Judge Bans Nude Dancing in San Antonio

Dudester-San Antonio is a tourist city and city leaders want it to be like Orlando (low to no mileage).

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- A judge in San Antonio has ruled that nude dancing in gentlemen's clubs is illegal.

District Judge Michael Peden signed two injunctions specifically barring RCI Entertainment from allowing nude dancing at XTC Cabaret and Paradise Entertainment, the San Antonio Express-News reported.

Jim Deegear, the attorney who represents the clubs, said he learned of the injunctions from a reporter, and he will advise the clubs to abide by the ruling while the orders are in effect, even though the clubs hadn't been served.

"I think he may have completely banned nude dancing, but I'm not sure that he'll ultimately be allowed", Deegear said. "For now, they're going to have to stop until we have a final judgment or while we ask the court for an abeyance while we appeal, or try to get a fast appeal through the 4th Court of Appeals. ... The cautious thing to do is to follow the order(s)."

The city passed a "human display ordinance" in 2003 banning nude dancing, but XTC and Paradise continued to offer nude dancing, deciding to battle arrests or citations on a case-by-case basis.

XTC and Paradise sued San Antonio following the arrest of its entertainers and managers on Dec. 30, 2009. The suit claims the city's ordinance is pre-empted by state law, and violates the Texas Constitution because it has a chilling effect on protected speech, the newspaper said.

Deegear said a provision in the city's ordinance allows nudity if the dance is artistic, or for serious, artistic, social or literary purposes.