Washington state’s law, known as the Strippers Bill of Rights, contains what supporters say is the most comprehensive statewide protection in the nation and was signed into law Monday.
Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill that creates safer working conditions for those in the adult entertainment industry and allows clubs to sell alcohol.
“Strippers are workers and should be afforded the same rights and protections as the rest of the workforce,” bill sponsor Sen. Rebecca Saldaña of Seattle said in a news release. “If they are employed in a legal facility in Washington, they are entitled to the protections that all workers are entitled to, including protection from exploitation, trafficking and abuse.”
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The new law requires training for facility employees to prevent sexual harassment, identify and report human trafficking, de-escalate conflict, and provide first aid. It also requires security guards on-site, keypad codes in dressing rooms, and emergency buttons in areas where entertainers may be alone with customers.
Most of the state’s dancers are independent contractors who are paid by clients and must pay club fees for each shift, Zak-Woo said. The new law limits the fees owners can charge, capping it at the lesser of $150 or 30 percent of what the dancers earn during their shift. Late fees and other charges related to unpaid balances are also prohibited.
The state Department of Labor and Industries plans to draft new rules and guidelines by early next year to change the workplace safety standards included in the law.
Under the new law, entertainment businesses will also be able to obtain liquor licenses. The law ties liquor licenses to compliance with new safety regulations.
A Washington state bill known as the Strippers Bill of Rights was signed into law on Monday, March 25th. This law aims to create safer working conditions for those in the adult entertainment industry. (AP Photo/Lindsay Wasson)
Strippers are Workers, a dancer-led organization active in the state since 2018, has advocated for regulation and alcohol sales.
The group’s campaign manager, Madison Zach-Wu, said the group’s effort began to address a major gap in regulations for people performing at the state’s 11 adult entertainment clubs.
But there were also concerns that adding safeguards without increasing revenue from alcohol sales could lead to some clubs closing.
“We don’t want clubs to close now or in the future because that would only put everyone out of work and put us in a riskier and more dire situation,” she previously said.
State Liquor and Cannabis Commission spokesman Brian Smith told the Tacoma News Tribune that it could take more than a year for each club’s liquor license process to be in place.
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Only one other state has added worker protections for adult entertainers, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In 2019, Illinois began requiring adult entertainment establishments, along with other businesses, to have written sexual harassment policies in place.
Other efforts are underway, such as dancers voting to unionize at bars in Los Angeles and strip clubs in Portland, Oregon. And in 2014, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled that dancers at a Las Vegas club are employees and are entitled to a minimum wage and other protections.
“It is important to confront the stigma surrounding adult entertainment and recognize the humanity of those involved in the industry,” Saldaña said.
