Tag Archives: public nudity

End of Week Updates: Nude Activists Convicted, Castro’s New Bulging Baskets (of Flowers) & More

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This week has raced by and April is nearly at an end. Summer is looming as spring draws to a close and we find ourselves checking back in on a  number of posts to find out what their status is. In no particular order or level of import here goes:

Trey Allen at SF City Hall protesting the new nudity ban on 2/1. (Photo: Justin Sullivan)

Trey Allen at SF City Hall protesting the new nudity ban on 2/1. (Photo: Justin Sullivan)

Nude activists, Russell ‘Trey’ Allen, Oxane ‘Gypsy’ Taub and Dist. 8 Supervisor candidate, George Davis were arrested and cited for violating the brand new nudity ban when they showed the full monty at a rally outside City Hall on Feb. 1 that we posted on, the day the ordinance went into effect. On Tues. the 23rd all were found guilty. They now hold the double honor of first arrested and first convicted under the Wiener Nudity Ban. They were each ordered to pay a $100 fine and $92 in court fees. Their Defense attorney Christina DiEdoardo plans to appeal in 30 days. Miss Taub and Mr. Stevens will be facing the judge again following a second arrest for dancing nude at Jane Warner Plaza.

flowers-one-castroThe 3rd Annual Flowers on Castro Benefit sponsored by the Castro Community Business District (CBD) and Herth Realty on April 18th that we posted about was a smashing success according to all who attended and CBD Exec Director, Andrea Aiello raising 2,000 more than the previous year. The event held at Herth Realty’s office on Castro St.  brought in over 10,334 dollars toward their 15,000 dollar goal in donations and art sales that will be used to replace and maintain the neighborhoods hanging baskets of flora. On Tuesday ten new baskets were installed along the village’s main strip. Art is still available for purchase at Herth’s office and you can peruse it as you will or donations can be made directly here. Special thanks to all the artists whose work was used, restaurants  Pica Pica, Fable and Poesia for providing the food and Swirl who supplied wine for the event. Pix from the event here.

SF State Sen. Mark Leno

SF State Sen. Mark Leno

Early this week we posted Sen. Mark Leno had introduced a bill, SB 635, that would allow individual communities to decide to extend their bar and clubs last calls from the current California limit of 2 AM to 4 AM. Despite a large push for the bill from within the Entertainment and Nightlife Industry the bill was rejected in committee. This is the second time our Senator has introduced this legislation. It has the ability to be brought back again before committee but not this year. It will have to go back and start its upstream swim again through political shark infested waters.  Mr. Leno has made noise that he believes that with the growing number of constituents in favor of the bill the next time up will see a different result. Who knows-maybe three times the charm?

Rally at City Hall in favor of changing SFO to Harvey Milk International Airport. (Photo; SJ Mercury News)

Rally at City Hall in favor of changing SFO to Harvey Milk International Airport. (Photo; SJ Mercury News)

And finally, Dist. 9 Supervisor David Campos’ push to rename SFO for Harvey Milk continues to seek its last supporter from among the other members of the Board of Supervisors so it can move forward. We’ve been posting on this issue since it broke. So far he has five out of the six co-sponsors from his fellows to go forward. Where the elusive sixth nod will come from has proven difficult. The freshmen members of the BOS-Norman Yee, London Breed and recent Mayor Lee appointee for Dist 4 Katy Tang-have been reluctant to sign on. Citing a variety of concerns from cost of the name change to the City or constituent balking at the idea-many think other titans of SF politics and civic duty are equally deserving as Milk have been used by the new Supes to withhold sponsorship. Campos remains undeterred and believes that in the end he will be triumphant.

UPDATE: Porn Parody “The Cover Up” Based on Wiener’s Nudity Ban Releases Trailer (NSFW)

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Golden Gate 5: The Cover UpLast month SF based Queer porn company and sexual rebels, Naked Sword, produced a porn parody based on the City’s infamous. Sup. Scott Wiener initiated, partial public nudity ban. The finished product has left the editing room and now teaser trailers are available for viewing.

For readers who might have missed the original post the company wrote a script loosely based on the struggle to ban nudity in the Castro and San Francisco. Naked Sword tapped Castro resident and porn director, Mr. Pam, to helm their new tongue on and in cheek vehicle shooting one of the films outdoor, transition scenes at the corner of Castro and Market Streets at Harvey Milk Plaza under the watchful eye of the SFPD essentially violating the City’s new ban.

