San Diego Judge Rules Strip Clubs May Open Despite Virus Shutdown

LOS ANGELES—Two San Diego strip clubs that sued the state of California over COVID-19 business closure orders may remain open, according to judge’s ruling Wednesday that also allows restaurants and other strip clubs to stay open throughout San Diego County, according to a report by The San Diego Union Tribune newspaper. Superior Court Judge Joel Wohlfeil ruled that the two clubs, Cheetahs Gentlemen’s Club and Pacers Showgirls International, may open up despite the closure orders imposed by the latest set of pandemic health restrictions that took effect in the county on December 3.  But at an emergency hearing requested by state and county officials on Thursday, Wohlfeil issued a statement clarifying his ruling, and confirming that “The court’s intention is that all businesses which provide restaurant service, meaning all restaurants in the county of San Diego, are encompassed within the scope of the court’s order.” Presumably, that ruling would then also apply to any strip club that also serves food. Wohlfeil had issued a temporary restraining order in November allowing the clubs to stay open, but on December 3, new, stricter pandemic shutdown measures took effect, requiring restaurants to close for both indoor and outdoor dining, allowing only takeout and delivery service. The November order by the judge applied only to clubs that offered “live dancing,” but Wednesday’s ruling expanded the scope of the earlier order to cover any restaurant San Diego County. The judge’s ruling said that the state had not presented scientific evidence linking spread of the coronavirus, or the current shortage of hospital intensive care unit beds, to activity at restaurants or strip clubs. The judge ordered the clubs and restaurants to put their own health measures in place to stem possible transmission of the virus. Strip clubs across the United States have been hit especially hard by pandemic-related shutdowns, because in addition to being forced to close, strip clubs were often denied pandemic relief loans as “sex related” businesses. The state plans to appeal Wohlfeil’s ruling. Deputy Attorney General Patti Li said on Wednesday that pandemic conditions have significantly deteriorated since the judge’s November order, with COVID death numbers and case rates shooting up, while ICU capacity has dwindled to near zero. As of November 30, California was averaging 14,327 cases per day, over a seven-day period. By December 17, that average had skyrocketed to 37,747 cases per day. But San Diego county officials said that they would comply with Wohlfeil’s ruling, and would not enforce the current COVID-related restrictions against the strip clubs and other businesses covered by the judge’s decision. Photo By Gerd Altmann / Pixabay