Pa. Town Sued After Rejecting Pole-Dancing Studio

A woman has sued a town that refused to allow her to open a dance studio that featured pole-dancing exercise classes on the grounds it was a sexually oriented business.

Adams Township officials violated Stephanie Babines' right to free expression by denying her an occupancy permit, the American Civil Liberties Union claims in a federal lawsuit filed Thursday in Pittsburgh.

Although Babines' classes include pole-dancing, power lap dance, strip tease and "SeXXXercise," they are all taught and performed fully clothed, the lawsuit states. Men can't take the classes, and no spectators are allowed.

"This is not a strip joint or gentleman's club," Babines said in a statement.

Township code enforcement officer Gary Peaco said he couldn't comment on pending litigation. Township solicitor Charles Flach did not return a call seeking comment Thursday.

Babines alleges "the small-town municipal officials do not approve of the type of dance she teaches. They believe it is 'provocative,' full of sexual 'innuendo,' and too dangerous for their township."

Babines wants a judge to rule that barring a dance studio that doesn't involve nudity violates the First Amendment.

She teaches pole dancing in a Cranberry Township studio and private homes and sought to expand with an Adams Township studio, which she said she spent about $10,000 renovating.

In March, Peaco told Babines that her occupancy permit was denied because he received information that would classify her business as an "adult business" and also because of information in her advertising and website.

At an appeal hearing in May, Peaco testified he didn't need to interview Babines because her website's "pink-and-black color scheme ... and the high-heeled shoe in her logo" indicated to him she planned to run a sexually oriented business, the lawsuit states.