Leading the effort to repeal the Community Defense Act (CDA) is the Ohio chapter of a national association of sex business owners, the Buckeye Association of Club Executives (BACE). To spearhead their referendum effort, BACE formed a political action committee, and is fundraising from the pornography industry nationwide.  Their first campaign finance report listed gifts coming from studios in California, with names such as “Wicked Pictures,” and “Skintight Pictures.”

BACE’s president is Luke Liakos, who also owns several strip clubs and porn businesses in the Dayton, Ohio area.  Mr. Liakos, and his spokespersons, attempt to paint a picture of strip clubs as legitimate, even “self-regulated” businesses in which their contract laborers (“performers”) are simply exercising their right to dance nude for the enjoyment of their patrons. They would like for the public to think that generally they “perform” without engaging in physical contact with their patrons, aka prostitution.

Judge Jeffrey Wellbaum, Ohio Court of Common Pleas, Miami County, in his decision in a case involving one of Mr. Liakos’ clubs, presents a more realistic picture.  When Liakos opened Total Xposure in Troy, Ohio, residents there were concerned that their family-friendly community would experience the increase in crime and corresponding decrease in economic development so often associated with such businesses. Reports of activities within the club quickly confirmed their fears, and Troy’s mayor and law enforcement officials began a lengthy and difficult undercover investigation that led to the closing of Total Xposure in 2003.

In arriving at his decision declaring it a public nuisance, Judge Wellbaum reviewed 30 hours of videotape of club activities, which he detailed in his decision. In order to adequately understand the nature of these degrading, destructive businesses, one probably needs to read that decision. However, caution is advised. Judge Wellbaum’s description of these activities is, of necessity, very detailed. Click here to read that decision.

Note this comment by Judge Wellbaum:

The lewd behavior and illegal sexual activity at Total Xposure were methodical, constant, and rampant to the point that they were clearly known, condoned, acquiesced in, and institutionalized by the owners. The evidence shows by clear-and-convincing evidence that the owners and managers under the owners' control knowingly permitted, encouraged, and facilitated illegal sexual activity, including lewd behavior in the ordinary course of business at the premises in violation of law.

In the Statehouse, BACE is represented by Neil Clark, a lobbyist from State Street Consultants, who is also managing the referendum campaign.  State Street is the consulting firm that ran the gambling industry's failed attempt to bring casinos to Ohio in 2006.  That campaign tried to mislead voters into ignoring the documented negative effects of an expansion in legalized gambling by promising higher education benefits to Ohio students.  Ohio voters were not deceived then.  Hopefully, they won't be deceived this year by Clark's attempt to associate repeal CDA with economic development or local control!