Keffer Speaks Out Against Strip Clubs
4/22/08
Mr. Chairman and Committee Members,
Thank you very much for holding this hearing in Dallas on a topic that is never particularly pleasant to discuss and yet is a constant reality for families in many parts of our city.
The story that prompts this hearing—one of a 13-year old girl dancing in a local strip club for money—conjures up images of an abusive and immoral culture in some third-world country, rather than something that could happen in Dallas, Texas in 2008.
As you might or might not know, we in the Lake Highlands community have been fighting the continued presence of strip clubs for many years.
In 2003, after years of trying to shut down a strip club that had greeted commuters as they entered Lake Highlands, we were finally successful, and the strip club known as PT’s closed its doors.
But even before the celebrating could end, a new strip club called PT’s Gold Club appeared and resumed its presence as a scourge on the family atmosphere in our community. Lake Highlands residents responded resoundingly with a petition drive to deny the Gold Club’s application for a private liquor license from the TABC; we collected over 3,000 signatures, which we were told was the most TABC had ever received.
While the application was pending, however, Lake Highlands leaders and I as their state representative at the time met and decided we could also pursue a legislative solution. So, in 2003, with the great assistance of Senator John Carona, we were able to pass a law that unequivocally prohibits a strip club or sexually-oriented business located in a dry area from being able to sell alcohol. That law went into effect in January 2004.
Almost immediately thereafter, the strip clubs filed suit in federal court, alleging the law is unconstitutional. Of course, the Attorney General’s office has been defending the law on our behalf, but the Lake Highlands Area Improvement Association and I also privately retained the services of a lawyer from Tennessee, who is a nationally-known expert in this area of the law to make sure that we make our strongest case.
The suit has been pending since 2004. We have already prevailed once at the district court level; it was appealed to the Fifth Circuit; then Hurricane Katrina delayed the matter by several months; the Fifth Circuit reversed the matter on a technicality; and now the case awaits a new trial in Dallas federal court on May 12.
While I am deeply saddened for the poor children we are hearing about in these recent news stories, I hope more people will now realize the grim reality of the dangerous and destructive nature of sexually-oriented businesses and the toll they exact on our community. It should be very clear that these establishments are not just offensive – they are hurting our children, ruining our communities, and leaving a trail of broken lives in their wake.
We will not stop in our pursuit to rid the Lake Highlands area of these sexually-oriented businesses. Our fight is but one of many that can and should be fought to restrict an industry that has been given too much leeway and has then abused even that.
I hope today’s discussion helps bring new leadership to join us in this effort. Certainly, with increased awareness and support, there are many additional measures that can be taken at the city and state levels to protect our children, our families, and our communities.
I stand ready and willing to help you in that effort and greatly appreciate your interest and time in holding this hearing today.