Strip Clubs Forced to Remove Barely Legal Dancers by Oct. 1

14:04 August 09, 2016
By: Amber Prattini

When the New Orleans City Council ordinance prohibiting individuals under the age of 21 from dancing in strip clubs passed last November, it seemed to be a short-lived achievement for mandate supporters like Jim Kelly.

As the director of Covenant House, a shelter for homeless, runaway and at-risk youths under the age of 22; he wants to protect young women. About 14 percent of the 99 Covenant House residents were victims of human trafficking, stated a recent study from Loyola University.

“It’s personal for me because I know the young people who have been caught up in strip joints and human trafficking,” said Kelly. “If you have to be 21 to drink in one of these establishments, we believe you should be 21 to take your clothes off there.”

At the time, the decree also included a clause that grandfathered in previously employed underage dancers. Yet, the directive was taken a step further with the recently passed state law that prohibits dancers younger than 21, not including the grandfather clause.

Following suit, the Louisiana State Police and the state Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control announced on Monday, August 8 that they would no longer acknowledge the provision and club owners had until October 1 to remove any underage strippers. Any establishment that did not comply would face a fine, suspension or revocation of its liquor license.

The ATC, with assistance from state police, will enforce the underage restriction by conducting regular inspections and compliance checks, according to ATC Commissioner Juana Marine-Lombard. Her goal is to grow the business and deter crime.

“Overall, the business here want to be in compliance with state law,” Marine-Lombard remarked on the positive reaction she received from several club owners. “They want the city to do well going forward, and I think they want to cooperate with us.”

State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson was also very positive. “[The clubs] had already started self-policing, so they were doing the things they needed to do to be successful. They were already moving in that direction.”

He said they would rather not conduct another sting; however, they’re not ruling it out. While Kelly called the ATC’s decision a positive step, he said he does have some reservations about clubs self-policing themselves. He’s hopeful while also skeptical.

“A lot of these clubs have a long history where you might question that, but I believe both Colonel Edmonson and Commissioner Lombard are saying it’s a new day,” he said. 

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