Table of Contents
Summary
A private lifestyle club in Acadia Parish, LA did a tremendous amount of research prior to buying the property where they would like to construct their new club. They spoke to the City, Police Jury, State, and permitting offices before opening, and were told there were no restrictions. The police jury responded to their obtaining a building permit with this fallacious and overregulated ordinance which would prohibit them from opening.
You can view the entire proposed ordinance here, which is some of the most restrictive language we’ve ever seen used which would prevent them from opening entirely.
Fantasies LS is a private, membership by invitation only lifestyle club who wanted only a respectful, safe, and dignified environment for those who practice their lifestyle.
The Police Jury cited studies and statistics based on urban strip clubs, and not a single citation of a lifestyle club, and not a single citation about rural areas. Most of the support that was present on a November 4th hearing was from a single church group. The Police Jury intends to vote on the new Sexually Oriented Businesses Ordinance on December 10th, 2024, so time is of the essence for you to tell them to vote NO.
We would like people to call, email, and write both the Acadia Police Jury and the local press. The message is that you oppose this ordinance as it effectively bans this private club. These kinds of laws are an affront to free trade, personal freedom, and privacy rights.
Below are some major talking points as well as some sample scripts. Please feel free to put these into your own words. Please be polite and respectful. As much as we don’t like these systems and laws, this is the system we have and must work within to be successful.
Please take a few minutes and let the Police Jury and Media know your concerns for yourself and the community.
Acadia Parish Police Jury Contact Information
Contact Form https://appj.org/contact/
Phone number: (337) 788-8800
Physical address 505 Northeast Court Circle, Crowley, Louisiana 70526
Police Jury individual emails
Beau Petitjean: President President@appj.org
Bryan Borill, Secretary Treasurer: secretarytreasurer@appj.org
Paul Ed Guidry: ed@frugeseafood.com
Walter Andrus: walterandrus65@gmail.com
Jeffery “Red Dog” Morgan: jefdadawg@aol.com
Kirk Guidry: barberkag@yahoo.com
Gordon Ray Morgan: gordonraymorgan@gmail.com
Pat Daigle: patd3114@gmail.com
Troy Lantz: troylantzappj8@yahoo.com
Luke Dupree: Parish attorney luke@dupre-law.com
Local News Contact Information
Reach out to them!
Major talking points
Constitutional Right to Gather in Private
Major talking points
Constitutional Right to Gather in Private
Our rights are grounded in the constitutional protection of freedom of association, prohibiting a private club where people can associate just because you object to their personal choices on moral grounds is unconstitutional.
This rests on Lawrence v. Texas where deference must be made to private choices where they are not affecting anyone else.
It’s important to not restrict business and discriminate against people because of their sex, gender, and other constitutionally protected class status. It’s important to not enact more government regulation against people because of who they associate with, and the content of their speech–in other words, the expression in private of their beliefs. Many people need safe and private spaces to gather without public or government intrusion so they can meet with their peers and get support from like-minded individuals.
Over-taxing and over-regulating private clubs can only aim to overburden the financial stability of the club and make it harder for marginalized groups to gather in private. It also overburdens the regulatory ability of the police jury, squandering tax dollars, and benefiting no one.
In objection to the Adverse Secondary Effects Data Supplied in the ordinance
There are zero statistics where private lifestyle clubs BROUGHT crime to an area. Often where cities choose to allow those businesses is in an industrial or manufacturing zone, and when comparing the before and after, there has been no difference in crime.
Fantasies has rules that all members must adhere to, and behavioral standards that are enforced, including that all activity is clearly consensual and the law is followed. This important education provides benefits for local citizens both at the club and beyond in their personal relationships.
All of the evidence provided by Acadia Parish about adverse secondary effects was based on strip clubs in large urban areas. There was zero evidence provided about lifestyle clubs.
In Support of Private Membership Clubs
Fantasies LS and clubs like them are private members-only, alternative lifestyle clubs that provide a safe meeting place for its members. This is a private center where like-minded adults can learn more about consent and healthy relationships.
Many towns in the U.S. have private membership clubs like Fantasies, and they maintain good relations with the local police with no issues arising from their operation in the neighborhood.
There are zero statistics where private lifestyle clubs BROUGHT crime to an area. Often where cities choose to allow those businesses is in an industrial or manufacturing zone, and when comparing the before and after, there has been no difference in crime.
Fantasies has rules that all members must adhere to, and behavioral standards that are enforced, including that all activity is clearly consensual, and the law is followed. This important education provides benefits for local citizens both at the club and beyond in their personal relationships.
Landowners in this rural area who previously opposed any zoning or regulation as an undue restriction on private property rights have suddenly turned out in great numbers to demand “protection” when they learn a private, invitation only, discreet lifestyle club is proposed to be located nearby. Most of the opposition was posed by a single church congregation.
In person for/against record counting was 65 “For” the new SOB ordinance, and 16 “Against” despite those against providing more speakers, more information, sound legal objections, constitutional objections, and community objections, while those promoting the ordinance had no understanding of the nature of the proposed business, and their arguments were solely based on their “feelings” about the morality of the business. One church member offered their church as an alternative social club while calling sex a “sacrifice”.
