Posted on 08/19/2006 12:21:43 PM PDT by TFFKAMM
There were picket signs, picket lines and protesters imploring motorists to honk for their cause. But all similarities between Friday afternoon's rally in front of City Hall and other political gatherings in San Francisco ended there.
About 50 exotic dancers and other adult club employees gathered to protest outside as the Entertainment Commission heard public testimony on a proposed ban on private rooms and booths at the clubs. The Commission on the Status of Women proposed the legislation on the ban based on interviews with dancers who said sexual assaults have occurred inside the private rooms.
The rally more closely resembled a block party than a protest, with a couple of clowns walking around on stilts, rappers entertaining the crowd and scantily dressed protesters dancing to music pumped through two speakers. And free ice cream.
Despite the festive atmosphere, the dancers were eager to get their message across.
"They feel very strongly about keeping those booths," said Meta Mitchell, a manager at the O'Farrell Theatre that was co-founded by her father, Jim Mitchell. "It's a matter of their livelihood -- they have families to support, mortgages to pay, student loans to pay off. Take away those booths and their incomes are drastically reduced."
The dancers challenged the commission's findings that the booths were unsafe and encouraged such acts as sexual assaults and coercion into prostitution. Annette Renee, 27, a dancer at the O'Farrell Theatre for the last four years, said the private rooms are safer than performing at private parties in homes or hotel rooms.
"That's where the real danger is," she said.
About 20 dancers spoke in front of the Entertainment Commission to oppose the ban...
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
As performers from the strip clubs wave signs and picket in front of City Hall, passer-by Abduliah-Ali stops to take their picture. Chronicle photo by Laura Morton
Julia Foxx, the stage name for a strip club performer, uses a bullhorn to blare out her protest of the proposed ban on private rooms in the clubs as a nun-like compatriot joins her on the picket line in front of City Hall. Chronicle photo by Laura Morton
My fear is that San Fran is about to go up in a puff of smoke.
One thing's for sure: anyone leaving there had better not look back, or they'll be turned into a pillar of salt. :^)
"as a nun-like compatriot joins her"
I'm sorry but there is nothing 'nun-like' about them.
More 'demon-like' than anything else.
Puff of pot smoke maybe.
Is the blond lady in the first picture pregnant, or does she always look like that??
After all those 'clients' I'm sure she'd show some 'wear and tear' after awhile.
A soldier in the Army of Allah, pausing to take in a few thrills before the next jihad assignment?
She's a MAN, baby.
Right. The woman who would be Speaker. They also elected Gavin "Any Twosome" Newsom.
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