San Francisco official Wiener leads vote on public nudity ban
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:
- Tailor Whitfield holds up a sign during a Board of Supervisors meeting in San Francisco’s City Hall on November 20, 2012. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images)
- A protester disrobes inside San Francisco’s City Hall after the Board of Supervisors approved a ban on public nudity on November 20, 2012. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images)
- A protester who disrobed inside City Hall during a meeting is escorted away on November 20, 2012 in San Francisco. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images)
- Danny Devero (r) and Natalie Mandeau (c) protest in front of San Francisco’s City Hall building on November 20, 2012. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images)
- Danny Devero poses for a photo after disrobing at City Hall in San Francisco on November 20, 2012. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images
- Woody Miller, of San Francisco, wears a hat that says ‘Go naked,’ during a rally against banning nudity in parts of the city in San Francisco, California, November 14, 2012. (Beck Diefenbach/Reuters)
- Nudists march past city hall during a rally against banning nudity in parts of the city in San Francisco, California, November 14, 2012. (Beck Diefenbach/Reuters)
- A woman, who would not give her name, holds a sign saying ‘Nude is Natural,’ during a rally against banning nudity in parts of the city in San Francisco, California, November 14, 2012. (Beck Diefenbach/Reuters)
- Michael Sundin, of Napa, talks with fellow nudists following a rally against banning nudity in parts of the city in San Francisco, California, November 14, 2012. (Beck Diefenbach/Reuters)
- Nudists mingle following a rally against banning nudity in parts of the city in San Francisco, California, November 14, 2012. (Beck Diefenbach/Reuters)
- Nudist George Davis (left), of San Francisco, is asked to leave the U.S. Federal Court Building after a police officer cited required clothing rules in San Francisco, California, November 14, 2012. (Beck Diefenbach/Reuters)
- Nudists listen to speakers during a rally against banning nudity in parts of the city in San Francisco, California, November 14, 2012. (Beck Diefenbach/Reuters)
- A man, who identified himself as Ocean, walks nude through Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco, California October 30, 2012. (Robert Galbraith/Reuters)
- A dressed man poses for a picture with a nude man at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco, California October 30, 2012. (Robert Galbraith/Reuters)
- Inti Gonzalez, 11, carries a sign near nude men at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco, California October 30, 2012. (Robert Galbraith/Reuters)
- A man undresses at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco, California October 30, 2012. (Robert Galbraith/Reuters)
- Ckiara Rose stands with her top open at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco, California October 30, 2012. (Robert Galbraith/Reuters)
- A nude man carries a sign at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco, California October 30, 2012. (Robert Galbraith/Reuters)
- Naturist Woody Miller strolls around Castro Street in the Castro district of San Francisco, where he resides, on September 16, 2011. Miller is one of ‘Naked Guys’ who routinely let it all hang out in public. (Kimihiro Hoshino/AFP/Getty Images)
- Naturist George Davis (L) chats with his friend Woody Miller (R) in the Castro district of San Francisco, where they reside,, on September 16, 2011. Davis and Miller are two of what those in the neighbor consider the ‘Naked Guys’ who routinely let it all hang out in public. (Kimihiro Hoshino/AFP/Getty Images)
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.