SAN FRANCISCO—City activists who have been fighting a ban against nudity have won the right to hold naked protest march known as the “Nude In.” The event was held this weekend, on Saturday, September 26 at 12 p.m., and was granted a parade permit by U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg.
The parade included a march from the Castro District’s Jane Warner Plaza, to the Civic Center. The permit was applied for to intentionally overlap with the Folsom Street Fair, an event that is known for its nudity.
Police had initially denied the permit, stating that the anticipated turnout of 50-100 people would not warrant a “parade.”
The activists of “Gypsy Taub” were able to get an attorney to represent their cause, and a formal complaint was filed on September 20. Lawyers represented the city’s nude activists in the argument that the San Francisco Police Department was violating their first amendment rights by refusing to permit the organization’s parade.
In February 2013, a citywide ordinance stated that nudity was only allowed in permitted parades on city streets, as opposed to sidewalk marches. Many business owners had submitted formal complaints to the Board of Supervisors, which initiated drafting of the nudity legislation in 2012.
U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg was assigned to their case, and stated that the nude parade ordinance should not be reliant on the size of the group. Judge Seeborg ruled that the size of the group was not stated clearly by the ordinance, and ruled the ordinance to be unconstitutional. Judge Seeborg ordered San Francisco officials to issue the permit.
The nudists were awarded a $20,000 payment for legal fees as their case against San Francisco proceeds to the Ninth Circuit. Judge Seeborg also issued a temporary restraining order against SFPD to prohibit the disturbance of the nude-in.
Gypsy Duab stated in a press release:
“Today a federal district judge ordered the City and County of San Francisco and the San Francisco Police Department to issue a parade permit to George Davis, Gypsy Taub, and a group of other urban nudists. Davis and Taub are currently in litigation with the City over whether San Francisco’ nudity ban can be enforced against individual engaged in political demonstration supporting body freedom and condemning the recently enacted ban.”
Daub will be also be hosting an all-nude Halloween party on October 17, called Night of the Naked. The event will be taking place at the Dogwatch at the Little Boxes Theater, and nudity will be mandatory with the exception of people who choose to wear masks or face-paint.
