In the end, the council’s licensing committee voted nine to one to keep the current cap of three licensed sexual entertainment (SE) venues, with some councilors arguing it is better for dancers to have well-regulated facilities rather than forcing strip clubs underground. The only committee member to speak in favor was Labour’s Philippa Hulme, who said there was “overwhelming evidence” that strip clubs objectified women and that this was linked to violence against women. Steve Pearce, the council’s Labor leader, broke with those in his own party who support the ban, saying: “I cannot see how these voices can speak for women in this city. The evidence shows that you’re more at risk in a downtown pub or club than in one of these venues, and the evidence shows that until very recently you were more at risk in the Oval Office than in one of these clubs.”
Several dancers burst into tears
There was a loud cheer after the motion to keep the current limit was passed, with several dancers in the public gallery breaking into tears of relief. Bristol Women’s Collective condemned the council’s decision, saying: “SEVs promote and benefit from a sexist culture that supports male violence. We cannot address male violence without addressing this culture. “Today’s decision gives Bristol’s two strip clubs the green light to take advantage of the cost of living crisis to recruit more young women into the sex industry and open the door to the sex market for future generations of young men.” But the Bristol Sex Workers Union said its members were “screaming, crying, throwing up with joy”. The group said: “Our members are organizing against this despite precarious working conditions, poverty, COVID-19 and a hostile system that has led us to failure. “It should never be this difficult for a group of workers to stand up for our right to safe working conditions.” He added: “Dancers have been under incredible stress over the last two years, not only having to defend their labor rights but also their humanity. “They had to listen while being accused of gender-based violence. We hope that in future Bristol Council will take this into account and work with workers to create an SEV licensing policy that supports their rights, rather than hindering them. Get up f—— workers.”
