A smart, funny, and unexpectedly inspiring documentary about strippers at San Francisco’s Lusty Lady who decide they’ve had enough—and organize a union. Directed by Julia Query and Vicky Funari, the film shows how dancers take on wage cuts, bogus fines, unsafe conditions, and arrogant management in an industry most people don’t even recognize as “real” work.

What makes the film such a joy to watch is the spunk and humor of the women at its center. One of the lead organizers is also a stand-up comedian, and the film is full of sharp jokes, eye-rolling commentary, and moments of levity that carry the movement forward. There’s also a hilarious and touching subplot where she hasn’t told her mother—herself a sex-worker-rights activist—what her job actually is… and her mom is not ready when she finds out. The result is a film that’s genuinely entertaining, not just politically important.

Behind the humor is serious organizing. The dancers meet after shifts, argue strategy, learn labor law, and slowly build trust across differences in race, class, sexuality, and performance style. The film gives an unusually clear look at strip-club working conditions—and shows how organizing actually happens: messy, brave, and often fueled by laughter.

In 1996, the dancers pulled off something historic, becoming the first unionized strippers in the U.S. by affiliating with SEIU. The Lusty Lady eventually closed in 2013, a familiar boss move in response to organizing, but that didn’t erase the win. The dancers kept their contract to the end, and many went on to support sex-worker organizing and advocacy long after the doors shut.
Today, there are no known unionized strip clubs operating in the U.S., though organizing efforts continue under tough conditions. In parts of Europe, sex workers are more often organized through unions or worker collectives, even if clubs themselves aren’t union shops.