I am writing this post neither for nor against strip clubs, but perhaps coming from a different perspective. Someone other than a by-law officer or perhaps a city councillor.

So the issue in this post: Strip clubs in London Ontario.

These bars are sometimes a women’s only source of income. Some of the women that work in them, do actually go to school and are really studying to become lawyers or doctors. Some of these women are also parents, who were left stranded by their baby-daddy and with the lovely social assistance that is available… They are left to turn to only the “sex-trade.” That’s the partial, harsh truth.

I don’t think that people should look to strip clubs as necessary bad for a city or region. **Enter Sarcasm** I mean the only patrons who do go in there are adults? Right? Oh wait, except for that one under-aged dancer… but don’t under-agers sneak into most bars anyways. I can walk downtown Richmond Street in London ON and witness girls dancing on stages at Jacks or at The Tap House or the classic JBRs. These stages also have poles. The girls wearing short skirts, almost next to nothing, and some even wearing close to no bottoms. The only difference, those girls are not getting paid. They just get drunk, get their picture taken, and oh look… their photo is on Facebook the next morning. Sucks to be you, JBR-bar-star-FB-Queen.

The strip clubs in this region are already highly targeted by the local police force. Why? Well, I am sure they must be looking for something or someone. Perhaps crime? Well, if you go looking for something you will find it. Anywhere.

With what has been said so far, you might be wondering now, I must be for keeping strip clubs around. Hmmm, I said earlier that I was neither for or against them.

I say that I am not for them because I do realize the exploitation that does happen within these bars. Pimping. Prostitution. Bad things do happen in these bars, but you know what bad things happen everywhere. By getting rid of strip clubs, you are not going to get rid of people wanting to do sexual things or “deviant behaviour.” People will always find ways to fulfill their desires. That is the reality. And banning such establishments may lead to “underground” sex trade which can be even more dangerous for women involved. Perhaps council should look at a more safer regulation of these places. Perhaps one suggestion I read in the UWO Gazette on January 25, 2011: Licensing for dancers. Read that article HERE. But this only includes regulation of the dancers. What about the rest of the players in the game?

Let me just close this post with this: This is a tricky subject. I will admit that much. The argument is always “Not in my backyard.” Well, whether it is visibly in your backyard or not, the sex trade is going to still exist. It has existed for years before and I doubt it is going to stop just because you send a few by-law officers and plain clothed detectives out to do some extra, heavy patrolling. Just remember, drugs, violence and under-agers (employees or not) may exist at any bar, strip club or not, and also remember that if you go looking for something–crime–you will find it.

To read the LFpress article, click HERE.