News / sexual entertainment venues
Funding the legal fight to keep Bristol’s strip clubs
The fight to retain strip clubs in Bristol is ploughing ahead as a crowdfunder has launched support legal challenges to keep them open.
A nil cap was imposed on sexual entertainment venues (SEVs) in Edinburgh in March, limiting the number of clubs from four to zero – an effective ban from April 2023.
In Bristol, dancers face an uncertain future as Bristol City Council is yet to announce the results of a public consultation on the proposed ban closed in December.
is needed now More than ever
If a nil cap comes into play, the city’s two SEVs, Central Chambers on St Stephen’s Street and Urban Tiger on Broad Quay, would be left without a licence to operate.
Now United Sex Workers want to raise £40,000 to fund legal proceedings to overturn the ban in the Scottish capital and begin a judicial review – measures they vow will be repeated in Bristol if a nil-cap is introduced here.
So far, upwards of £8,000 has been raised.
⚠️ We are crowdfunding to launch an urgent legal challenge against Edinburgh’s strip club ban, because strippers deserve worker protections & safe workplaces ⚠️
But we can’t win this fight without your help.
Save our clubs, save our jobs – donate now: https://t.co/BX1rHVjiYP pic.twitter.com/9hZ905Bhmo
— United Sex Workers (@unitedswers) June 2, 2022
The “grassroots, radical, and peer-led sex worker” trade union argue that a ban on strip clubs violates workers’ rights, including strippers, bar staff and security, and puts their livelihoods at risk.
Strip and pole-dancing clubs are legal in the UK but it is up to individual councils whether to grant licences.
Advocates of a ban on SEVs include Bristol West Labour MP Thangham Debbonaire, mayor Marvin Rees and Bristol Women’s Commission. They maintain that clubs have negative consequences for the objectification of women and their safety.
Strippers came together on College Green in December – photo: Martin Booth
Bristol Sex Workers’ Collective stands firmly in support of the campaign.
A spokesperson from the union told Bristol24/7: “The Bristol Sex Workers Collective supports all of the campaigning efforts from United Sex Workers and our colleagues in Edinburgh.
“We strongly hope the union manages to crowdfund what is necessary to support the legal costs of a judicial review and have donated ourselves.
“Winning this case against Edinburgh City Council would be a historic first. It would set a legal precedent, and would send the clear message across Britain that shutting down strip clubs is unlawful and discriminatory.
“It would most likely stop the push for a nil-cap in Bristol and in any other city that is considering implementing a similar harmful policy. We would encourage anyone that has been following and supporting our campaign to donate to this crowdfunder.”
Main photo: United Sex Workers
Read more:
- ‘We shouldn’t be treated as second hand citizens’
- ‘Strip clubs promote a harmful sexist culture and stand in the way of equality’
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