Aubrey Watkins has worked as an exotic dancer for 20 years, which has allowed her to raise three sons and pay for college tuition. But Watkins told a work session of the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee that dancers like her have serious concerns about their safety.
The MeToo movement has spurred efforts to make workplaces safer for women, and that includes Washington state strip clubs. A panel of lawmakers on Monday heard testimony from dancers who say they need more protections. Watkins told the committee that she was briefly abducted in outside the strip club where she worked. She said they aim to provide a safe and legal venue for sexual expression. No violations were found. State lawmakers say they will consider during the legislative session whether state-level regulations are necessary.
Rachel Lauter, executive director of Working Washington, the group leading this effort, said it's time for these changes. Government and Politics. Washington Ledge. Dispatches from public radio's correspondent at the Washington Legislature.
Courtesy of Working WA. Another dancer, Aaliyah Topps, called for a number of safety improvements at strip clubs. Currently, the exotic dancing industry in Washington is regulated by local ordinances. Tags Government and Politics Washington Ledge workplace safety exotic dancing strip clubs metoo movement. Austin Jenkins. In that position, Austin covers Northwest politics and public policy, as well as the Washington State Legislature.
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