PRIORITIES

Louisiana Lawmakers Vote to Raise Stripper Age to 21

Law heads to supportive governor's desk.

With unanimous Lousiana House approval Wednesday afternoon, a bill raising the required minimum age for strippers to 21 will head to Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards's desk. Approved with a 96-0 vote, the new law requires all strippers in the Bayou State to be of drinking age, differing from most other states that set the minimum at 18. The bill's passage came with some sexist controversy: Republican lawmaker Kenneth E. Harvard added a "joke" amendment before vote that limited strippers to no more than 160 pounds in weight and a maximum age of 28. Following outcry on the House floor, the amendment was stripped and the bill moved to pass.