When the government tried to take away the Black
Male dancers constitutional rights they did not riot in the streets
like common thugs; nor picket in front of a government building
begging and hoping for change. Instead, they got a Black male lawyer
and went to federal court to fight the government. This is a story
that the government does not want the masses to know about. It is
not often that Black Men fight the government in federal court with
a Black lawyer and win!
Movie Synopsis
Don't Hate: Strippers Fight the Government is a documentary
about black male exotic dancers who perform non-obscene dance routines
for women. These are regular guys, law-abiding and tax paying citizens
who choose to entertain women. The women are from all walks of life
and prefer to watch male entertainment rather than go to clubs or
happy hours where they have to deal with the unwelcomed advances
and harassment from male patrons. Prince George's County, Maryland,
a local government, passed an ordinance that among other things,
prohibited tipping of dancers during their performance, restricted
a patron's distance from a performer to 6 ft and required a male
entertainer to wear a shirt and shorts anytime he is not on stage.
The ordinance also made it a crime to touch a dancer while he is
in a g-string. This documentary will address a lot of the myths
surrounding male adult entertainers. It will also show you that
they are regular people, like you and I with families, goals, and
dreams. You will see the steps that the dancers took to fight the
government in order to maintain their livelihoods and support their
families.
On April 12, 2007 in United States District Court
for the District of Maryland, Baltimore Division, United States
District Judge Marvin J. Garbis issued a Permanent Injunction against
the law. This is a story of how a small group was able to stand
up and fight the government in Federal court (with a Black lawyer)
and Win! They are more than just eye candy! It is a must see film!
Playgirl Magazine calls the movie "The
adult entertainment's answer to Footloose..." Lara
Drasin, Playgirl Magazine, October 2007 issue.
"The dancers are charismatic as all hell, with
bodies that will haunt you in your dreams. And man, these dudes
can dance! I kept wanting to throw dollar bills at the screen."
Philip Huang, culturevulture.net (2007)
The movie trailer can be seen at
profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=70730495
Articles discussing the events on which the film
was based:
www.gazette.net/stories/041708/uppenew175922_32361.shtml
findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4183/is_20070416/ai_n19012908
DIRECTOR BIO
Jimmy A. Bell, Esq., 38, is the founding attorney of the Law Office
of Jimmy A. Bell, P.C., located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, where
he engages in a national civil rights and entertainment law practice.
He has received awards from the United State House of Representatives,
Maryland State Senate, Governor of California, District of Columbia
City Council and City Council of Baltimore for his legal work. He
has a B.A. degree from California State University Sacramento and
a Law degree from American University. He is a first time film maker.
He is a 33° Prince Hall Mason and Life Member of Kappa Alpha
Psi Fraternity, Inc.
The film has also won the following awards:
Won an Honorable Mention In-Competition Documentary segment during
the 6th Urban Mediamakers Film Festival (UMFF) in Atlanta, Georgia
in October 2007.
Was an official selection in the Harlem International
Film Festival's In-Competition Documentary in October 2007, in New
York, NY.
CONTACT:
Jimmy A. Bell, Esq.
301-599-7620
jimbellesq@aol.com
