Federal Judge Halts Stripper Age Law Challenge

A federal judge in Florida has paused a lawsuit against a new law prohibiting individuals under 21 from working as strippers, pending a decision on a similar Jacksonville ordinance currently under appeal. The lawsuit, brought by strip club operators and a dancer, claims that the age restriction violates First Amendment rights and lacks evidence linking adult entertainment to human trafficking, which the law aims to combat. Judge Allen Winsor acknowledged that the outcomes of both cases may intersect, thus warranting the stay. Florida lawmakers, led by Governor Ron DeSantis, enacted the law earlier this year, arguing it is necessary to protect young people from exploitation. Strippers under 21 have already lost employment due to this law, raising questions about its effectiveness and implications for workers' rights. The upcoming appeals court ruling could significantly influence the future of the state law in Florida.