Billboard campaign to target sexual assault

David Kihara

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2005 | 7:41 a.m.

In a city that long has successfully -- and very profitably -- marketed its "anything goes" atmosphere, some in Las Vegas see a need to make it clear that the slogan does not imply a town without limits.

That need is particularly true, officials of the Rape Crisis Center say, in the Las Vegas world of topless clubs and adult entertainment.

Concerned that some men try to carry the city's libertine ambience too far, the Rape Crisis Center plans in January to start a billboard campaign aimed at underlining what should be, but unfortunately is not, obvious to all: That any form of sexual assault against dancers -- strippers, fan dancers or showgirls -- will not be tolerated.

The billboards, which will say, "My Dance is Not Your Opportunity -- Las Vegas Takes Sexual Assault Very Seriously," will specifically target men who, because they are away from home, might be more inclined to act inappropriately toward dancers, said Elizabeth Tamburri, director of the Rape Crisis Center.

"Does what I wear give you permission to do this (rape)? No," she said. "People think it's OK to do anything here."

The center conceded, however, that it has no data on the number of dancers who are sexually assaulted in Las Vegas. And the owners of some establishments expressed skepticism that problems were widespread.

Bob Proden, the general manager of Deja Vu, said security is so high -- with bouncers, staff monitoring the customers and cameras watching all goings on -- that an incident of sexual assault or even harassment would be unheard of inside the club.

"It's kind of silly to say guys come in here and rape the women," he said.

For better or worse, Las Vegas has a reputation as a city where people can loosen their inhibitions with few consequences. Some tourists fully embrace that concept, viewing it as tacit encouragement to drink and gamble excessively -- and to partake of some of the city's more risque offerings in its many strip clubs.

Megan Saxon, 29, a "bevertainer" at the Rio, who works as both a dancer and cocktail server, believes that some visitors do not understand that basic boundaries apply even to topless dancers.

"The costumes we wear ... they're revealing," she said. "So some people might think they have the right to say or do whatever they want. They don't believe they have to act appropriately because they are in Las Vegas."

Saxon, who volunteers at the Rape Crisis Center, recalls one incident from her own experiences as a dancer that she believes shows this attitude. About two years ago, during the National Finals Rodeo, Saxon was serving drinks at the Rio when she approached a group of men. After they had silently stared at her chest, one blurted out a vulgar reference to her breasts.

Saxon said she glared at the man with such a look of hatred that he took a step back.

"Since no one from home is here to see it, they think it's OK," she said.

But Saxon also said that an occasional arm over the shoulder or an offhand comment like "Take it off," is part of the job. When men occasionally place their arm around her, Saxon says, she gauges who is being relatively harmless and who is going too far.

In 2004 there were 481 rapes and 124 attempted rapes in Metro Police's jurisdiction, which led to 64 and 21 arrests, respectively. The statistics do not specify the victims' occupations.

But Janet Nordine, resource and training coordinator for the Rape Crisis Center, said many women fail to report rapes because they are ashamed or blame themselves for the sexual assault. That sense of self-blame is intensifies, she said, when a woman works as a topless dancer.

In 2002, Clark County passed a "no touching" policy in strip clubs. However, that law was later repealed in part because of efforts by former County Commissioners Mary Kincaid-Chauncey, Erin Kenny and Dario Herrera.

During his 11 years working in strip clubs in Las Vegas, Proden said he recalled only one or two incidents in which men have stalked or followed a dancer. That is less frequent, he said, than what occurs in most regular bars or clubs.

David Kihara can be reached at 259-2330 or at davidk@lasvegassun.com