Joe Redner, Tampa's veteran strip club operator and civil rights campaigner, has died at 86 after a battle with cancer. His son, Joey Redner, confirmed that the disease had spread beyond his lungs. The longtime Florida businessman died at his residence.
Mons Venus made Redner famous. He opened the adult venue in western Tampa, where nude dancers drew large crowds and plenty of local backlash. Religious protesters held prayer gatherings outside, while one group paid for an overhead billboard asking God to pardon those involved.
City officials kept trying to restrict his clubs through zoning rules and nuisance laws. Redner responded with lawsuits, legal research, and direct protests. He even made a point of being present during police operations, claiming officers had jailed him roughly 150 times.
Here's the part that made his career unusual. Despite leaving school as a teenager, Redner spent years learning constitutional law with attorney Luke Lirot. His office held legal journals alongside Playboy magazines, and he helped cover court costs for workers and customers caught in police raids.
A bail bondsman who worked with him also helped detained staff return to their jobs. Rather than leave his employees to deal with arrests alone, Redner frequently challenged the rules himself.
Politics became another interest. As an independent, he sought seats on Tampa City Council, the Hillsborough County Commission, and the Florida Legislature. None of those bids succeeded, although he pushed Gwen Miller into a runoff that she won with 56% support.
Redner's campaigns went beyond adult entertainment. He defended reproductive choice, LGBTQ rights, protest activity, and freedom of expression. At local hearings, he also challenged elected officials over their conduct, sometimes pointing out which ones had visited Mons Venus.
One project gave activists a physical space. Redner purchased land and turned it into Voice of Freedom Park, which he made available for public use. Members of the local Occupy movement later camped there.
His clashes with government went further. Police arrested him near a Tampa event featuring President George W. Bush. He also sued Hillsborough County after officials barred public agencies from backing a Gay Pride march.
That lawsuit had an odd turn. A court found that the policy did not directly affect him, leaving him without legal standing. Redner then falsely identified himself as gay in an effort to challenge the restriction. He lost anyway, although county leaders later dropped the policy.
Medical marijuana became another personal cause following his cancer diagnosis. Redner secured permission from a judge to cultivate cannabis for treatment, only for an appeals court to overturn the decision 17 days later.
His early life was far less public. Born Joseph Richard Redner in Hackensack, New Jersey, he moved to Tampa with his mother, Agnes, and brother William after his father left. Agnes supported the family through restaurant work.
At 16, Redner quit school and began taking jobs in stores, warehouses, and even a traveling carnival. An employer later offered him responsibility for the Deep South go-go club, giving him his start in adult entertainment.
From there, he expanded the performances and studied court rulings about nudity and free expression. Night Gallery became his first venue offering fully nude dancing, followed by several other clubs. Mons Venus eventually became the best-known business in his portfolio.
Dancers also had some unusual workplace freedoms. Redner let them choose their shifts, avoided mandatory kickbacks, and did not require private-room performances. He often selected women for management roles because he believed they brought greater empathy and sound judgment.
His personal life included a marriage to Lorelei Jackson that ended in divorce, although they stayed close. His surviving family includes Joey, daughters Teresa Redner, Joy Lynn Redner, and Angela Smith, longtime partner Edie Burns and her son Kyle, and 11 grandchildren.
Redner had already sold Mons Venus but remained involved as an adviser. His brother William and daughter Reyline Harris died before him. Even after decades of legal fights, he remained committed to the view that adults should have broad personal freedom, provided their choices did not harm others.
Mons Venus made Redner famous. He opened the adult venue in western Tampa, where nude dancers drew large crowds and plenty of local backlash. Religious protesters held prayer gatherings outside, while one group paid for an overhead billboard asking God to pardon those involved.
City officials kept trying to restrict his clubs through zoning rules and nuisance laws. Redner responded with lawsuits, legal research, and direct protests. He even made a point of being present during police operations, claiming officers had jailed him roughly 150 times.
Here's the part that made his career unusual. Despite leaving school as a teenager, Redner spent years learning constitutional law with attorney Luke Lirot. His office held legal journals alongside Playboy magazines, and he helped cover court costs for workers and customers caught in police raids.
A bail bondsman who worked with him also helped detained staff return to their jobs. Rather than leave his employees to deal with arrests alone, Redner frequently challenged the rules himself.
Politics became another interest. As an independent, he sought seats on Tampa City Council, the Hillsborough County Commission, and the Florida Legislature. None of those bids succeeded, although he pushed Gwen Miller into a runoff that she won with 56% support.
Redner's campaigns went beyond adult entertainment. He defended reproductive choice, LGBTQ rights, protest activity, and freedom of expression. At local hearings, he also challenged elected officials over their conduct, sometimes pointing out which ones had visited Mons Venus.
One project gave activists a physical space. Redner purchased land and turned it into Voice of Freedom Park, which he made available for public use. Members of the local Occupy movement later camped there.
His clashes with government went further. Police arrested him near a Tampa event featuring President George W. Bush. He also sued Hillsborough County after officials barred public agencies from backing a Gay Pride march.
That lawsuit had an odd turn. A court found that the policy did not directly affect him, leaving him without legal standing. Redner then falsely identified himself as gay in an effort to challenge the restriction. He lost anyway, although county leaders later dropped the policy.
Medical marijuana became another personal cause following his cancer diagnosis. Redner secured permission from a judge to cultivate cannabis for treatment, only for an appeals court to overturn the decision 17 days later.
His early life was far less public. Born Joseph Richard Redner in Hackensack, New Jersey, he moved to Tampa with his mother, Agnes, and brother William after his father left. Agnes supported the family through restaurant work.
At 16, Redner quit school and began taking jobs in stores, warehouses, and even a traveling carnival. An employer later offered him responsibility for the Deep South go-go club, giving him his start in adult entertainment.
From there, he expanded the performances and studied court rulings about nudity and free expression. Night Gallery became his first venue offering fully nude dancing, followed by several other clubs. Mons Venus eventually became the best-known business in his portfolio.
Dancers also had some unusual workplace freedoms. Redner let them choose their shifts, avoided mandatory kickbacks, and did not require private-room performances. He often selected women for management roles because he believed they brought greater empathy and sound judgment.
His personal life included a marriage to Lorelei Jackson that ended in divorce, although they stayed close. His surviving family includes Joey, daughters Teresa Redner, Joy Lynn Redner, and Angela Smith, longtime partner Edie Burns and her son Kyle, and 11 grandchildren.
Redner had already sold Mons Venus but remained involved as an adviser. His brother William and daughter Reyline Harris died before him. Even after decades of legal fights, he remained committed to the view that adults should have broad personal freedom, provided their choices did not harm others.
