ThinkProgress: Texas state Rep. Bill Zedler (R) has earned a reputation as a fringe extremist even in the conservative state legislature. But Zedler has outdone himself with his latest bill, which would regulate “sexually oriented” businesses, in part by requiring strippers to obtain and wear a license to work.
8 comments:
I'm a democrat. I think a little legislation can go a long way. The line, however, is drawn at the point where someone is in danger. Strippers are people with jobs, and regulations around trafficking and harassment are good. But why oh why would you fix these issues by forcing people from legitimate jobs and opening them to harassment. That's just asking for trouble. Why would you even suggest an expensive, revealing liscence? Oi...poor Texas.
I understand why it would be important for these dancers to obtain licenses, the training and whatnot would probably be to their benefit in some ways. The laws that the person would have to be 18 and to not have been convicted for certain crimes makes sense and I would go so far as to agree with that. But once people need to put a lot of extra time into obtaining such a license for that line of work, I think is not incredibly necessary, most importantly the part about having to display the ID with their real names on it. I think that is downright wrong because these women would be exposing themselves to all kinds of danger. As the article mentioned they could become stalking or harassment victims.
I think this idea has potential, but it seems to have been taken too far. While requiring strippers to take courses about how to remain safe is a good idea, I think pushing the cost onto the employees is questionable. If the employers are the ones making a lot of money off of their businesses, they should be the ones who offer safety training and incur the expense. Most other companies that have employees that are required to have safety training sessions are required to supply that training at their own cost. Why should this be any different?
I also question why these employees should be required to keep their license on their person at all times while working. There are not many industries that require this, so why would strippers need to? It would make sense that their employers must have a copy of the license on record and would need to provide proof of licensing in order to put an employee on payroll, but it seems extreme to require the employee to display that license at all times.
I am also curious as to what rmarkowi meant by "forcing people from legitimate jobs and opening them to harassment." How is requiring someone to obtain a license forcing someone from a legitimate job? Isn't that making their job more legitimate?
Im definitely not a fan of the profession but people should have the right to do it. It seems like the goal of this law is to make that line of work so difficult that its not worth it. Needing to get a license and attend that course makes sense depending on how much the state would charge for it. I feel like its likely they will just make it cost enough that for a lot it won't be affordable. and the part apart having to display the license is just despicable. The only reason that job is safe is the anonymity, as the article mentions. I can't believe they are actually going to enforce that. It also amazes me that none of the legislation is targeted towards the clubs themselves. It seems like more he is trying to punish them for their profession rather then actually help anyone.
Okay. I think that it is good for them to have a licenses; however wearing it on your body while working is most inappropriate especially if it will bear their real name. In a business where it is best to conceal your real name from your clients, this is unacceptable. I agree with the writer that it can and would definitely put the workers at danger. That would mean that anyone can snatch it from them and read it. Shouldn't it just be like a driver's license or passport, when you show it if asked by police or other authority forces. I think that they need to take that law 50 steps backwards and not go over board.
I'm all for the regulation and requirement of licenses in the stripping industry.It seems like it could really assist in the safety of the "performers". It would also help regulate the industry by having specific requirements and a fee. However having the strippers forced to wear the licenses on them while performing is a little ridiculous. Not only would it look obnoxious but if it had the performer's name on it it could be dangerous for them. I think we should have the licenses but have the employers keep them on file.
The ending of this article says it all. You can force strippers to obtain licenses and register into databases all you want, but the threat and danger of this industry lies in the clubs themselves. It should be the responsibility of the venue to ensure that their performers are of legal age and have clean criminal records. I wonder, since the article did not mention, what kinds of permits and licenses the clubs themselves have to acquire to have strippers perform. It would not surprise me that it would be more difficult to obtain a license to sell alcohol than to have exotic dancers and nudity.
I understand where Zedler's coming from. I find it similar to having a manicurist's license displayed by their work station. While I think the course completion is a good idea in order for women to become strippers (and would certainly create jobs for people willing to teach these courses), being required to display that license on their person is a bit over the line. That's a bit out of place to have it on their person, but if they were required to keep it in their performance bag or require that ID to get into the club their working in as a check-in mechanism, I don't see a problem.
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