Nudity ban in San Francisco

San Francisco city officials have voted in favour of a ban on nudity in public places. This decision ends a bitter dispute with a group of nudists. However, it’s not all bad news for those who wish to leave their clothes at home, because the ruling allows for exceptions at certain street fairs and events. A federal lawsuit has already been filed arguing that it infringes on the right to free speech. The call for the ban came in response to an increase in complaints about a group of men whose bare bodies are on display almost daily in the city’s famous gay Castro District. Opponents of the change have expressed concern about how it will affect the image of San Francisco as a liberal beacon. Under the new law, a first offence would carry a maximum $100 fine (€78), but prosecutors could also penalise offenders with $500 (€390) and a year in prison.