Strippers in Louisiana are suing the US state, claiming a new law banning dancers under the age of 21 from working hinders freedom of expression.
A new state law, that will come into force next week, demands all exotic dancers be 21 or older.
The women behind the lawsuit say the measure breaches the First Amendment by denying them freedom of expression.
They also say the legislation violates an equal protection cause in the constitution by targeting women only.
This is because the law refers to "entertainers whose breasts or buttocks are exposed to view", ensuring that male dancers under the age of 21 are not affected.
All the women in the lawsuit, filed on Thursday in Louisiana, are under the age of 21. They are named only as Jane Doe I, II and III.
The Times-Picayune newspaper, which has seen the details of the lawsuit, says it states that one of the three dancers works in a New Orleans strip club.
It says she has witnessed pimps and prostitutes using the threat of the new law to try to "recruit entertainers who are now lawfully employed, but who will lose their jobs as a result of the Act".
The lawsuit also reportedly states that one of the dancers, an 18-year-old student, had been told by colleagues under the age of 21 they planned to turn to prostitution once they lost their jobs.
The women's lawyer, Harry Rosenberg, was unavailable for comment when contacted by the BBC.
Governor John Bel Edwards signed the legislation last month.
Senator Ronnie John, who supported it, said the move would prevent human trafficking and ensure the safety of women.
The age of consent in Louisiana is 17.
Re: You've got to fight, for your right
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 10:36 pm
by MajGenl.Meade
This is because the law refers to "entertainers whose breasts or buttocks are exposed to view", ensuring that male dancers under the age of 21 are not affected.
...and we all know that men have neither breasts nor buttocks
Re: You've got to fight, for your right
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 11:27 pm
by Bicycle Bill
Isn't the age at which it is legal to consume alcohol or to be in a place that serves alcohol other than a restaurant — either as a customer or an employee — set at 21 in all states? Wouldn't they already be in violation of that law? -"BB"-
Re: You've got to fight, for your right
Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2016 1:12 am
by Sue U
Bicycle Bill wrote:Isn't the age at which it is legal to consume alcohol or to be in a place that serves alcohol other than a restaurant — either as a customer or an employee — set at 21 in all states? Wouldn't they already be in violation of that law? -"BB"-
In the states I have looked at, 18-year-olds are allowed to work in establishments that sell alcohol, but they cannot sell, serve or consume it themselves.
Re: You've got to fight, for your right
Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2016 11:16 am
by Crackpot
"Serve" is somewhat ambiguous as well. They can't pour but they can deliver.
Re: You've got to fight, for your right
Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2016 1:43 pm
by Big RR
I agree with CP, in a good number of states 18-21 year old waitresses are allowed to serve alcoholic drinks, but not to bartend or mix the drinks.
Re: You've got to fight, for your right
Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2016 5:16 pm
by Jarlaxle
I went to high school with a guy that worked in a packie at 18.
Re: You've got to fight, for your right
Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2016 4:00 pm
by BoSoxGal
I was a bartender in Maine at 18, back in 1989 anyway. Not sure what the law is now. Also served alcoholic drinks in Arizona and Maine from age 17 as a waitron.
Re: You've got to fight, for your right
Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2016 5:04 pm
by Big RR
Drinking/bartending/serving drinks could easily have varied from state to state as the drinking age did for a long time--until the federal government stuck it's big nose into it (when I was a kid you could drink at 18 in NY and 21 in NJ--needless to say we had many road trips to NY after learning all the back roads to avoid being stopped on the return drive). Not sure what it is now.
Re: You've got to fight, for your right
Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2016 7:36 pm
by Bicycle Bill
I'm pretty sure it's 21 across the country now, thanks to the federal government which stepped in and figuratively blackmailed the states into raising it by threatening to withhold a significant percentage of highway monies if they didn't do so. -"BB"-
Re: You've got to fight, for your right
Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2016 12:05 pm
by oldr_n_wsr
Yeah, from 18-20yo, you can die in service to your country, but you can't have a beer.
Go figure.
Re: You've got to fight, for your right
Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2016 12:31 pm
by MajGenl.Meade
Advance to 2 mins 34 seconds.....
Re: You've got to fight, for your right
Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2016 7:01 pm
by Big RR
oldr_n_wsr wrote:Yeah, from 18-20yo, you can die in service to your country, but you can't have a beer.
Go figure.
