The strip clubs are striking back.
In response to the Los Angeles City Council’s unanimous
vote to ban lap dances, signature gatherers ““ backed by the
city’s adult club industry ““ descended upon UCLA late
last week, stirring discussion and debate about the increasingly
contentious issue.
The circulating petition asks city residents to help repeal a
pending ordinance that imposes a six-foot distance between male and
female strippers and their patrons.
The measure, passed by a vote of 13-0 in City Hall, is awaiting
the signature of Mayor James Hahn, who is expected to approve
it.
The proposed ordinance prohibits strip club clientele from
touching performers, direct tipping in G-strings, and receiving lap
dances.
Violations of the ordinance would be punishable by up to six
months in jail and up to $2,500 in fines.
John Bowers, a signature gatherer who recently worked to get the
necessary signatures for the Oct. 7 recall election, roamed around
Bruin Plaza on Friday seeking students and voters to sign the
petition.
Throughout the day, Bowers noticed trends, albeit perhaps
predictable ones.
“A lot more men are signing the petition than
women,” Bowers said.
Strategists for the city’s strip clubs are hoping to
collect nearly 57,000 signatures by Oct. 25 in hopes of qualifying
a “lap dance” measure for the municipal ballot.
If the strip clubs succeed in having their petition certified,
the council must either repeal its ordinance or call an election
within 140 days.
Bowers, who worked on the University of Southern California
campus on Oct. 2, noted a contrast between that campus and
UCLA.
“USC students signed the petition (with great enthusiasm).
People at UCLA seem more conservative,” he said.
However, many UCLA students expressed displeasure about the lap
dance ban.
Lauren Boitano, a fourth-year communication studies student,
signed the petition against the proposed ordinance.
“I think it’s such a stupid thing to outlaw. People
want to give them and people want to get them,” Boitano said,
adding she had been unaware of the new ordinance before she signed
the petition.
Huei Jang, a fourth-year business-economics student, favored
rescinding the lap dance ban for economic reasons.
“I think it would be good for the economy … It gets
people to spend money,” Jang said, adding that the issue
infringes on a citizen’s civil rights.
“People have the right to engage in this form of
entertainment if they wish as long as they don’t hurt
anyone,” he said.
Although many students signed the petition, many also did
not.
Ana Adam, a fifth-year sociology student, declined to sign the
petition, because she believes lifting the ban would legitimize the
degradation of women and men.
“I’d rather be cleaning toilets than doing lap
dances. If you had respect for yourself, you wouldn’t (give
lap dances for money),” she said.
Adam also said she would vote against the movement to repeal the
lap dance ban if the measure’s opponents succeeded in
gathering the necessary number of signatures.
Other students focused on different issues concerning the adult
club industry. Some believed measures should be taken to prevent
prostitution.
Supporters of the pending ordinance argued that strip clubs,
bikini bars and adult bookstores contribute to prostitution, drug
use and violence.
Erubey Lopez, a fourth-year political science and Chicana/o
studies student, expressed concern about prostitution being
practiced in strip clubs.
“(The city) should make sure it doesn’t
happen,” Lopez said, adding that government enforcement may
be necessary but that lap dances should not be prohibited.
With reports from Daily Bruin wire services.