Judge: Wisconsin Strip Club Owners Eligible for SBA Loans

Judge: Wisconsin Strip Club Owners Eligible for SBA Loans

MILWAUKEE — A U.S. District Judge issued her opinion that four Wisconsin strip clubs should be eligible to receive COVID-19 emergency loans through the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program.

On Friday, Judge Lynn Adelman issued a preliminary injunction in favor of the owners of four Silk Exotic Gentleman’s Clubs in Milwaukee and Middleton, according to the Wisconsin ABC affiliate.

The club owners objected to the “prurient” clause on the loan application form, which replicates mid-1990s language designed to discriminate against sexually oriented businesses.

The form compels applicants to declare that they do not “present live performances of a prurient sexual nature or derive directly or indirectly more than de minimis gross revenue through the sale of products or services, or the presentation of any depictions or displays, of a prurient sexual nature.”

The word “prurient” is an imprecise, obscure word that means “appealing to unhealthy sexual interests” and was used by the U.S. Supreme Court in a landmark 1973 ruling. Several members of the adult entertainment community and First Amendment lawyers have pointed out that people who do not consider their sexual expression “unhealthy” are exempt from application of the “prurient” clause.”

Judge Adelman, according to a news report by local paper the Journal Sentinel, concluded that “the plaintiffs would likely succeed in arguing that their business, while sexual in nature, is not prurient and that the regulation violates First Amendment and due process rights.”

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Trump Administration Issues Executive Order Against 'Debanking'

The White House on Thursday issued an executive order limiting financial institutions’ ability to restrict access to financial services for people or groups involved in lawful industries, a longtime goal of adult industry advocates and stakeholders.

Nalpac/Entrenue, Tenga Sign US Distro Deal

Nalpac/Entrenue and Tenga have signed a deal for U.S. distribution.

Orion Debuts 4 New Styles From 'Cottelli Party' Line

Orion Wholesale has expanded its Cottelli Party line with four new styles.

Blush Expands 'Performance Plus' Line With 10 New Cock Rings

Blush has expanded its Performance Plus collection with 10 new cock rings.

Wild Flower Debuts New 'Enby 3' Vibe

Pleasure brand Wild Flower has introduced its new Enby 3 vibrator.

Florida AG Sues EU-Based Adult Companies for Failing to Age-Verify Users

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a lawsuit Monday with the 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida against five EU-based adult companies for allegedly failing to require age verification before allowing access to adult content.

Arcom Warns 5 Adult Sites Over Age Verification

French media regulator Arcom has sent enforcement notices to the operators of five adult websites that the agency says have failed to implement age verification as required under France’s Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law.

Ball & Chain Announces 2 New 'Sex Dice' Games

Ball & Chain has announced the debut of two new Sex Dice games, dropping in September.

SBJ/TAF Names John Lyons as VP of Sales, Dave McDaniel as Buyer

SBJ/TAF has named John Lyons as its vice president of sales and store standards, and Dave McDaniel as buyer for its Adam & Eve stores.

FSC: Identity Theft Targeting Adult Performers

The Free Speech Coalition has put out an alert warning of an individual found to be targeting adult performers for identity theft.

Show More