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San Francisco Lawmakers Vote to Ban Public Nudity
Demonstrators gather outside of City Hall in San Francisco for a protest against a proposed city-wide nudity ban, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012. San Francisco appears poised to shed part of its image as a city where anything goes, including clothing. The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote next week on a law that would ban public nudity. The proposal comes in response to a devoted group of nudists who proudly strut their stuff through the city’s Castro District. (Credit: AP)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco lawmakers on Tuesday narrowly approved a proposal to ban public nakedness, rejecting arguments that the measure would eat away at a reputation for tolerance enjoyed by a city known for flouting convention and flaunting its counter-culture image.
The 6-5 Board of Supervisors vote means that exposed genitals will be prohibited in most public places, including streets, sidewalks and public transit.
Supervisor Scott Wiener introduced the measure in response to escalating complaints about a group of men whose lack of clothing was an almost daily occurrence in the city’s predominantly gay Castro District.
“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,” Wiener said Tuesday. “Our public spaces are for everyone and as a result it’s appropriate to have some minimal standards of behavior.”
Weiner’s opponents on the board said a citywide ban would draw police officers’ attention away from more critical problems and eat away at city’s reputation for tolerance.
“I’m concerned about civil liberties, about free speech, about changing San Francisco’s style and how we are as a city,” Supervisor John Avalos said.
Under Weiner’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.
Exemptions would be made for participants at permitted street fairs and parades, such as the city’s annual gay pride event and the Folsom Street Fair, which celebrates sadomasochism and other sexual subcultures.
A federal lawsuit claiming the ban would violate the free speech rights of people who prefer to make a statement by going au naturel was filed last week in case the ordinance passes.
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Comments (80)
blaaaaackwoman
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 8:12pmAs long as they don’t ban taking a dump on the sidewalk I’m okay.
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Stelex
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 8:17pmMy dog “Likes” your post.
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Proverbs17-12NLT
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 8:30pmSunburn privates aren’t very pretty especially when they peel.
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sillyfreshness
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 10:54pmGotta admit, I wouldn’t have a problem with that woman holding the sign walking around naked, especially out of my bed.
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sillyfreshness
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 2:52amAll kidding aside, does anyone else think these people are flakes? They are mentally ill. Running around naked used to get you locked up in most cities, but in San Fran you are glorified. A modern day Sodom and Gomorrah.
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Chi_Chi
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 5:48amWell there goes my trip to San Fran. Read fresh political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
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Dismayed Veteran
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 8:55amFor those of you who have never lived in San Francisco, the weather sucks. It is cold most of the time. Fog is common. Rain is normal. People wear sweaters in the summer on many days. I can’t imagine who in their right mind would even consider being nude.
If morality plays no part, common sense should.
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Old Truckers
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 8:06pmI do not want to comment on the sick, disgusting, immoral perversions so rampant in San Francisco. So, I will not be commenting or expressing myself here at this time. Some things are better left unsaid.
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Stelex
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 8:08pmWell said…….WTF
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grayling646
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 10:20pmI would agree but I’m not commenting either.
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Eastinfection
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 7:46amLeno actually had a funny line about this… he said the San Fran Board of Directors got “tired of looking at all those left-wing nuts”.
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longknifed
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 8:06pmnudists are almost always fat old people that nobody wants to see with or without clothes on.
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2MINUTESTOMIDNIGHT
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 8:13pmAt this time of the year, let us all be thankful they didn’t use the other available picture for the article – the one with Barney Frank.
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Inlightofthings
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 8:02pmGiven that we now have accurate scientific and medical terms to accurately state what ailment people with disabilities have, the word ****** should be reserved for people such as this.
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Stelex
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 8:05pmIt was either Rtard or Shthead, right?
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KEELHAULUM
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 8:00pm“A city known for its tolerance”,…that’s debatable.
You confuse tolerance with a freakshow.
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starman70
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 9:06pmWOW! This from the land of the fruits and the nuts. Surely they are not becoming sane in SanFransissyco. By the way, was this guy any kin to Anthony Weiner of New York?
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KEELHAULUM
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:55pmLet Weiner sort it out!
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KEELHAULUM
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:54pmWhat did Weiner say!!??? Ha ha ha hhah ha ha
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2MINUTESTOMIDNIGHT
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:59pmI didn’t catch it in the article – Does Weiner lean to the left or to the right?
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Stelex
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 8:08pmI wonder if there is a correlation……….Left vs Right leaning. I’m a righty……
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2MINUTESTOMIDNIGHT
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:50pmWhy is the guy in the sunglasses wearing a sweater?
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Stelex
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 8:04pmThe guy on the left is ready to cut glass with those nips……..eeeeooowwww
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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:47pmHwahuurrllll!! How come the only people that want to walk around nude are the very people you DON’T want to see nude?
Either those San Franciscan lawmakers are uncharacteristically conservative, or they have excellent eye-sight. Rather ironic that Weiner eants to ban weiners.
