Illinois adopts stripper tax to fund rape crisis centers

Published August 19, 2012

Associated Press

CHICAGO – Strip clubs in Illinois will have to hand over a share of their revenues, starting in 2013, to help fund programs to prevent sexual assault and counsel victims under a law signed by Gov. Pat Quinn on Saturday.

The measure establishes a new tax on the clubs that will raise up to $1 million a year, helping to reverse several years of funding cuts for rape crisis centers. The legislation has also sparked debate over how strong of a link can be drawn between strip clubs and violent crime, and whether those businesses should pay out to fight the problems.

The law, which takes effect Jan. 1, will place an annual surcharge on strip clubs that have live nude dancing and permit alcohol. Businesses could pay $3 per customer or pay a graduated amount based on their sales. The money will go to a special fund devoted to preventing sexual violence and counseling its victims.

"When a sexual assault victim goes to a police station or a survivor calls a hotline, we need trained staff ready to respond," said Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon, who supported the effort. "This bill helps to keep lights on and doors open, jobs filled and responders trained."

Illinois has 33 rape crisis centers, and they've lost one-quarter of their state funding over the last four years as the government grapples with mounting debts. They're getting $4.6 million this year, down from $5.8 million in 2009.

"This law is a victory for rape victims and the dedicated rape crisis centers who work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year," said Polly Poskin, director of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/08/19/illinois-adopts-stripper...

Favorite

0 members favorited this

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

Comment by DTOM on August 22, 2012 at 9:10am: Pregnant Woman Relieved To Learn Her Rape Was Illegitimate

August 20, 2012 | ISSUE 48•34 |

http://www.theonion.com/articles/pregnant-woman-relieved-to-learn-h...

LITCHFIELD, CT—Though she was initially upset following the brutal sexual assault last month that left her pregnant, victim Martha Byars told reporters she was relieved Sunday to learn from Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) that her ability to conceive her unwanted child proves she was not, in fact, legitimately raped.

“Being violently coerced into having sex was the worst thing that’s ever happened to me, so I take comfort in knowing it wasn’t actually rape,” Byars said of the vicious encounter in which she was accosted in an alleyway by a stranger, pinned to the ground, and penetrated against her will for 25 minutes. “It was absolutely horrific—I felt violated in the worst way imaginable—but thanks to Congressman Akin, I now realize it must, at some level, have been consensual after all.”

“Thank God for that,” Byars added. “I’m so relieved to know that my child’s father, the man who muffled my screams as he forcefully penetrated me over and over and left me hemorrhaging to death on the street, is not a rapist.”

Explaining that the Republican senatorial candidate’s statements had “really opened her eyes” by helping her understand the workings of her own reproductive system, Byars said she only wishes she could have known at the time of her near-fatal assault that the female body has ways to shut down conception during cases of tried-and-true rape.

“Now that I know the truth, I realize none of the telltale signs of legitimate rape were there at all,” mused Byers, noting that her body did not in any way shut down but in fact continued to register excruciating pain throughout the entire cruel ordeal. “I must have at least subconsciously wanted it—otherwise, the sperm wouldn’t have been able to enter my body.”

“Not only is this knowledge a blessing for me,” she continued, “but it will no doubt bring great hope to the tens of thousands of women who are forcibly and savagely impregnated in the United States every year.”

(Via the ever-awesome http://www.backwoodshome.com/blogs/ClaireWolfe/)

Comment by DTOM on August 21, 2012 at 4:57am: Oh, so strip clubs are now the cause of rape? I wonder what other 'links' the geniuses will pull out of their nethers, as 'causes' for this and other crimes.

Of course, once again, the solution is taxation (or should that be state mandated theft) of business and clients, while insinuating that all those that frequent such establishments are 'potential' rapists.

How exactly is this a victory for rape victims?

The victory would be in arming women to stop attempted rape/ sexual attacks from being carried out in the first place...oh wait, then you wouldn't need 'THEM'

They answer in their own words "This bill helps to keep [lights on and doors open,] jobs filled [and responders trained.]"

So essentially women's rights to self defense and self preservation are overshadowed by Chicago's authorities 'need' to create a 'service' and employment for their supporters.