Public Nudity Ban Could Be Headed To San Francisco

A public nudity ban could soon be headed to the San Francisco area, according to Yahoo! News.

If city lawmakers pass the ordinance this Tuesday, then anyone over the age of five “exposes his or her genitals, perineum, or anal region on any public street, sidewalk, street median, parklet, or plaza” could face a fine. Those interested in baring it all during parades and festivals will need to acquire a city permit.

Of course, nudists aren’t going to let the vote happen without a fight. A group of activists filed a federal lawsuit against San Francisco on Wednesday that stated the proposed public nudity band is a direct violation of the constitutional right to free speech.

Supervisor Scott Wiener doesn’t see a huge problem with banning the display of naked genitals on city streets.

“I don’t think having some guys taking their clothes off and hanging out seven days a week at Castro and Market Street is really what San Francisco is about. I think it’s a caricature of what San Francisco is about,” Wiener explained to ABC News.

Those who fail to abide by the proposed public nudity ban will be fined $100 for the first offense. If folks haven’t learned their lesson by the third offense, then prosecutors could slap any offending individuals with misdemeanor charges.

Not surprisingly, there are a number of vocal opponents to the ordinance. McCray Winpsett, while sympathetic to those who aren’t interested in staring at naked crotches all day, thinks that the ban will rob San Francisco of its inherent weirdness.

“A few lewd exhibitionists are really ruining it for the rest of us,” Winpsett said. “It’s my time to come out now to present myself in a light and show what true nudity is all about so people can separate the difference between what a nudist is and an exhibitionist is.”

Do you think the public nudity ban violates the constitutional right to free speech? Do you agree with the proposed San Francisco ordinance?