San Francisco sheds part of free-spirited past with nudity ban
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - San Francisco shed a vestige of its free-spirited past as local lawmakers narrowly approved a citywide ban on public nudity.
Casting aside complaints that forcing people to cover up would undermine San Francisco's reputation as a city without inhibitions, the Board of Supervisors voted 6-5 on Tuesday in favor of an ordinance that prohibits exposed genitals in most public places, including streets, sidewalks and public transit.
Exemptions would be made for participants at permitted street fairs and parades, such as the city's annual gay pride event and the Bay-to-Breakers street run, which often draws participants in costumes or various states of undress.
Supervisor Scott Wiener introduced the ban in response to escalating complaints about a group of men whose bare bodies are on display almost daily in the city's predominantly gay Castro District. He said at Tuesday's meeting that he resisted for almost two years but finally felt compelled to act.
"It's no longer an occasionally and quirky part of San Francisco. Rather, in the Castro, it's pretty much seven days a week," Wiener said. "It's very much a, 'Hey, look what I have' mentality."
Wiener's opponents on the board said a citywide ban was unnecessary and would draw police officers' attention away from bigger problems. Supervisor John Avalos also expressed concerns about what the ordinance would do to San Francisco's image.
"We are a beacon of light to other parts of the country, and sometimes there is a little bit of weirdness about how we express ourselves," Avalos said.
Boos and calls for Wiener's recall filled the board's chambers after Tuesday's vote. Gypsy Taub, a nudist activist who organized naked protests and marches in the weeks leading up to Tuesday's meeting, disrobed in protest before sheriff's deputies escorted her from the room.
Under Wiener's proposal, a first offense would carry a maximum penalty of a $100 fine, but prosecutors would have authority to charge a third violation as a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine and a year in jail.
The law still must pass a final vote and secure Mayor Edwin Lee's signature to take effect early next year.
A federal lawsuit seeking to block the ban already has been filed.
Casting aside complaints that forcing people to cover up would undermine San Francisco's reputation as a city without inhibitions, the Board of Supervisors voted 6-5 on Tuesday in favor of an ordinance that prohibits exposed genitals in most public places, including streets, sidewalks and public transit.
Exemptions would be made for participants at permitted street fairs and parades, such as the city's annual gay pride event and the Bay-to-Breakers street run, which often draws participants in costumes or various states of undress.
Supervisor Scott Wiener introduced the ban in response to escalating complaints about a group of men whose bare bodies are on display almost daily in the city's predominantly gay Castro District. He said at Tuesday's meeting that he resisted for almost two years but finally felt compelled to act.
"It's no longer an occasionally and quirky part of San Francisco. Rather, in the Castro, it's pretty much seven days a week," Wiener said. "It's very much a, 'Hey, look what I have' mentality."
Wiener's opponents on the board said a citywide ban was unnecessary and would draw police officers' attention away from bigger problems. Supervisor John Avalos also expressed concerns about what the ordinance would do to San Francisco's image.
"We are a beacon of light to other parts of the country, and sometimes there is a little bit of weirdness about how we express ourselves," Avalos said.
Boos and calls for Wiener's recall filled the board's chambers after Tuesday's vote. Gypsy Taub, a nudist activist who organized naked protests and marches in the weeks leading up to Tuesday's meeting, disrobed in protest before sheriff's deputies escorted her from the room.
Under Wiener's proposal, a first offense would carry a maximum penalty of a $100 fine, but prosecutors would have authority to charge a third violation as a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine and a year in jail.
The law still must pass a final vote and secure Mayor Edwin Lee's signature to take effect early next year.
A federal lawsuit seeking to block the ban already has been filed.
San Fran - this one was a no brainer. Finally their city government stopped and "thunk" a little bit about the insanity of it all.Â
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The unhygienic foul appearing, offensiveness of it all. Hey folks - we don't want to see "it". Really, we don't. Free yourselves to go off to a commune up in the mountains - far off somewhere.Â
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Finally - a reason to consider going back to San Fran. With one's family.Â
I'm very discriminatory when it comes to nudity...for the most part those that should NEVER go nude, DO, those that should go nude, Â NEVER DO!!!!!!!!!!
I wonder if the police will pat them down before putting on the cuffs.
 @WendyTeagarden Wishful thinking?
I prefer the fuzzy pink cuffs, if you don't mind.
 @oodathunked  @WendyTeagarden Only after donning surgical gloves.No sense in catching any critters.
Looks like that police state terrorist has rape eyes for that naked woman in the picture....
 @ChipClip Police state terrorist? Come on - do you really think the police went to work that day WANTING to be in the middle of this woman's insane rant? And offensive display of rudeness and flagrant need on her part - to display herself to the WORLD - for "all" to see all. Whether or not anyone - including that specific police officer - wanted to see any of her - at all.Â
@ChipClip Ha Ha! I find it hilarious that someone had to comment about an imaginary police state in an Offbeat article about people exposing their naughty bits.
I wonder if Wiener made the SFPD put a stakeout on the Meat Rack.Â
"Take the Tactical Prius to Castro and get me some close-ups."
@littlegermanboy "Tactical Prius" LMFAO!
I'm sure if all the nudists get together they could find some other way to offend the public at large. Maybe they could become mimes.
I'm absolutely sure that all my Offbeat friends will read a story about "nekkidness" so allow me to wish you all a great Thanksgiving surrounded by good food, good friends and good humor.
@WendyTeagarden That rocks. Have a safe and wonderful T-day!
@WendyTeagarden Thanks, Wendy, and plenty of the same to you!
They are worried about SF's image. It's already a crime infested, very expensive, self indulgent, hedonistic, and disgraceful example of humanity. What more could they do to make it worse?
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This is actually a step up in decency which is very surprising for SF.
@RalphCramden ... It's fun to listen to people rag on the Silicon Valley from the luxury of silicon-valley-created Internet products and technologies.
 @Playanekes Â
San Francisco is not part of the Santa Clara Valley which was nicknamed Silicon Valley.
@RalphCramden I worked for Netscape in Mountain View and my friend worked at Moffett for NASA. He dropped out of OSU, lives on Mission Hill, drives a convertible Porsche, works on the Apple IOS in Cupertino and introduced me to the Folsom Street festival and the Castro district. I was the best man in his wedding at Golden Gate Park. It's pretty much all the same people, except the Castro has gotten a lot more publicly turbo-gay. I was there just long enough to learn that I'm not cut out to be a Bay Aryan, but what I remember most about nudity is a bus load of Japanese tourists going bananas at the Fort because somebody was walking naked up the beach, like, a quarter of a mile away. The Asians LOVED to take pictures of naked people.
@RalphCramden You forgot to mention those smelly sea lions at the wharf.
@WendyTeagarden They are loud too!
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At least San Francisco has a champion baseball team and a pretty darn good football team.
"Under Wiener's proposal, a first offense would carry a maximum penalty of a $100 fine, but prosecutors would have authority to charge a third violation as a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine and a year in jail."
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I'm not a fan of public nudity which I see as violating MY rights NOT to see some nekkid fat dude, but this is clearly about the money.
weiner says no more weiner!