Florida Legislature Considering Ban on Strippers Under 21

Florida Republicans have recently moved forward legislation to ban workers (ostensibly women) under 21 from working in adult entertainment establishments, most notably strip clubs. In the Florida Senate, Sen. Clay Yarborough introduced SB 1690, which makes owners of adult establishments who employ workers under 21 subject to first-degree misdemeanor charges. The potential law would affect a number of adult business, including adult bookstores, adult theaters, special cabaret and unlicensed massage establishments. But obviously, it more

directly affects strip clubs employing strippers between 18 and 20. And to make that clear, the bill enhances penalties to a second-degree felony penalty if the worker is nude. A similar measure, HB 1379, by Rep. Carolina Amesty, is also in committee. The Senate bill previously advanced through the Criminal Justice Committee by a 6-2 vote.

The Senate Chair of the Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice (the committee now considering the bill), Jennifer Bradley, reportedly said that “[t]he Florida Legislature recognizes human trafficking as a form of modern day slavery, whose victims include young children, teenagers and adults who may be citizens that are trafficked domestically within the border to the United States are smuggled across international borders worldwide." The bill states it combats human trafficking because “victims of sex trafficking are frequently recruited to work as performers or employees in adult entertainment establishments.” Rep. Amesty, speaking on her bill, said “We're not talking about prohibiting adults to work in their area of preference, but rather saying that, if you're going to work at an adult entertainment industry establishment, specifically a strip club, you should not be under the age of 21." She said that her vision is “for young women of Florida is to not work in any adult entertainment establishments, but rather get an education, a career and (to) excel in life.”

So potentially no teen strippers in Florida. More to come...