Injustice in Lubbock leaves dancers caged

by Heather Daniel, editorial assistant

I would like to start out by saying how truly disappointed I am in this ridiculous case of the uptight Lubbock officials VS. the Chippendale dancers.

I was enjoying a relaxing weekend in Santa Fe, N.M, when my boyfriend’s mom greeted me with the interesting tidbit of information that Lubbock made national news. I thought to myself, what could have possibly happened in Lubbock while I was gone for three days?

According to Lubbock officials, the Chippendale dancers violated state law, not a Lubbock ordinance. The ordinance states that cities can regulate sexually-oriented businesses, with the operative word being “can.” It is my belief that Lubbock had a choice to arrest the dancers, and I also believe they did so unnecessarily.

Jake’s is not a sexually-oriented business. While the Chippendale dancers may have been dressed sexy, it does not mean they were simulating sex. It was a group of attractive males coming to entertain, and I hardly think that constitutes being arrested.

Lubbock officials had plenty of chances to shut down the show before it began, but they didn’t. I believe they had every intention of arresting them from the get-go, though they claim that the Lubbock police were only there for population control at the beginning.

I believe they meant to make an example out of the Chippendale dancers because they do not accept this form of entertainment, especially after all the buzz of shutting down Lubbock’s sexually-oriented businesses that had existed previously. I really do not feel they should have the right to pass judgement on what people do for entertainment, because the show was being regulated and the dancers were not hurting anyone. If you didn’t want to see the dancers, you didn’t go to the show.

This stunt drew unnecessary negative attention to Lubbock, which is now the laughing stock of other cities and states. Can we get any more ridiculously conservative?

To make matters worse, police required patrons to leave Jake’s without paying their tabs, which led to the bar losing approximately $20,000. That is disgusting, and it is not fair. If Jake’s had ended up owing a fine, I think they paid their dues.

Is this how we treat business owners who actually help bring in revenue to the Lubbock community? The owner of Jake’s, Scott Stephenson, also owns The LoneStar Amphitheatre, and both venues bring in good entertainment to the city such as music, festivals, comedy acts and much more.

I am glad that Lubbock officials did the right thing and dropped all charges against Jake’s and The Chippendale dancers. But I still feel they should issue a public apology. However, that still will not wash away the bad taste they have left in my mouth and the black cloud of disappointment that has covered the city.