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The members of Bristol Town Council will hear a petition that seeks to amend the definition of “adult entertainment”. The proposed change would broaden the language and has already garnered the attention of the ACLU of Rhode Island, which “strongly opposes” the amendment. The petition writer requests that the definition of the term includes engaging in “the act of entertaining with or without music by dancing or behaving in a manner consistent with mimicking sexual action or seduction with or without the physical contact of others with the intent to amuse, please, sexually stimulate, or provide sexual gratification for viewing pleasures of legal adults within or outside of the establishment.”
Todd Nicholson, co-founder of Pivotal Brewing Company, told 12 News that the brewery held its second-ever drag show last Saturday, and that the brewery may be at risk of not being able to host again should the amendment be approved. Nicholson and others plan to oppose the petition. He said, “If you look at our core principles as a brewery and a small business, it’s all about diversity and inclusion and supporting the LGBTQ community, of which we have many friends that frequent the brewery, and we are a supportive business in this community.”
In a letter addressed to town officials, the ACLU stated that the petition is “inappropriately aimed at LGBTQ+ individuals” and that the proposed language is “broad enough to have the Footloose-ian effect”, bringing strict regulations to any kind of entertainment in Bristol.
12 News reached out to the resident who wrote the petition, but they declined to comment over the phone. The town council meeting begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday. 12 News plans to send a reporter to the event and will have updates on air and online.