Washington State Senate passes Strippers’ Bill of Rights

Adult performers in Washington state are demanding a "Strippers' Bill of Rights" for workplace protections, such as keypad codes on dressing rooms, required training at establishments that have strippers, and procedures if customers become violent. 

Senate Bill 6105, sponsored by Democratic state Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, passed in the legislature on Feb. 7 with a 29-20 vote and has become known as the "strippers' bill of rights."

The proposed law would require a number of trainings for establishments that employ adult entertainers that would include but not be limited to, "education about the rights and responsibilities of entertainers," "reporting of workplace injuries, including sexual and physical abuse and sexual harassment," and "financial aspects of the entertainer profession." Other regulations are added to prevent sex trafficking. 

Establishments are also required to display signage for customers to be directed to "resources on appropriate etiquette."

With regard to payment of the adult entertainers, any establishment with strippers cannot charge the entertainers "a fee for failure to appear at a scheduled time" as well as "any fees or interest for late payment or nonpayment of any fee." Establishments may also not have adult entertainment dancers "surrender any tips or gratuities."

The organization Strippers Are Workers has been vouching for the bill for around six years, according to the Associated Press. Its campaign manager, Madison Zack-Wu, said that "Washington's industry is broken" for strippers. "It relies on charging dancers high fees and cutting corners on staffing and security for profit."



An Instagram post from the organization stated that the bill will also help to "win basic workers' rights for dancers and end discriminatory policing against LGBTQ spaces & strip clubs." 

The group called on its audience to inform their state representatives to pass the law for the "strippers' bill of rights."



Another post from the group advocated for the bill and in the caption wrote, "We need YOUR help to pass the Strippers’ Bill of Rights. Right now, send emails to your legislators and sign our letter of support. Links in bio!"