Time's Up For Strip Clubs Coalition

[Iseveryusernamealreadytaken]

I don't think we're allowed to post links to crowdfunding on here but the Time's Up For Strip Clubs Coalition is starting legal action against Sheffield Council on its unlimited strip clubs policy.

They will be arguing that councils should be required to consider the impact on women when formulating its policies on strip clubs and they say that the case will have ramifications for councils and communities across the country.

They are currently crowdfunding for this case through the Crowdjustice website.

Well worth supporting! Great job.

Thanks for posting OP

Thanks for posting.

This is Yorkshire again!

Good article about this in the Independent

www.independent.co.uk/voices/sheffield-city-council-strip-clubs-gender-equality-women-safety-timesup-a8327951.html

Very interesting read in that Independent link. Depressingly predictable comments from the apparently male comments though...

Bumping...

Such a worthwhile case. I think if this legal case is successful, it could have implications all over the UK.

The basic premise is that strip clubs increase levels of harassment to all women in the area that they are located in. Therefore the councils that are allowing unlimited numbers of said clubs are not fulfilling the duties towards women and as such are failing to protect them under the Equality Act

Quote by Irene Gladdison taking on Sheffield council:

"It worries me that by having a policy that allows an unlimited number of strip clubs Sheffield Council, which has a legal obligation to promote equality, is dismissing the concerns of local people and is refusing to taking a stand on sexual objectification and normalised misogyny."

The crowdfunder has a day to go and is only a few hundred pounds off its goal.

Amsterdam already tried unlimited strip clubs and stopped for all the predictable reasons. If Amsterdam doesnt think they work, then maybe Sheffield should listen.

I donated to this.

And terrible for working class girls in the area, who get groomed beguiled that it pays more than your average zero hours contract gig.

Do they have evidence that strip clubs have a negative impact on communities as a whole? I read the Independent article and followed the link they give to their 'research', but I couldn't find anything like that in it. The closest I could see was their evidence that girls who work in strip clubs often receive harassment while at work. That's obviously bad, but its not really the same thing as 'impacting on the local community'.

Even in a large town like Sheffield, there really is only a market for 2-3 clubs at most. Any more than that simply wouldn't be profitable. Constantly referring to 'unlimited' strip clubs seems a bit inflammatory.

This comes across as very Mary Whitehouse to be honest.

Its also smacks of the wider problem with Rad Fems, and why you struggle to gain wider support amongst other women. Constantly telling other women what they should and shouldn't think and do.

'Women should be able to do anything they want to do (as long as we approve obviously)'

thanks for letting us know about this

interestingly a couple have been refused in London recently and I had thought we were coming to a point where perhaps councils were getting more understanding about the problems associated with them.

never been to Amsterdam so can't make any comments on that.

Thanks for starting the thread, I'll happily support.

I've also shared in on FB.

There are links between strip clubs and trafficking.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/child-sex-trafficking-strip-clubs-portland_n_7650778?guccounter=1

There's a "For Your Eyes Only" that's just been refurbished and reopened on City Road in London. I have to walk past it every day to get to work and my heart absolutely sinks every time. There may as well be a big sign that says "Women You are Here for Male Gratification". I look at my bright funny daughter and my heart breaks for her future. And in fact my heart also breaks for my friend's bright funny son to think that the porn industry may warp his ideas about relationships.

The campaign was a success!

Note from the amazing women who organised it:

“SUCCESS! WE DID IT!!
Sheffield City Council conceded in Court today that it had broken Equality Law when it created a 'limitless' policy on Strip Clubs!

This came after hearing submission from Irene's barrister Karon Monaghan, of Matrix Chambers, which the Judge said 'demonstrated very great skill'. The Council's barrister simply had nowhere to go.

Huge Thank you to everyone who supported this and the amazing Legal Team!

Full update coming soon. In the meantime .. have a glass on us!

With joy
Irene , the Not Buying It team and all in the Coalition to end Strip Club Culture”