"New Law Grants Job Protections to Adult Dancers: The Strippers' Bill of Rights"

Lawmakers in Washington state signed legislation this week known as the "Strippers' Bill of Rights," which advocates say includes the most comprehensive statewide protections in the nation for adult dancers.

The measure, which Gov. Jay Inslee signed Monday, creates safer working conditions for people in the adult entertainment industry and makes it possible for the clubs to eventually sell alcohol.

"It's pretty simple why we are passing this bill. These are working folks — and working people deserve safety in the environment in which they work," Inslee said during a press conference Monday.

"Strippers are workers, and they should be given the same rights and protections as any other labor force," bill sponsor Sen. Rebecca Saldaña of Seattle, said in a statement. "If they are employed at a legal establishment in Washington, they deserve the safeguards that every worker is entitled to, including protection from exploitation, trafficking, and abuse."

Recent legislation in the state has brought about new regulations for dancers in adult entertainment clubs. Most dancers, who are considered independent contractors, are now protected by a law that limits the fees club owners can charge them. These fees are capped at $150 or 30% of the dancers' earnings during their shift, and late fees and other charges for unpaid balances are now prohibited.

Strippers Are Workers, a group founded by dancers in 2018, played a key role in advocating for these regulations, as well as for the sale of alcohol in clubs.

The organization's campaign manager, Madison Zack-Wu, highlighted the need for these regulations due to significant gaps in the existing laws governing adult entertainment clubs in the state.

Only one other state has implemented similar worker protections for adult entertainers, with Illinois requiring businesses, including adult entertainment establishments, to have a written sexual harassment policy since 2019, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Florida lawmakers are currently considering a new measure that would prohibit individuals under the age of 21 from working in adult establishments. The bill has passed through both legislative chambers and is pending approval from Gov. Ron DeSantis.

In various U.S. cities, exotic dancers have been pushing for worker protections in recent years. This includes efforts at a strip club in Portland, Oregon, and a dive bar in North Hollywood, California, where dancers successfully voted to unionize. In a significant ruling, the Nevada Supreme Court declared in 2014 that adult dancers at a Las Vegas club should be classified as employees rather than independent contractors, entitling them to minimum wage and other labor protections.