Commission on the Status of Women
Resolution Regarding Conditions of Exotic Dancers
BE IT KNOWN That the Commission on the Status of Women of the City and County of San Francisco, hereby issues and authorizes by execution, by the subscribing Commissioners, the following findings and recommendations:
WHEREAS, all women who work in San Francisco are entitled to a safe and secure workplace that is free from economic exploitation and harassment; ,
WHEREAS, the Commission has received complaints that women who work as exotic dancers in strip clubs in San Francisco are being subjected to economic exploitation and coerced prostitution;
WHEREAS according to these complaints, owners and operators of strip clubs impose “stage fees” and other illegal fees that compel women to pay fees to work;
WHEREAS complainants have also provided testimony that owners and operators of strip clubs have built private, non-transparent booths and/or private non-transparent rooms that are intentionally designed to facilitate acts of prostitution;
WHEREAS the Commission on the Status of Women strongly believes that any and all forms of exploitation and coerced prostitution of women dancers must cease immediately;
RESOLVED, The Commission on the Status of Women urges the Board of Supervisors and all city agencies with regulatory authority over these clubs to take immediate action to end any and all exploitative and coercive practices against exotic dancers, and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Commission on the Status of Women requests that the City Attorney’s Office develop legislation for review by the Commission, which would:
(1) make it unlawful for the owner or operator of any establishment in which women. provide live nude or semi-nude entertainment to charge, require, or demand that the women pay any fee, commission, tip, or any other consideration as a condition or prerequisite for providing said entertainment; and
(2) require owners and operators of strip clubs to post, in a conspicuous manner in an open and visible location within the club, and in an area to which patrons have access, a current comprehensive schedule of compensation for exotic dances, and in addition, require owners to notify the Commission on the Status of Women if/when they make any change to that schedule; and
(3) prohibit private, non-transparent booths or rooms in
establishments in which women provide live nude or semi-nude
entertainment; and .
(4) provide a mechanism or procedure for enforcement of the above provisions.
Andra Shorter, President
Angela Willians, Vice President
The Commission on the Status of Women of the City and County of San Francisco
March 23, 2005
resolution 2005-015