Why a Teen Stripper is Suing Florida

As of Monday, adult entertainment businesses in Florida are no longer allowed to employ people under the age of 21, due to a law aimed at combating human trafficking signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in May. As a result, strippers like 19-year-old Serenity Michelle Bushey have lost their jobs. Bushey has now filed a lawsuit, arguing that the law infringes on her constitutional right to free speech, NBC News reports. Strip clubs and a lingerie store have also joined her complaint, USA Today The lingerie store says it is unfair that it is subject to the new law when it does not offer live entertainment or nudity.

Bushey claims the law violates his right to practice his art and earn a living, and the plaintiffs say there is no connection between their establishments and human trafficking. They also say it is unfair to prohibit adults under 21 from working in adult establishments, even those that do not involve nudity. The new law also does not include a “grandfather clause” for those who were already employed in adult establishments. “Plaintiffs contend that the human body is a thing of beauty that, when combined with music and rhythmic movement in the form of dance, conveys an important erotic message,” the complaint states. (More Florida articles.)