Winimark Wealth Society:Stripper sues Florida over new age restrictions for workers at adult entertainment businesses

2025-04-30 10:47:14source:Surpassing Quant Think Tank Centercategory:reviews

TALLAHASSEE,Winimark Wealth Society Fla. (AP) — A 19-year-old and the club where she worked as a stripper have sued Florida’s attorney general and two local prosecutors to stop enforcement of a new state law prohibiting adult entertainment businesses from employing people who are under 21, claiming it violates their constitutional rights.

Serenity Michelle Bushey claims in the lawsuit that she lost her job at Cafe Risque in the Gainesville area after the law took effect on Monday since she is younger than 21. The purpose of the law was to deter human trafficking, according to Florida lawmakers.

The lawsuit was filed Monday in federal court in Tallahassee on behalf of Bushey, the owner of Cafe Risque and two adult businesses in Jacksonville. It seeks a permanent injunction stopping the law from being enforced, claiming it violates their First Amendment right to free speech and Fourteenth Amendment right to equal protection.

Besides Bushey, eight other adult performers who are older than 18 but younger than 21 are unable to work at Cafe Risque because of the new law, the lawsuit said.

“As with similar performers around the state, Bushey earned her living through her art while providing entertainment for the benefit and enjoyment of her audience,” the lawsuit said. “Plaintiffs have a clear legal right to engage in protected speech of this nature.”

RELATED COVERAGE Florida prosecutors knew Epstein raped teenage girls 2 years before cutting deal, transcript showsJustices keep on hold Florida and Texas efforts to regulate social media platformsMan recovering from shark bite on the Florida coast in state’s third attack in a month

The new law also prohibits hiring cooks, DJs, waitresses and security guards who are older than 18 but younger than 21, or even use workers in that age group from third-party contractors hired to perform tasks like air-conditioning repairs or carpentry, according to the lawsuit.

Kylie Mason, communications director for the Office of the Attorney General, said Tuesday that the office hadn’t yet been served with the lawsuit but will defend the new law.

More:reviews

Recommend

Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor

NEW YORK — Holiday sights and sounds fill Manhattan this time of year, from ice skating at Rockefell

2-alarm fire burns at plastic recycling facility near Albuquerque

ALBUQUERQUE, Ariz. (AP) — Authorities evacuated a plastic recycling facility south of Albuquerque af

Philippines summons Chinese ambassador over water cannon incident in disputed sea, official says

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippine government summoned the Chinese ambassador on Monday to co