Last Nov.15 about a dozen topless protesters gathered around City Hall with an attempt to demonstrate their feelings against the legislation that would ban public nudity. According to the legislation, it would “prohibit nudity on public streets, sidewalks, street medians, parklets, plazas, public transit vehicles, stations, platforms, and stops, except as part of permitted parades, fairs, and festivals.”
“We’re from Brazil, we think it’s very important to keep this liberty and keep this freedom. It’s not only expression, but art too,” said Gabriel Velloso who’s vacationing with his family from Brazil. On the other hand, some protesters were not comfortable. “I come from a traditional family in China, I’m against this, and homosexuality,”said a woman who refused to give out her name. A mother of two children explained that nudists have a personal right to express themselves, “We have to be accepting of other people’s beliefs, and I believe that’s a good conversation piece to have with my kids. That’s the main reason why I like to raise my kids in San Francisco, because they are exposed to so many things,” said Rissa Duque-Yangson.
On Nov. 20 the legislation passed by a margin of six to five, in which supervisors Jane Kim, Eric Mar, Christina Olague, David Campos, and John Avalos, opposed. A few attendees then made remarks about Supervisor Scott Wiener, some then stripped off their clothes. Nudists Gypsy Taub, who went topless last Nov. 5 during a committee hearing, decided to go topless again. She was the first one to be escorted out. “David Chiu, who goes to burning man to be liberated and have fun, goes to San Francisco to oppress his people. He actually told me he’s with us, that he supports us, but probably won’t vote for us. How is that he is voting against what he believes in?” Taub said.