Why the taxman may be visiting strip clubs

SPRINGFIELD -- Dollars intended for strippers' G-strings soon could be plucked away by politicians to go to other women.

Humorously dubbed the "pole tax" by some political observers, the $2-per-person admission charge targeting the state's 120 strip clubs has a serious goal -- helping financially ailing rape-crisis centers across Illinois.

Dave Koehler, the Peoria Democrat pushing the idea in the Illinois Senate, said he hopes for a vote this spring. His district is home to Big Al's strip club, a downtown Peoria landmark of national repute. He signed on to the idea after being approached by the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, which came up with the possible tax remedy in the face of pending federal funding cuts.

"We're going to lose approximately $1.4 million and those are funds that have been directed to counseling and advocacy," said Polly Poskin, the coalition's executive director. "Strip clubs contribute to society's objectification of women and taxing the products of objectifying women by rape-crisis centers is appropriate."

Poskin's agency provides 24-hour hotlines and in-person care through 33 cities. It has four affiliated rape-crisis centers in suburban Cook County.

She said federal cuts, along with near-stagnant state funding, could result in layoffs and decreased call responses if something isn't done.

Managers of three well-publicized suburban strip clubs -- Blackjacks Gentlemen's Club in Elgin, Heavenly Bodies in Elk Grove Village and Uncle Paulie's in Glendale Heights -- did not return messages seeking comment. At least seven other area strip clubs' phone lines listed in several adult nightclub directories were either disconnected or not in service.

Jack Corbett, a writer and photographer for the adult entertainment industry, said what some call a "sin tax" would be selective and unfair.

"We would be legislating morality," said Corbett, who runs a Web site guide to Illinois strip clubs. "The message is driven home loud and clear that strip clubs are somehow linked to rape and that both are very bad things. Rape is. Strip clubs aren't."

Corbett also noted if strip club patrons were taxed additional admission fees for causes, then all entertainment venues should be.

A recent state court ruling could back up that argument.

In December, an appellate court said it was unconstitutional for Chicago and Cook County to exempt small music clubs and theaters from amusement taxes but make strip clubs pay. The court said it amounted to "content-based regulation" of speech.

The latest strip club admission tax is awaiting debate at the Illinois Capitol.

Poskin said that although she hasn't spoken with any strip club managers yet, she expects they'll be opposed as has been the case in other states.

"I would hope that they could see sort of a connection between the business and the necessity for rape-crisis services, but I imagine their objection will be pretty quick," Poskin said.

A new Texas law already under court scrutiny taxes strip club patrons $5 a person to help fund sexual-assault prevention programs and health insurance for low-income families. Florida is considering a $1 strip club admissions tax to increase spending on low-income nursing homes.

New York taxes lap dances and Pennsylvania lawmakers are attempting to levy new taxes on pornography and escort services as well as strip clubs.

Illinois lawmakers once briefly considered a pornography tax to pay for school construction, but quickly abandoned the idea.

Poskin said the proposed Illinois tax would focus only on strip clubs. She's unsure how much money it would generate annually, but is hoping to cover her group's losses while creating a consistent source of future funding. Last year, the association aided nearly 18,000 clients -- the vast majority with in-person services.

"You can be at the hospital for four or five hours at 2 a.m. with a rape victim, either on advocate calls or in-person counseling," Poskin said. "You need a certain base service in a community which requires a certain amount of revenue to keep that service open. That's what we're doing. We're stretched."