The right to gyrate on a lap.

last updated 8 January 2015

United Kingdom

Ruriadh Nicoll

Scottish authorities have gotten awfully prissy, said Ruriadh Nicoll in the London Observer. They want to ban lap dancing as well as any striptease that involves contact with customers. After a yearlong study of the enterprises that provide “seamy male gratification,” the Scottish Executive’s Adult Entertainment Working Group has concluded that dancers should remain at least 1 meter away from spectators at all times. There will be “no hiding in secret booths” and “no simulated stimulation.” The group obviously has commendable motives for ordering new restrictions: It wants to prevent exploitation of women. But banning lap dances won’t do that—it will simply deprive the performers of their chance to earn extra cash. “Perhaps, one day, underlying attitudes will change and men won’t want women to dance naked for them.” Until that day comes, the government should protect the dancers by giving them more, not fewer, rights. “Legislate disapproval, and we will only aid the exploiters.”