
10 Weirdest Facts About Oregon and Its Many Strip Clubs
Yes, Portland has nude beaches, the World Naked Bike Ride and the nude mermaid swim, but most surprisingly, it has the most strip clubs per capita in the U.S. -- BY FAR! It's not just Portland, either. Towns all over Oregon allow sex businesses including nearby Umatilla. Even Milton-Freewater was considering one. Here are the 10 weirdest things about Oregon and its stippers.
- 1
Casa Diablo Vegan Gentleman's Club
Keeping it weird, Portland was home to the only-known strip club that only served vegan food.
- 2
Change frequently given in $2 bills
Remember seeing $2 bills as a kid? Haven't seen one in a while, have you? It's because Portland strip clubs hoard them to prevent guests from being cheap.
- 3
Portland has second most clubs NATIONWIDE!
Yes, Portland has the most per capita, but it has the second most PERIOD! Only Houston has more despite having FOUR TIMES the population!
- 4
There are twice as many clubs as public restrooms
Regardless, I think that means Portland needs more places to pee!
- 5
Oregon courts recognize nudity as free expression
All sex businesses claim they are protected by the first amendment's guarantee of free expression. Some state supreme courts, like Utah's, have decreed that nothing is communicated with nudity and it is therefore not expression. Oregon's courts have protected the practice and made the state nude-friendly.
- 6
Courtney Love became a Portland stripper at age 16
In and out of correctional facilities, she eventually became a nomad and supported herself with topless dancing. "Love" is her stripper name, not family name. Her biological dad's last name is Harrison.
- 7
Cities are not allowed to zone clubs differently than other businesses
Most towns keep out clubs, or at least put them in the seedy parts of town, with zoning laws. But Oregon law prohibits strip clubs from being denied access to a location solely because of sexual content.
- 9
Visitor's Bureau calls them "eccentric"
When asked how the Visitor's Bureau can market the city as family-friendly and Progressive and yet home to more than 4 dozen strip clubs the director said, "Every place has its eccentricities."
- 10
Politicians have tried to impose regulations
Numerous efforts to add more regulations and stop the industry's growth have been voted down by residents.