ProgressOhio

Silence came over the usually chatty hearing room where the Ohio House Judiciary Committee met Thursday. The topic: A bill to impose statewide restrictions on adult businesses.

Instead of the usual snickering, tears flowed. Two women, an ex-stripper and a current one, each wept during her testimony and defended her career choice. Some in the audience cried, too.

Portions of their testimony follow:

Angelina Spencer, executive director of the National Association of Club Executives:

“I’m guilty. I’m guilty of choosing the unconventional path of adult entertainment – and not apologizing for my success.

For years, I was a ward of Ohio’s court system and a foster child. It certainly wasn’t my job working as a waitress in a Monroeville truck stop, or pulling puppy papers at a dog kennel that enabled me to be here before you today.

It was my absolutely wonderful career in adult entertainment which empowered me enough to become an independent woman. How? I met fantastic patrons of adult clubs who schooled me – but not  in prostitution or illicit drug use. I learned about finance, credit, business, relationships, etiquette, grammar, philosophy, books, and an appreciation for diversity.

I am guilty of exercising God-given free will when I made a decision to be an exotic dancer.

I am guilty of taking tips in a garter to feed my children, earn an education, and strive for the same American dream of opportunity we all share.

I’m guilty of genuinely caring about the women in this industry and fighting for their jobs as if they were my own sisters.

And lately, I am guilty of believing that home rule, circumspection and leadership are no longer hallmarks of the democratic process in Ohio.

……

I’m disappointed.

I’m discouraged because it was never adult entertainment that made me an exploited victim. It was the Christian right’s spiritual snobbery, feigned compassion and insistence that I am not worthy of the same rights or freedoms to which they are entitled.

Charity Fickisen, a 23-year-old college student and dancer at Baby Dolls in Columbus:

“For the past three years, my job as dancer has helped me get my life back on track. I have earned a high school diploma, entered Columbus State Community College and supported myself and my five-year-old son, Joey. I’m hoping to graduate from college next December.

I have listened as supporters of this bill have claimed that dancers are routinely abused by customers. I have never experienced – or witnessed – any abuse. Instead, I’ve found that many of my customers are people like you: professional, hard-working people from all regions of the state.

If this bill passes, I’m afraid I will be forced to work longer hours at lower pay, causing me to spend less time with Joey.

I enjoy my job because it is ideal for a single mom like me. My son goes to kindergarten each day from 11 to 3. I can see him before and after school, put him to bed and then go to work.

I am proud that I have never relied on public assistance since I began dancing and I’m afraid that if I lose my job I will have to go on public assistance  –  or drop out of school.

I’ve heard club owners insist this will close them down. Please hear the dancers’ point of view: Because this bill requires customers to stay six feet from dancers, our tips will drop off and we will find ourselves in violation of the law simply by standing and talking to a customer.

….

Please, don’t deny my child and I our dreams. We’ve worked to hard to get this far.’’