A bid to block an ordinance here banning live sex businesses was stopped by a federal judge Monday.
Judge Roslyn Silver denied a motion for a preliminary injunction by owners and members of live sex clubs, says the Arizona Republic.
She denied a temporary restraining order request in January. The Republic says the clubs can now try to get a permanent injunction or appeal Silver's ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in San Francisco. They can also try to settle or drop the case.
The ordinance bans businesses where one or more can view or participate in live sex acts for money or other "items of value". Phoenix had argued the clubs in question were places where people paid fees, visited, and, if they chose, could have consensual sex with others or watch people having sex, the Republic says.
Court records indicated Phoenix police questioned whether the businesses were clean or otherwise threatened patrons' and participants' health.
The clubs and members involved in the challenge argue the ordinance interferes with their freedom of expression involving "a message of social and sexual liberation", the Republic noted. They also argued the law reaches out to other First Amendment freedoms as well.
The Republic says police haven't even enforced the ordinance yet, but that that might change soon.
