4:16 PM: Public nudists in San Francisco will face some restrictions if legislation introduced today by Supervisor Scott Wiener is approved.
Wiener’s legislation, proposed at this afternoon’s board meeting, would require those going naked to cover public seating before sitting down and put on clothes before entering restaurants.
He said the idea for the ordinance came after he received numerous constituent complaints and saw some of the unsanitary behavior himself–particularly in Jane Warner Plaza and elsewhere in the Castro, which is part of Wiener’s district.
“One would hope we wouldn’t need to legislate this, but people aren’t doing it,” he said.
Before today’s meeting, Wiener emphasized that the legislation is not banning public nudity, but is simply maintaining public health standards.
He said his office has not received any complaints from local nudist groups about the proposal.
Wiener acknowledged that the legislation could be the butt of jokes as an “only in San Francisco” proposal–with the added punch line that his last name is a slang term for the male genitalia.
“They’ll say what they’re going to say,” he said. “I look forward to the conversation about this legislation.”
11:50 AM: The right to bare all in San Francisco might soon come with some restrictions under legislation being proposed at today’s Board of Supervisors meeting.
The legislation, which will be introduced by Supervisor Scott Wiener, would require those going nude to cover public seating before sitting down and put on clothes before entering restaurants.
Wiener’s district includes the Castro, which has seen a recent increase in public nudity, according to his office.
The supervisor says the legislation would ensure that public health standards are maintained by requiring nudists to put a towel or other item between their body and a public seat.
“San Francisco is a liberal and tolerant city, and we pride ourselves on that fact,” Wiener said in a statement.
“Yet, while we have a variety of views about public nudity, we can all agree that when you sit down naked, you should cover the seat, and that you should cover up when you go into a food establishment,” he said.
Today’s board meeting, the first since a five-week summer recess, is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. at City Hall.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
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