Stripper sues Florida over new age restrictions for workers at adult entertainment businesses

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A 19-year-old and the membership the place she labored as a stripper have sued Florida’s legal professional normal and two native prosecutors to cease enforcement of a brand new state regulation prohibiting grownup leisure companies from using people who find themselves below 21, claiming it violates their constitutional rights.

Serenity Michelle Bushey claims within the lawsuit that she misplaced her job at Cafe Risque within the Gainesville space after the regulation took impact on Monday since she is youthful than 21. The aim of the regulation was to discourage human trafficking, in response to Florida lawmakers.

The lawsuit was filed Monday in federal courtroom in Tallahassee on behalf of Bushey, the proprietor of Cafe Risque and two grownup companies in Jacksonville. It seeks a everlasting injunction stopping the regulation from being enforced, claiming it violates their First Modification proper to free speech and Fourteenth Modification proper to equal safety.

Moreover Bushey, eight different grownup performers who’re older than 18 however youthful than 21 are unable to work at Cafe Risque due to the brand new regulation, the lawsuit stated.

“As with related performers across the state, Bushey earned her dwelling via her artwork whereas offering leisure for the profit and pleasure of her viewers,” the lawsuit stated. “Plaintiffs have a transparent authorized proper to interact in protected speech of this nature.”

The brand new regulation additionally prohibits hiring cooks, DJs, waitresses and safety guards who’re older than 18 however youthful than 21, and even use staff in that age group from third-party contractors employed to carry out duties like air-conditioning repairs or carpentry, in response to the lawsuit.

Kylie Mason, communications director for the Workplace of the Legal professional Basic, stated Tuesday that the workplace hadn’t but been served with the lawsuit however will defend the brand new regulation.