In Washington state, adult performers are advocating for a “Strippers’ Bill of Rights,” seeking workplace protections such as keypad codes on dressing rooms, mandatory training at establishments with strippers, and protocols for handling customer violence.
Senate Bill 6105, championed by Democratic state Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, secured passage in the legislature on Feb. 7 with a vote of 29-20, earning recognition as the “strippers’ bill of rights.”
The proposed legislation mandates various trainings for establishments employing adult entertainers, covering topics such as entertainer rights and responsibilities, reporting of workplace injuries including sexual and physical abuse and harassment, and financial aspects of the profession. Additionally, measures are included to combat sex trafficking.
Establishments are obliged to prominently display signage directing customers to resources on appropriate etiquette.
Regarding payment practices, the bill prohibits establishments with strippers from imposing fees for missed appearances or charging fees or interest for late or non-payment. Moreover, establishments are prohibited from confiscating tips or gratuities from adult entertainment dancers.
The advocacy organization Strippers Are Workers has been campaigning for this bill for approximately six years, according to the Associated Press. Madison Zack-Wu, the campaign manager, asserted that Washington’s stripper industry is flawed, relying on excessive fees for dancers while compromising on staffing and security for profit.
