A 19-year-old nude dancer named Serenity Michelle Bushey filed a federal lawsuit in Florida, claiming that a new law raising the age limit for employment at adult entertainment businesses violates her constitutional rights, particularly her First Amendment right to free speech. The law, HB 7063, prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from working at such establishments in an effort to combat human trafficking. The lack of a “grandfather clause” in the bill has led to Bushey losing her job at Café Risque, along with at least eight other performers who were between the ages of 18 and 21. The lawsuit argues that the law restricts performers like Bushey from expressing themselves through dance and making a living, without considering alternative approaches that would not infringe on their rights. Additionally, another plaintiff, the corporation Sinsations, which owns the adult store Exotic Fantasies, has joined the suit, claiming that the law unfairly categorizes their business as adult entertainment even though it does not involve live entertainment. The suit maintains that the store primarily sells adult novelty items and clothing rather than sexually explicit material. The state attorney general’s office has stated that they will defend the law, while Governor Ron DeSantis’ office has yet to comment on the matter.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
Nude Dancer, 19, Files Lawsuit Against Florida Over Restriction on Age at Adult Entertainment Establishments
