SF Supes Vote No on Nudity

It’s a bit of a “touchy” subject but this week, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in a 6-5 vote passed a measure that would ban public nudity under most occasions.

Introduced by Supervisor Scott Wiener, the ordinance would prohibit nudity on city streets, plazas, sidewalks and other public spaces. Nudity would still be allowed at parades, fairs and festivals.

Wiener cited constituents in District 8, which he represents and includes the Castro, as having reached “a breaking point,” particularly with nudists at Jane Warner Plaza.

Protesters were outraged by the vote at the supervisor’s meeting and a handful got naked after the ban passed. Sheriff’s deputies were quick to try to cover them up but many in the crowd still booed the decision.

The passage is scheduled to be finalized at the next board meeting on December 4. It is scheduled to take effect next February if signed by Mayor Ed Lee, who is a supporter of the measure. Violators would be fined $100 for the first offense with that number going up with each offense during a 12-month period.

Opponents of the ban have already filed a lawsuit, which is still pending. A federal judge has scheduled a hearing for mid-January and could order an injunction.

Photo Credit: Joseph, via Wikimedia Commons

It's simple. Keith Mizuguchi loves to write and write and write some more. After taking a hiatus from the journalism business, he has rekindled his passion for writing over the last two years, holding a job as both a web and on-air writer for San Francisco news radio station KCBS. While he enjoys the news business, his true passions are twofold: sports and food. Bay Area born and raised, he lives in San Jose, commutes to SF and loves every minute of it. You can follow his food adventures on Twitter @foodie_keith.