About a dozen actors and real life nude activists stripped down and paraded about challenging the new ban while being filmed. No arrests were made. Two weeks later several of the public naturist activist who participated in the filming returned to Jane Warmer Plaza for a Nude Dance In and were arrested.

This dichotomy of the use of the law is being cited by SF urban nudity activists and their legal team as one of the prime reasons in their ongoing legal challenge to the Wiener statute that’s been on the books since February 1st of this year.

Dale Cooper-Sup. Scott Cox

Dale Cooper-Sup. Scott Cox

However the real life nudity issue plays out here in the City porn reviewers who’ve seen early releases of ‘The Cover Up‘ are raging saying, “its a massive suck-cess”.

The film is the fifth part of the ‘Golden Gate Series’ and premiers on Wed., April 3rd. Star Dale Cooper who portrays Supervisor Scott Cox (wink wink, nudge nudge, Sup. Scott Wiener, if you know what I mean) has been especially lauded for his time on-screen.

You decide for yourself. Fair warning-certainly NSFW by any stretch of the imagination. And don’t forget to turn down the sound or your boss, co-workers or significant other might raise, um, an eyebrow. Click HERE for for trailer.

 

Judge Sides with City Against Naturists in Latest Dust Up Over Public Nudity

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Trey Allen post arrest on Feb. 1st. sporting a SFPD supplied blanket.

Trey Allen post arrest on Feb. 1st. sporting a SFPD supplied blanket. Photo: Nude In Blogspot.com

SF’s Urban Nudist pleas for a restraining order against the City and its two and a half month old public nudity ban received a firm legal swat across their collective naked backsides this week when presiding Fed Judge, Edward Chen, denied their request.

Since the start of February when the ‘No No to Nudity’ ban, penned by Dist 8 Sup. Scott Wiener, backed by a majority of the Board of Supes and then signed, sealed and delivered by Mayor Lee was initiated there have been four incidents which have laid bare what Naturist identify as naked inconsistencies in the City’s public nudity policy.

Two or the actions: the first, held post ban at City Hall on Feb 1st, and most recently a nude ‘dance in’ on Feb. 27th at Jane Warner Plaza in the Castro resulted in misdemeanor arrests of activists for violating the public nudity ban.

Two others: one at Harvey Milk Plaza where SF porn studio, Naked Sword, filmed a large outdoor crowd scene with naked participants for an upcoming porn parody using the nude ban controversy as a plot device and second: the City’s annual Naked Bike Ride.

Both of those events-stuffed with ban violations-were exposed to a good dose of police presence but resulted in zero tickets or arrests.

Urban Nudists cite that kind of pick and choose attitude and use of the law as the basis for challenging the new ban. In a statement they said the City is, “engaged in a pattern of illegal arrests and discriminatory enforcement.” They also remain firmly committed to continued challenges both legally and actively with escalated defiance of the ban.

Judge Chen disagreed with their assessment stating their case, “was lacking in any substantive legal argument in support” of their claims and that they also didn’t provide enough evidence.

So the City’s ban stands. Again.

Trey Allen leaving court post prelim hearing for Feb. 1st City Hall nude protest. Photo: M. Petrelis

Trey Allen leaving court post prelim hearing for Feb. 1st City Hall nude protest. Photo: M. Petrelis

Nudist Trey Allen and Gypsy Taub have already been to prelim court over the City Hall disrobing and Gypsy and Sup. candidate and nude activist, George Davis, have an upcoming court appearance over the Jane Warner naked dance party exhibition.

More to be revealed on this ongoing social and political face off as the weather warms and more opportunities present themselves for the Urban Naturist activists to exhibit their case to the public.

Friday, March 22nd, they and their supporters returned to the steps of City Hall at noon and held a permitted rally against the ban. No arrests were made.

 

 

 

 

Photos: Porn Parody Shoot in the Castro Pokes Politicians and their Positions

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Naked Sword Rally/Film FlyerOn a beautiful and warm Sunday the Castro found itself at ground zero, once again, in the ongoing battle around the City’s new legal stance on public nudity.

The debate took a decidedly odd, only-in-San-Francisco, twist when the political became porn parody for a hardcore feature film being produced by local SF studio, Naked Sword.

