Washington State Standard. The now-failed bill began as a workplace safety and pay issue for strippers. Meanwhile, a coalition of dozens of strip club dancers has voiced support for the measure.
Rebecca Saldana, D-Seattle. Dancers are usually independent contractors, not employees of the clubs where they perform. Using a private room costs extra for dancers and customers. Since strippers are paid by the dance, a slow shift could lead to someone losing money by not making enough to cover their rent for the night. Shelley Kloba, D-Kenmore and chairwoman of the regulated substances committee said that, behind the scenes, some House members wanted a closer look at the state issuing liquor licenses to strip clubs.
Oregon allows the sale of liquor in the clubs, which has led to a thriving adult entertainment dancing industry in Portland. Saldana, along with Madison Zack-Wu, the campaign manager for the organization Strippers Are Workers , said dancers and customers under 21 can wear wristbands, noting this is a common practice in alcohol-serving clubs. Strippers Are Workers represents at least Washington dancers in their push to improve working conditions.
Dancers, in testimony at hearings, said club customers frequently hit bars prior to showing up, or go out to their cars to drink. Consequently, alcohol is already present at the clubs. Zack-Wu and another Strippers Are Workers member, Lexy, who declined to give her last name, contended legalizing alcohol at the clubs will bring more oversight of working conditions from the state liquor board.
Two former dancers at the April 19 briefing — Mary Williams and Jeri Moomaw, who are both affiliated with the group WASE Forward , which works on policy to prevent sex trafficking and exploitation — disagreed that serving alcohol will lead to stricter enforcement of customer decorum. The April briefing was the first time opposition to SB became public.
