Dancer seeks to alter S.A. anti-nudity law
Strippers just want to strip in San Antonio. Now one of them is baring her desires online — with a campaign to change the city’s anti-nudity ordinance.
An exotic dancer in San Antonio who goes by “Sunny” has created Support SA Dancers, a website to raise awareness about restrictions on adult entertainers. The site features an anonymous survey anyone can take to “answer some questions for public research.”
Sunny also encourages sharing the site, posting to social media with the hashtag #letstrippersstrip and addressing city officials regarding the issue.
“By taking away our freedom to entertain, it has taken your freedom to enjoy it!” Sunny posted on the site. “Adults are now no longer allowed to enjoy true adult entertainment in the city of San Antonio. Instead they’re forced to travel to other cities, such as Austin, where they can enjoy semi-nudity or nudity. Citizens of San Antonio shouldn’t have ever had this freedom taken away. Even if you aren’t an active club goer, if you were to ever want to enjoy it, you wouldn’t be able to.”
When reached via email, Sunny noted she’s been dancing for nearly three years in San Antonio and that one of her managers told her she was capable of organizing and creating a movement to have the city’s restrictions changed.
“Dancing truly changed my life for the better and I absolutely adore what I do,” she said. “I’ve worked many jobs in the past, whether it be retail or serving, but nothing has made me as happy as dancing has. It allows me to pursue some of my dreams and learn continuously.”
In 2003, the city of San Antonio passed an ordinance that outlawed nude dancing and lap dancing and banned private VIP rooms. The city amended the so-called “human display ordinance” in 2005 after settling a lawsuit with several topless clubs that claimed the ordinance
was unconstitutional. The amended ordinance essentially maintained the original, with provisions that ban nude dancing, lap dancing and small, dimly lit or locked VIP rooms.
The city also adopted a “three foot rule” that effectively bans lap dances. Tips to dancers must be placed in a jar or delivered hand-to-hand without touching and each person's hand extended at least 1½ feet away the body.
Sunny noted that female entertainers must spray their breasts below the point immediately above the areola or cover them in latex. In addition to covering genitalia and pubic hair, performers also cannot show “the crevice of the buttocks,” which all but eliminates the use of G-strings and thongs.
Sunny said she'd welcome the presence of thongs and smaller bottoms without penalty and possibly the presence of nipples in clubs that sell alcohol. In BYOB clubs, she'd like the city to eventually allow optional nudity for the dancers.
“There are obviously concerns pertaining to safety but that would in turn open up many jobs for security in the clubs,” she said. “I don't believe dancers should ever be forced to be completely nude; I think we deserve the choice to be nude, at least in a BYOB. I understand that clubs with alcohol cannot be completely nude and I respect that. Which is why I'd prefer topless with smaller bottoms (that dancers have the freedom to choose the size of ).”
Sunny noted she's still working on current plans and goals for Support SA Dancers. She said she'll likely present her survey results “to those who can make the necessary changes.”
“My goal isn't to approach our city officials with aggression, at all,” she said. “A few people suggested I get a lawyer and sue, but, if that worked we would likely already see changes. I'm excited to see how this project grows.”