"WA adult entertainers claim 'Strippers' Rights Act' remains inadequate"
Here's a fresh take on the article:
Catalina Gaitan
Madison Keevey, a Seattle stripper, is dis Content with the choices she had to make to earn a living and stay safe.
As an independent contractor at four of Washington's 11 strip clubs for several years, Keevey encountered plenty: Aggressive customers demanding illegal services, negligible security, and outrageous fees for working. Last year, Keevey retired, opting for online sex work that seemed safer and more lucrative.
But in March, Keevey returned to Seattle's Kittens Cabaret strip club due to a new state law, known as the "strippers bill of rights." Advocates said this law offers the most comprehensive workplace protections for strippers across the country.
However, clubs quickly found a loophole, according to Madison Zack-Wu, a Seattle stripper and organizer with the dancer-led coalition Strippers Are Workers. The law allows Washington's strip clubs to sell alcohol for the first time since 1975, which advocates claimed would improve safety by permitting tracking of customers' drink consumption and decreasing clubs' reliance on dancers as their primary revenue source. Other provisions include maximum leasing fees, the elimination of "back rent," and an on-site security requirement.
Yet, since January, when the law went into full effect, some clubs across Washington have opted for a "revenue share" model, which is not subject to the same leasing-fee restrictions.
Some club owners argue the model, in which they share revenue with strippers instead of dancers paying fees, is a legal approach to maintaining their businesses amid rising costs from the new law. The Washington state authorities confirm clubs using this model comply with the law.
But a growing number of strippers, including Keevey and Zack-Wu, claim clubs are exploiting the model for higher profits at the expense of dancers' earnings. They urge state legislators to pass an amendment to the law that would further protect strippers' wages.
"The clubs remain greedy and power-hungry," said Zack-Wu. "Nothing changes just because a law is put in place."
Oregon vs. Washington: A Dance Culture Divide
Despite their proximity, Oregon and Washington have dramatically different club cultures. The Oregon Supreme Court's 1876 decision protecting all-nude stripping paved the way for Portland's 50 (or more) strip clubs, where alcohol is legal, and customers are eager for entertainment.
By contrast, Washington's clubs are not as vibrant, with sparse security, stricter regulations, and customers less inclined to party.
SB 6105: The Fight for Stripper Rights
The coalition Strippers Are Workers was founded in 2018 to address these issues. After years of advocacy, the group achieved several victories, including the requirement for Washington's clubs to provide panic buttons and maintain records of customers accused of violent or harassing behavior.
Their biggest achievement came last year with the passage of the "strippers bill of rights." The law received significant public support following a series of inspections at several historically gay venues in Seattle, which sparked demands to repeal a rule that barred businesses from obtaining liquor licenses if their employees worked nude or nearly nude. LGBTQ+ advocates argued this rule unfairly targeted their community.
E.L., a Seattle stripper who also works in Portland, described the moment she learned of the bill's passing while returning from a work trip in Texas: "I was holding back tears at the airport. This felt like a win not just for strippers, but for all workers and independent contractors."
Featured Local Stories
- Seattle Bike Lane Fix After Cyclist Accident
- Crime Falling - Call Me a Nut (and They Did)
- 18-Year-Old Motorcyclist Dies in Bellevue Crash
- Deputies Defy Franklin County Sheriff's Gun Seizure Order
- Seattle Nonprofit Rolls Out Fentanyl Addiction "Game Changer"
Sponsored
Economic Shifts in Strip Clubs Post-Legislation
Many Washington strip clubs initially seemed to comply with the new law, hiring security, installing keypads, and applying for liquor licenses. As of April 1, five of the 11 clubs had acquired liquor licenses, and two others had applied.
However, when it came to dancers' take-home pay, the story was different. Under the new law, clubs could not charge leasing fees that exceeded 30% of strippers' earnings. But under the revenue share model, some clubs began adding new fees and charges for services like lap dances and VIP rooms, which were not subject to the leasing-fee caps. These charges, ranging from $5 to several hundred dollars, were paid by customers and kept entirely by the clubs.
This practice, while under scrutiny, has not been found to violate the law by the Washington state Department of Labor and Industries.
Matt Ross, an L&I spokesperson, acknowledged the frustration dancers might feel, stating, "We understand the entertainers' concerns, and the revenue share model does limit our ability, in some cases, to enforce the leasing fee maximums."
Dina Lorraine, another L&I spokesperson, conveyed the department's plans to help clarify the confusion by publishing an "FAQ" guide for both parties.
Dina Lorraine noted, "If club owners have found a loophole, we are committed to working with the dancers to help close it."
For Keevey, the ideal working conditions promised by the new law never materialized at Kittens Cabaret. After initially agreeing to an interview, Kittens Cabaret did not respond to a request for comment. According to Keevey, the volatile customer behavior and inadequate security remained unchanged, and her earnings—approximately $500 per shift—stayed the same as before. Keevey lasted only a month at the club.
cgaitan@ourwebsite
- Madison Keevey, a stripper in Seattle, returned to work at Kittens Cabaret due to the passing of the "strippers bill of rights" in Washington.
- Clubs in Washington have found a loophole in the new law, allowing them to use a "revenue share" model that some strippers argue is exploitative and diminishes their earnings.
- Local stripper Madison Zack-Wu, along with others, urges state legislators to pass an amendment to the law to further protect strippers' wages.
- In contrast to Washington, Oregon's strip club culture is more vibrant, with legal alcohol, eager customers, and fewer regulations.
- The coalition Strippers Are Workers has advocated for workplace protections, resulting in the requirement for panic buttons and records of violent or harassing customers.
- The "strippers bill of rights" was a significant achievement for the coalition, receiving public support following inspections at historically gay venues in Seattle.
- Dancers in Washington clubs have experienced minimal improvements in earnings despite the passage of the new law and the acquisition of liquor licenses.
- In response to dancers' concerns, the Washington state Department of Labor and Industries plans to publish an "FAQ" guide to help clarify the revenue share model and potential loopholes.
