Edinburgh’s strip club ban faces court challenge from unions
Unions representing sex workers say they will take Edinburgh council to court over its decision to ban strip clubs in the city.
They claim the move will drive sexual entertainment underground, take away women’s livelihoods and put them at more risk of violence.
The council’ s regulatory committeevoted by five to four to set a limit of zero on the number of sexual entertainment venues (SEVS) that should be allowed in the city under a new licensing scheme.
One union, United Voices of the world, said it was“extremely disappointed” that the council had“chosen to disregard its legal obligations and the relevant evidence by introducing a ‘nil-cap’ which will close all the strip clubs in the city”.
It continued: “This is a policy that discriminates against women. Not only does this violatethe equality act 2010, it is an
act of cruelty to remove the livelihoods of hundreds of workers as we enter the worst economic crisis since the 1970s. UVW is committed to overturning this policy via judicial review.”
United sex workers said it was “disappointed and angry” at the decision. It said: “Despite sharing their fears for their safety, for their livelihoods, sharing their expertise on their own working conditions, the council have chosen to force them into working under greater risk of violence, to further remove and limit their working rights and push more workers into unemployment.” ” It warned: “We will push for this decision to be reversed at judicial review.”
Even without a legal challenge, it will be at least a year before the ban takes effect.
Labour councillor Joan Griffiths, who proposed the ban, voiced her delight at the decision, saying: “I don't think there areas many people who want to visit these places. no-one wants to see anybody lose their job. we will work with women to help them look at their careers and at other employment options.”
One strip club dancer, Alexis, told the committee: "I’ve been dancing in strip clubs for the past 15 years. I’m proud of what I do and I don’t want to be forced into doing another job just because it doesn’t fit in with other people’s moral values.
"We’ re not all damaged women coming fromabusive backgrounds and we don’t need to be saved. We are educated women making educated decisions about what is best for our lives.”