San Francisco official Wiener leads vote on public nudity ban

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A 6-5 vote by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has brought a ban on public nudity (except at permitted festivals and parades) one step closer to becoming city ordinance.

The proposed ban — not spawned by straight couples with children or angry Castro District business owners exposed daily to a hoard of “Naked Guys” — was introduced by counsel-person Scott Wiener who says “the dominant demographic expressing concern is gay men,” reported the Los Angles Times. Wiener hopes to expand on a prior clothing-not-optional ordinance for restaurants and other areas of public seating, the Times also noted.

Dissenters on the board showed frustration at taking time away from more important public matters, like violent crime. The ban now needs a final vote and the mayor’s signature to become law.

NOTE: Some images have been cropped and/or pixelated.

More nude controversy from The Darkroom:

San Francisco officials wrap up public nudity debate with vote
By Maria L. La Ganga, Los Angeles Times
10:04 p.m. EST, November 20, 2012

SAN FRANCISCO — What started out as a discussion about whether people could stroll naked through this liberal city’s storied streets ended up Tuesday as a discussion about the role of local government.

Faced with complaints about a band of so-called “Naked Guys” gathering daily in the Castro District, Supervisor Scott Wiener introduced legislation last month to ban public nudity citywide, except for at permitted festivals and parades.

“This legislation has strong support in the community,” Wiener said to kick off the debate before Tuesday’s vote. “I’m talking about support from everyday citizens who live and work in this wonderful neighborhood.”

The stricture wasn’t the brainchild of business owners, as some naturists have claimed. Nor did straight couples with children raise a fuss about freedom of expression — and freedom from clothing — in the heart of gay San Francisco.

“The dominant demographic expressing concern is gay men,” Wiener told his colleagues as he implored them to expand on an earlier ordinance requiring clothing in restaurants and a barrier between naked bodies and public seating.

But the more progressive supervisors weren’t buying it. Outgoing Supervisor Christina Olague called the proposal “a solution in search of a problem.” Supervisor Eric Mar said the Naked Guys and the issue of public attire were well below the level of what the august body should be considering.

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