Not a Sexually Oriented Business
Fantasies is not a sexually oriented business because all of the social activities are participated in by the members themselves. The club does not employ staff or hire contractors to provide entertainment or performances like a sexually oriented business.
The Acadia Parish Police Jurors serve the entirety of Acadia Parish, including the large percentages of adults who want to access the membership services that Fantasies LS provides. On behalf of those citizens, we urge you to please vote against designating clubs like Fantasies as Sexually Oriented Businesses.
For Business Owners
Like any club or organization, they work to keep the area clean and safe and address any issues quickly because this is their community.
The club is being built on the back of four acres of land with privacy fencing and discreet signage, which is fitting for a private social members club of this kind.
This kind of excessive regulation sends the wrong message to business and industry.
Local businesses are working with Fantasies to help set up their business. They are bringing in revenue to the local community. If the local authorities go after a legal business like this, which business is the next target?
Moral objections don’t make for constitutional law
Personal opinions are not a valid legal reason to limit the ability of adults in Acadia Parish to gather in private. Singling people out for their beliefs is a slippery slope, and there are many people interested in accessing these legal and social educational options.
The state of Louisiana already has enforceable laws on the books to keep people safe and to keep private activities behind closed doors. In a time where we are all concerned about government being in people’s lives–I mean there are people who want to tax churches now–Acadia Parish doesn’t need another layer of government.
Just because it’s not your cup of tea doesn’t mean you stop other people from making their own legal, private choices.
SCRIPTS
Call Script Example
I’m calling to voice my strong objection to the proposed Ordinance about Sexually Oriented Businesses in Acadia Parish.
I am a business owner/lifestyle participant/concerned citizen of (location). (If you can include a bit about your history (as a business owner, how long you’ve lived in the area etc. that’s even better.)
These kinds of laws only serve to discriminate. This ordinance cites adverse secondary effects from strip clubs in big cities to punish this private club that isn’t even operating yet. There are zero statistics where private lifestyle clubs BROUGHT crime to an area.
In America, we have a right to associate with who we want in private, and this private, invitation-only club is being regulated with no benefit to anyone. The kinds of restrictions being put on people who aren’t harming anyone else are unjustified, and serve no public purpose.
Over-taxing and over-regulating private clubs can only aim to overburden the financial stability of the club and make it harder for marginalized groups to gather in private. It also overburdens the regulatory ability of the police jury, squandering tax dollars, and benefiting no one. This kind of excessive regulation sends the wrong message to business and industry.
The state of Louisiana already has enforceable laws on the books to keep people safe and to keep private activities behind closed doors.
Fantasies LS and clubs like them are private members-only, alternative lifestyle clubs that provide a safe meeting place for its members. This is a private center where like-minded adults can learn more about consent and healthy relationships.
Fantasies has rules that all members must adhere to, and behavioral standards that are enforced, including that all activity is clearly consensual, and the law is followed. This important education provides benefits for local citizens both at the club and beyond in their personal relationships.
The Acadia Parish Police Jurors serve the entirety of Acadia Parish, including the large percentages of adults who want to access the membership services that Fantasies LS provides. On behalf of those citizens, we urge you to please vote against designating clubs like Fantasies as Sexually Oriented Businesses.
I encourage you to rethink your voting on this ordinance.
Thank you for your time.
Letter to the Police Jury
(It is perfectly acceptable to create an email that is not associated with your job or school)
You reported on the Acadia Parish proposed Sexually Oriented Businesses Ordinance. I’m reaching out to voice my strong objection.
I am a business owner/lifestyle participant/concerned citizen of (location). (If you can include a bit about your history (as a business owner, how long you’ve lived in the area etc.) that’s even better.)
These kinds of laws only serve to discriminate. This ordinance cites adverse secondary effects from strip clubs in big cities to punish this private club that isn’t even operating yet. There are zero statistics where private lifestyle clubs BROUGHT crime to an area.
In America, we have a right to associate with who we want in private, and this private, invitation-only club is being regulated with no benefit to anyone. The kinds of restrictions being put on people who aren’t harming anyone else are unjustified, and serve no public purpose.
Over-taxing and over-regulating private clubs can only aim to overburden the financial stability of the club and make it harder for marginalized groups to gather in private. It also overburdens the regulatory ability of the police jury, squandering tax dollars, and benefiting no one. This kind of excessive regulation sends the wrong message to business and industry.
The state of Louisiana already has enforceable laws on the books to keep people safe and to keep private activities behind closed doors.
Fantasies LS and clubs like them are private members-only, alternative lifestyle clubs that provide a safe meeting place for its members. This is a private center where like-minded adults can learn more about consent and healthy relationships.
Fantasies has rules that all members must adhere to, and behavioral standards that are enforced, including that all activity is clearly consensual, and the law is followed. This important education provides benefits for local citizens both at the club and beyond in their personal relationships.
The Acadia Parish Police Jurors serve the entirety of Acadia Parish, including the large percentages of adults who want to access the membership services that Fantasies LS provides. On behalf of those citizens, we urge you to please vote against designating clubs like Fantasies as Sexually Oriented Businesses.
I encourage you to rethink your voting on this ordinance.
Thank you for your time.
Follow Up with the NCSF!
Did you write a letter or an email? Did you call? Let us know and send us your text below and we will compile them for a package to the Police Jury.
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