The ACLU is helping a woman in Pittsburgh sue the city for violating her right of free expression. The city denied her occupancy permit to open a pole-dancing studio, teaching classes in "power lap dance" and "seXXXercise".
"Babines claims her studio does not fit the definitions of adult business in the township's zoning code and wants a judge to rule that barring a dance studio that doesn't involve nudity violates the First Amendment.
'My classes are a specially designed exercise for women that allows them to have fun, feel confident about their bodies and express their sexuality,' she said in a statement. 'This is not a strip joint or gentleman's club.'"
"She said she spent about $10,000 installing flooring, mirrors, poles, dressing rooms, additional walls and other amenities. She wishes to use the space to teach dance and fitness classes and hold bachelorette parties where she would teach pole dancing, as well as sell 'non-sexually explicit merchandise such as poles, high-heeled shoes, feather boas and T-shirts.'"
FULL STORY: Pa. town sued after rejecting pole-dancing studio
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UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
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Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
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