The birthday suit lawsuit: Naked protesters gather outside court to fight rule banning them from being nude in public

  • Law would see them fined increasing amounts with a third strike resulting in prison sentence of up to a year
  • Gypsy Taub, a plaintiff, stripped while making an appearance at a public hearing relating to the law

By Rik Sharma

PUBLISHED: 05:56 EST, 16 November 2012 | UPDATED: 06:06 EST, 16 November 2012


A group of nude protesters marched to their courthouse on Wednesday to file a lawsuit against the city and county of San Francisco.

They aim to stop city leaders from passing a law which would stop them appearing naked in public.

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Fighting for their rights: Nudists march past City Hall during a rally against a proposed law which would ban nudity in San Francisco

Fighting for their rights: Nudists march past City Hall during a rally against a proposed law which would ban nudity in San Francisco

Under the law a first-time citation for nudity would mean a fine of up to $100. A second instance could lead to a $200 fine, while a third means a fine of up to $500 and the possibility of a year in prison.

The nudists say the proposed law violates their right to freedom of speech.

 

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Scott Wiener, a city supervisor representing the Castro District, introduced the proposal which would stop backsides and genitals being exposed in public.

Exempt from the law would be naked breasts and children under five, as well as events permitted by the city - including the annual gay pride parade.

Punishment: The law would see nudists fined up to $100 for one violation, $200 for two and $500 with a potential prison sentence of a year for three

Punishment: The law would see nudists fined up to $100 for one violation, $200 for two and $500 with a potential prison sentence of a year for three

Former stripper turned stay-at-home mother of three, Gypsy Taub, is a plaintiff in the case.

She also hosts a television show called 'My Naked Truth' on which both she and her guests go unclothed.

The 43-year-old said: 'Being naked is a birth-given freedom, not a crime.'

At a public hearing related to the new law on November 5 Ms Taub stripped while speaking and was led away by security.

VIDEO: Gypsy Taub strips during a public hearing Warning - contains nudity


She wrote about it later: 'I have had it with sexual repression. I have had it with puritanism. I have had it with hypocrisy.

'I have had it with snotty stale dudes in suits telling me what I am allowed and not allowed to wear, inhale, enjoy, believe.

'Scott Wiener really tipped the scale. I came to his hearing and ripped my clothes off to prove to everybody that nobody is going to die if I do that.

Scott Wiener
Woody Miller

Opposites: Scott Wiener (left) says nudity in San Francisco has caused 'anger and frustration', while Woody Miller (right) is one of the nude protestors

'Any victims reported? Did anybody need an ambulance? Does anybody need therapy now that they saw me naked?'

Ms Taub continued: 'First of all, I had the biggest blast doing it! I would do it every day if I could. I felt so much joy after this act of civil disobedience, I can't begin to tell you.'

Discussion: Michael Sundin, of Napa, talks with fellow nudists following the march

Discussion: Michael Sundin, of Napa, talks with fellow nudists following the march

She added: 'It was so much fun to yell at Scott Wiener and call him a fascist right to his face. I wish I could do this to Hitler! The audience loved it.'

Mr Wiener introduced the ordinance in October and said that nudity had caused a lot of anger and frustration in San Francisco.

'We’ve always had random and sporadic public nudity in San Francisco, and no one had a problem with that,' he said.

'In the last two years, things have changed. In the Castro, in particular, we now have men who take their clothes off and hang out every day of the week, and that has caused a lot of anger and frustration in the neighborhood.'

Leaving: Nudist George Davis (left), of San Francisco, is asked to leave the US Federal Court Building after a police officer cited required clothing rules

Leaving: Nudist George Davis (left), of San Francisco, is asked to leave the US Federal Court Building after a police officer cited required clothing rules

'The city is trying to legislate against the naturalness of the naked body, and that is wrong,' said George Davis, 66, another plaintiff.

Mr Davis, who runs a website for 'urban nudists', has campaigned naked while running unsuccessfully for mayor and city supervisor in recent years and estimates he spends 120 days a year naked in public.

'I’d go more, but I get uncomfortable if it’s too cold or foggy,' he explained. 'Nude is not lewd,' Mr Davis added. 'That is our mantra.'

Words of wisdom: Rusty Mills, of San Francisco, speaks to fellow nudists during the march

Words of wisdom: Rusty Mills, of San Francisco, speaks to fellow nudists during the march

Christina DiEdoardo, the group's lawyer, said: 'The city is overstepping its authority.

'The act of being naked is not enough to be obscene or indecently exposed under California law.'

The board of supervisors will vote on the measure next week but the nudists asked for a preliminary injunction to stop the law being implemented if it is passed until after their claims that it violates their rights are considered by a judge.

One law which was passed last year saw nude citizens having to place a barrier, a towel for example, between their bare backsides and any public seats.

Delay: The group want an injunction against the proposed law if it is passed next week, until their case is heard by a judge

Delay: The group want an injunction against the proposed law if it is passed next week, until their case is heard by a judge

Not obscene: The group's lawyer says the act of being naked is not enough to be judged 'indecently exposed' or 'obscene'

Not obscene: The group's lawyer says the act of being naked is not enough to be judged 'indecently exposed' or 'obscene'

 
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gotta LOVE san francisco. hey u see that guy next to the pale chick? he has scoliosis

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Very amusing article. While I have personal modesty, I do think that if there were a mandatory "Naked Day" every year, a massive amount of people would attempt to get in shape for it the other 364 days.

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What ABOUT THE CHILDREN?! WHY WON'T ANYONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!?!? - jackie the joke man, sierra leone, United States, 16/11/2012 Because we are a free society and you cannot police everything. It is called parenting. I grew up in age of television and was not even allowed to watch 90210. Parents did not allow television/phone in my room. Mostly saw national geographic specials and some sitcoms my parents approved. Also, no soda or junk food our house. Not one prepackaged good. It is easy to parent if the parents themselves walk the walk. However, if the parents plop down in front of the tv, watch violent shows, have tv running 24/7, and junk food in house, then it is parents problem and fault. My parents rarely watched tv and did not eat junk food. So, these things were not issues in our household. Parents controlled my movements and what i had access to. Some idiot parents act like if they have no control over household. Really? Gov must control what your childs sees on tv?

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If they want to be naked, who cares? I do think they shouldn't be allowed to sit in public w/o a towel. Honestly, it's unsanitary for them as well as us.

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Is it just coincidence you have one guy with the last name "Weiner" and another guy with the first name "Woody"?

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Ps the fact that the legislation is coming from Supervisor Weiner -- priceless!

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I only came here for the video lol but the female in the video does have a few valid points but as with everything there are those who are for and against everything, its all about trying to get the right balance and personly i don't care if you are dressed or naked...each to their own...but one thing i do know is they cannot keep locking people up(which is the case with the naked rambler here)for being the one thing we are all born as...naked. They cannot lock everyone up.

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I live here and trust me, we are sick of these guys!

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They contaminate everything they touch or sit on, utterly disgusting...

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Top picture, the blob with the backpack and hat. You just know that thing can't "clean" itself properly. Who the Hell would want to sit where that thing was just sitting? There's probably a cloud of flies buzzing around it's butt. Disgusting!

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