SEATTLE — A group of strippers sued Pierce County on Tuesday, saying they don’t want officials to release their business licenses — and their real identities — under a public records request.
The complaint was filed by two Jane Does in U.S. District Court in Tacoma on Tuesday on behalf of about 70 dancers and managers at a strip club called Dreamgirls at Fox’s, as well as any former dancers. It says the Pierce County Auditor’s Office has received a public records request from a man wanting copies of adult entertainment licenses on file for the establishment.
Gilbert H. Levy, an attorney for the dancers, acknowledged that the information can be released under the state Public Records Act, but he says the entertainers have free-speech, privacy and safety interests in keeping the licenses and their true identities confidential.
“It’s a unique occupation and it’s a controversial occupation,” Levy said. “Some people like nude dancers, and other people for religious or for other philosophical reasons don’t. There’s some stigma attached to the occupation, and most dancers for personal privacy reasons and safety reasons, don’t want the customers to know who they are outside of the club.”