Atlanta Cheetah Young Dancers Win Court Case For Right To Dance
I know we have debated on this page what is the correct age to dance 18 or 21. Well The courts have ruled that the law previously passed in Atlanta stopping anyone under 21 from dancing.
Article below:
http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/youn...type=ynews_rss
Young strippers from Cheetah win court case
By Bill Rankin
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
5:50 p.m. Monday, September 28, 2009
They can strip and dance. They can shimmy and shake. They just can’t drink.
Five erotic dancers on Monday won a sweeping legal victory in their bid to bare it all at the Cheetah Lounge, even though they were between the ages of 18 and 21.
Winning the case were Deanna Willis, Danielle Barbee, Ashlie Startley, Olivia Almeida and Rachel Haxo. When the Atlanta City Council passed an ordinance in 2007 that banned the dancers from working at strip clubs, they were either 19 or 20 years old.
The unanimous ruling is not limited to strip clubs.
The Georgia Supreme Court found unconstitutional a city law the forbid anyone under 21 from entering businesses where alcohol is sold for consumption on the premises. The city had allowed exceptions for restaurants and some entertainment venues.
Atlanta lawyer Alan Begner, who represents the dancers, said the ruling means anyone between the ages of 18 and 21 can now work at nightclubs that serve alcohol. They also serve and sell alcoholic beverages at these establishments, he said.
“I’m extremely proud the Supreme Court has unanimously given 18-year-old adults full right-to-work status,” Begner said. “It’s something they deserve.”
City officials argued to the state high court that the law was enacted to discourage underage drinking. “Though disappointed with the court’s decision, the city of Atlanta will respect the ruling and abide by it,” acting City Attorney Roger Bhandari said.
The state high court found the city ordinance conflicted with two state laws. When those two laws are read together, Chief Justice Carol Hunstein wrote for the court, “it is clear that the Legislature’s intent is to allow persons who are over the age of 18 but not yet 21 years old to dispense, serve, sell or handle alcoholic beverages as part of their employment.”
Re: Atlanta Cheetah Young Dancers Win Court Case For Right To Dance
Great ruling! If you are legally an adult and can enter into contracts and serve in the military by golly you should be able to perform in nightclubs!
Re: Atlanta Cheetah Young Dancers Win Court Case For Right To Dance
^^^ agreed that this is a constitutionally sound ruling and a step in the right direction where personal 'rights' are concerned.
However, from a 'real world' standpoint, it does nothing in the way of convincing alcohol serving clubowners to hire dancers under the legal drinking age. The reason of course is that having dancers working on premisis who are not of legal drinking age opens the door for potential problems with both customers ( who insist on trying to buy underage dancers alcoholic beverages ) and state law enforcement agencies ( who will use the presence of underage dancers as an added reason for undercover investigations inside the club ). Thus this ruling is a 'Phyrric Victory'.
Re: Atlanta Cheetah Young Dancers Win Court Case For Right To Dance
What if they just required the -21 dancers to wear a specific bracelet or something of the sort? Then any patron pushing to buy them alcoholic drinks would be warned and then escorted out if they continue to push. It would also make -21s easy to identify for those men out there that love the "barely legal" type. I suppose this could be seen as good and bad, but I think it would make things a little easier to deal with.
Re: Atlanta Cheetah Young Dancers Win Court Case For Right To Dance
Well if memory serves me correctly the Cheetah breathalizes the girls at the end of the shift so that the club knows who can safely drive or not. I am sure that would be a sticking point if you are under age and fail the test!
Re: Atlanta Cheetah Young Dancers Win Court Case For Right To Dance
I remember when I became 18 I could then work past 9PM and work the meat cutter at the A&P; I was still in High School. I wonder if they will have High School girls dancing? If they go to Catholic School they already have several costumes they can wear.
Re: Atlanta Cheetah Young Dancers Win Court Case For Right To Dance
there were a handful of dancers in my high school graduating class. one wore her heels to graduation.
Re: Atlanta Cheetah Young Dancers Win Court Case For Right To Dance
I've worked with a girl that was still in H.S. She was really cool though and not immature at all. I think that if you are old enough to vote you are old enough to dance although personally I am glad I started at 21. I would not have been mature enough at 18. I am glad I had those years of hard work before I started dancing. It makes me appreciate dancing more. Although dancing somedays is the hardest thing I have ever done for money. When no ones tipping and everone is an ass. Anyways
Re: Atlanta Cheetah Young Dancers Win Court Case For Right To Dance
I was 18 when I started dancing in Indianpolis. Only one club, PTs in Indy would specifically not hire unless you are 21. The state rules were simple, no drinking alcoholic beverages, no serving alcoholic beverages and no going behind the bar. The state rules made a lot of sense because drinking on the job is a good way to miss out on money.
HTH
Z
Re: Atlanta Cheetah Young Dancers Win Court Case For Right To Dance
Doesn't seem to be a problem at all for those clubs who don't serve alcohol. But I know a couple girls who are in their early 20's who still claim they are 18 to the customer for various reasons.