
English: The rainbow flag waving in the wind at San Francisco’s Castro District San Francisco, California. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Many people probably thought there were already laws in place banning public nudity in most cities. Not in San Francisco there wasn’t. Until today. The San Francisco public nudity ban passes and there are many saying, “it just ain’t right”
San Francisco passes public nudity ban and it was only narrowly approved by San Francisco lawmakers today.
This means that exposed genitals will not be permitted in most of the city’s public places. The ban also applies to streets, sidewalks, and public transit.
Public nudity was one of the things that man San Francisco “unique”, however, even some long time residents have admitted that it has gotten a bit “out of hand”.
San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors said that initially the ban was first proposed as a response to complaints about a particular group of men who regularly shed their clothing in the city’s Castro District, a predominately gay area, particularly near Jane Warner Plaza at Castro and Market streets.
One of the Supervisor’s Scott Weiner said,
The Castro and San Francisco in general, is a place of freedom, expression and acceptance. But freedom, expression and acceptance does not mean anything goes under any circumstances. Our public spaces are for everyone and as a result it’s appropriate to have some minimal standards of behavior.
The San Francisco nudity ban passes and since it was by such a small margin, not all of the Supervisors’ agree on the ban.
There will be exceptions to the ban, namely for Gay Pride and other approved events.
Violator of the new nudity ban face a $100 fine on their first offense.
Repeated violators can receive a $500 fine and, up to, a year in jail.
The passage of the ordinance is expected to be finalized at the board’s next meeting on 12-4 and the ordinance is scheduled to take effect on 2-1-13, or 30 days after Mayor Ed Lee signs the legislation.
Did one group spoil it for everyone? Will the ban affect San Francisco’s reputation as a “tolerant” city?
A federal lawsuit opposing the ban has been filed, so the matter is not 100% resolved yet.