Members of the LGBTQ+ community rallied alongside strippers at the Washington state Capitol earlier this week in support of a bill that would improve working conditions in strip clubs. Senate Bill 6105 would also do away with the statewide lewd conduct regulation that was cited in last month’s controversial raids on several Seattle gay bars.
The bill, known as the “Strippers’ Bill of Rights,” would limit the fees strip clubs can charge dancers, ban local ordinances that mandate the distance between dancers and customers, and require clubs to provide security staffing as well as training for dancers in de-escalating conflicts with customers and preventing sex trafficking.
Earlier this month, out gay majority floor leader Sen. Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle) introduced an amendment to S.B. 6105 that would repeal a section of state code prohibiting “lewd conduct” in venues that serve liquor. The rule, enforced by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB), was cited in raids on several Seattle LGBTQ+ venues conducted by the LCB and the City of Seattle Joint Enforcement Team (JET) last month.