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maverick4harlot
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:46pmI guess I am a little behind the times on this one. Never knew all nudity all the time everywhere was the norm there. I gotta tell you though I would find it highly gross to live in a city where that accidental wet one crept up on sombody and I unknowingly just sat in it. Or maybe the woman who pees just a little cause she laughed to hard right in the seat at the restaurant I decided to stop at. Where is the common decency. Now I have no problems with nude beaches. Been to a few myself but darn man, Burger King, bus stops the local bar? cmon people put some pants on.
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TurboCat
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 4:31amPoor kids who have to see these weirdos all the time!
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theBru
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:46pmWhat’s this world coming to??? Dam bunch of white-winged terrorists have taken over the bored of stupifiers in SF…just when we thought we had all the kooks bottled up in one city…now they will be moving to your city…
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Angel_light
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:44pmlook at the guy in the background of the pic, the only one wearing clothes. I don’t think he is checking out the signs….
like I said in my earlier post…PERVERTS!
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everydaywoman
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:44pmOk….why, why, why, and HOW does ANYONE think that everyone else wants to see them naked? I mean, seriously. I thank God for the body I have and aside from a little toning here and there, I like the way I look. HOWEVER! I would never be so arrogant and inconsiderate to assume those around me are waiting with baited breath to look at it too. Seriously, society doesn’t want to see your privates….they are called “privates” for a reason.
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Stelex
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:44pmLeft to right. Encinom, Wango/ Pantlodian, MaryElizathethWTF and JZS………..The guy in the background is Progressive Pete. Lets get a pool going…….
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Polarized America
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:54pmi haven’t seen “JZS” in awhile or ” The Rights of Billy” for that mater ..they use to go at it from time to time
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Stelex
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 8:01pmJZS is now the kill the tea party Czar I believe.
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mbean
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:43pmAnti-Nudites in San Francisco who would have thought it.
Down with Anti-Nudism.
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RealLiibertarian
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:43pmFirst Amendment? Nah, we don’t need no stinkin’ First Amendment. Far more important to pander to the uptight prudes who live their lives being offended.
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KEELHAULUM
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:43pmPhase one is now complete,…MMMmmmUUUUUuAAAAAAAaAaHHAhhAhAhAhahahahAaaaa!
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Angel_light
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:41pmI don’t see this falling under the protection of free speech, I see it as public indecency. you can prance around like that at home but I don’t need to see that. only perverts would support this nonsense. ick!!
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2MINUTESTOMIDNIGHT
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:41pmOh Great! Well, that totally ruins Dora’s Thanksgiving plans.
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ares338
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:40pmArrrgggghhhhhhhh….I can’t see……imagine a 400 lb. lard ass sans clothes….urk!
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DadRocked
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 8:37pmAnd it doesn’t matter to which gender that would be…
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media-bias-steals-elections
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:40pmFree speech, a process where physical vibrations of air waves convey a communique after translation in the brain, or where written words are translated in a similar manner, explain that if a state can legalize hemp like tobacco (a substance with no real necessary benefit) but fail to make it illegal to fire someone for using hemp like tobacco, demonstrate that public opinion, when left without protective clothing, can become quite embarrassing to look at?
If you smoke too much tobacco, you will spend the rest of the day choking on it, just as you would if you consume too much public opinion? Funny how they can make the connection between free speech and nudity, but can’t get their arms around marriage as an establishment of religion that benefits society in proven ways that deserve protection?
Please keep your clothes on, that’s not freedom of speech that’s raping our eyeballs with your genitals?
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Stoic one
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:38pmSan Fran leaning RIGHT?
HMmmnnnn
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Polarized America
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:45pm.
they swing both ways ./;-
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Restored One
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:46pmNow here is a Weiner that we can be proud of.
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SUNTZU
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:31pmShould stop problem of picking up a transgendered whatever
and not knowing till you get it home
No piggy hiding in that poke..
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Stelex
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:58pmI suspect SF is realizing its unexpected consequences. Naked people walking, chatting, eating, dancing not bad if they are all GQ or Victoria Secrets. Not so much when its the real world. Libs…..life is not GQ, Vitoria Secrets or the delusional utopia you see it as. Try a couple weeks of mescalin to correct your skewed mindset.
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SUNTZU
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 10:10pmSTELEX
Oh but I did…
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RightThinking1
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:30pmThank heavens! I was afraid that we would soon have to endure a naked Nancy Pelosi…
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Arrrrrrrrrrrgh! I’ve gone blind, I’ve gone blind!
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Stelex
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 8:03pmGood god man……no one should ever utter the words “naked Nanci Pelosi” Its just wrong, wrong.
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alias.stone
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 5:16amUgggggghhhh…I get sick to my stomach just picturing Palosi naked.
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DZ-015
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 7:30pmSo now the beautiful people will have to cover up?
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