They say the show must go on — even if it’s a male strip show in a province where stripping is banned.
About 100 women are expected to be in the audience Friday night at the “Regina ladies night out” event at Cloud 9 Ultra Lounge.
Despite the province’s crackdown on stripping earlier this year, the event is sold out.
For about year, stripping where alcohol is served was legal after the province reversed a long-established ban.
Then, in April, the government did an about face, making stripping in bars illegal again.
There is one important exception: charity groups are allowed to sponsor one event a year. Total nudity is still banned: pasties, g-strings and other covers must be worn.
Upsides and downsides
Emily Kempin, part owner of Pink Champagne, a company of exotic dancers in Saskatoon, said it’s been difficult to book gigs since the change because bar owners are afraid to break the law.
“It dramatically affected all our bar performances and what we could do on stage. And it affected our stage performances in general because a lot of it we do routines and in those routines we do take off clothing — even though it’s not full nude,” she said.
However, there has been an upside.
“More and more people have been talking about our company, and more and more people are discussing how this is against women’s rights and how it’s stopping us from working.”
Province has reinstituted ban on stripping in bars
CBC News Posted: Sep 18, 2015 2:10 PM CT Last Updated: Sep 18, 2015 8:07 PM CT
