training for employees, and signs that dancers don’t have to surrender their tips.

The bill repeals part of a Washington law banning the sale of alcohol in places with nudity but would revoke alcohol sales in clubs that violate the new regulations.

Bills similar to SB 6105 have failed in the past, such as Senate Bill 5614, which died after failing to receive a committee hearing before a deadline. Rep. Sharon Wylie, D-Vancouver, is co-chair of the House Regulated Substances and Gaming Committee, where the bill got stuck.

At the time, Wylie expressed concerns over the sale of alcohol in clubs and human trafficking in clubs. However, Wylie voted in favor of SB 6105 on Tuesday.

It was a tough decision for her to make, she said during her testimony. In 1993, Wylie served in the Oregon Legislature, representing District 22 in Gresham, where strip clubs were a nuisance to many in the community, she said.

In 1982, Oregon’s Supreme Court determined the state Constitution protects free expression of “any subject whatsoever.”

“That meant we had 18-year-olds dancing in bars that sold alcohol, but they couldn’t drink. And there were problems. There were problems in the community,” Wylie said.

Conversely, Wylie said SB 6105 addresses safety issues in clubs as well, which is why she voted in favor of it.

“This bill is about safety of people. This bill ultimately will be about how you address bad behavior of people breaking laws in establishments,” Wylie said.

Washington has only 11 strip clubs, but changes in the law may make it easier for more strip clubs to open.

Clark County has never had a strip club — at least one that’s operated legally. Local laws restrict where strip clubs can be located, as well as dancers’ level of nudity and distance from customers.

“I think this has created a pathway to continuing this work and losing zoning restrictions,” Zack-Wu said. “This is one of the steps toward getting a more competitive, healthier environment.”