'A unionised strip club is going to be a novelty in the US'

Dancers at a topless bar in the city of Los Angeles are set to become the only unionised of strippers in the United States after their employer agreed to recognise their union following a 15-month battle.

The dancers, who perform at the Star Garden Topless Dive Bar, will be represented by the Actors' Equity Association. Its membership also includes performers on Broadway and Walt Disney World.

One dancer, who spoke to the BBC using her stage name Lilith, was a Star Garden dancer, but she quit 15 months ago. She's now planning to return to work and tells Newshour's Julian Marshall why she wanted to unionise.

(Image: Dancers rally outside Star Garden Topless Dive Bar in North Hollywood on August 19, 2022 Credit: Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)