No More Nude Dancing In Salt Lake City
Friday, July 28th, 2006The Utah state Supreme Court ruled on 07/28/2006 that nude dancing is not protected expression under the Utah Constitution. Five years ago Salt Lake City passed an ordinance prohibiting nude dancing in clubs. Three nude clubs, American Bush, Leather And Lace, and Paradise Modeling sued the city asserting that nude dancing is a constitutionally protected form of expression. The Utah Supreme Court did not agree, ruling 3 – 2 that the Utah state constitution does not protect nude dancing as a form of expression.
The Court ruled that “the provisions of the Utah Constitution that guarantee Utah citizens’ rights to ‘communicate freely their thoughts and opinions’ do not extend protection to nude dancing in sexually oriented businesses,” thus enabling any municipality in the state to ban nude performances.
In May, 2001, the city council passed an ordinance prohibiting all-nude performances in all public places. Previously, nude dancing was permitted if alcohol was not served. Now, dancers will have to perform in G-strings and pasties to comply with the latest court ruling.
You can read a PDF of the Utah Supreme Court decision at http://www.utcourts.gov/opinions/supopin/AmericanBush072806.pdf.