Sandwiched between the Girl Scouts plying their addictive wares and a never-ending flow of citizens and tourists unloading  from MUNI subway and pouring up into the neighborhood, about 75 purveyors of porn and the embattled SF Urban Naturist community held a mock/real protest under the watchful eye of the SFPD. Their target: Supervisor Scott Wiener and the City’s new anti-nudity law used as a political hot potato plot line in the soon to be released porn titled ‘The Cover Up‘.

Naked Sword, who supports the nudist cause, smartly decided to capitalize on the current political controversy and take the Supervisor, police force and the City to task over the restrictive ban all the while engineering a hot porno.

The film’s director, Mr. Pam Gaypornmama (not her real name), a longtime Castro resident reached out to members of the nudist community and invited them to take part in an outdoor protest/rally scene shot at Harvey Milk Plaza.

“I LOVE nudity!”, declared Mr. Pam as she addressed the enthusiastic crowd of actors, extras, protestors and committed nudist. “I live in the Castro-just down the street from Jane Warner Plaza-I see the naked guys every day. I don’t understand what the big deal is and it upsets me to see our City is being turned into such a conservative town by people like Scott Wiener. Let’s keep the Castro funky!”

Armed with a City film permit the faux/real, protest/porn shoot lasted about three hours. Characters in the film like Supervisor Scott Cox (get it?) played by Dale Cooper, Christian Wilde as SFPD Officer Dick, and a variety of nude ‘protestors’ portrayed by adult film actors, Leo Forte, JD Phoenix, Logan Stevens, and Derrick Hanson all took turns delivering scripted lines and exciting the demonstrators/crowd/extras/background players for various reactions.

Dale Cooper-Sup. Scott Cox
Christian Wilde-Officer Dick
Logan Stevens
Derrick Hanson
Leo Forte
JD Phoenix

‘Background’, as extras are often referred to in that ‘other’ film industry, were primarily members of SF’s nudist clans, their ardent supporters and porn star stalkers who milled about chanting slogans on command keeping the ‘live protest edge’ at work in the scene.

Gypsy Taub, one of the four Urban Nudist activists who brought suit in Federal court against the City around the constitutionality of the new ban, played herself in the film. She read a prepared nudist manifesto condemning the real life law eradicating certain public nudity over other acceptable situational forms of nudity and the people who concocted it. Mr. Pam is going to include it in the finished product.

All in all there were at least twenty people/protestors/actors fully naked during the shoot/protest/event. No arrest were made by the six police present.

The filming killed sales for the poor Girl Scouts who were just trying to make a buck and earn merit badges at their booth in front of the now shuttered Diesel store. Their cookies could not compete with all the fine bare booties bouncing about on the sidewalk.

Many of the neighborhood’s casual observers and Sunday strollers were confused by the event and stopped to either lend support or just gape in wide-eyed wonder.

An older woman looking as if she’d just come from Mass at the Castro’s Most Holy Redeemer, commented to me as we both oogled some of Naked Swords disrobed well endowed talent, “Hard to complain about naked guys wandering the streets when they’re hung like that!” she said with an impish grin.

Art imitating life spun through a political churn, spanked with tongue in cheek, San Francisco humor and reshaped into Gay porn. I couldn’t help grinning as it seemed, for the day at least, Mr. Pam had succeeded in keeping our little hamlet funky for just a wee bit longer.

Only in the Castro folks, only in the Castro.

Some pix NSFW. All photos by Waiyde Palmer © 2013

Cops chatting with nudity advocates.
Crowd, Cast, Protest gathering.
George Davis, nude activist and supervisor candidate in dist. 8.
Naked Sword director Mr. Pam
Protest sign
Extras or Protestors?
Dale Cooper as Sup. Scott Cox studies his lines
Screw Your Nudity Ban
Dale looking the part of politician with his assistant.
Four of the six SFPD chaperoning the event
Christian Wilde as Officer Dick with JD Phoenix and Logan Stevens w/real nude activist.
Take 2- “You’re all under arrest!”
Um. This is my corner nudies!

 

 

Castro Nudist Trial Arrested Pre Wiener Ban Ends in Acquittal

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Nude Dude at Jane Warner Plaza-NOT Richard Serra

Nude Dude at Jane Warner Plaza-NOT Richard Serra

The three-day trial of 48-year-old Richard Serra, a self-described ‘novice’ naturist, arrested amidst his first ever public disrobing for alleged public masturbation was found ‘not guilty’ after a single day of deliberation by a jury of his peers.

It all started on a brisk, but sunny, pre current nudity ban November day in 2012, when Mr. Serra decided to join the embattled SF nudist movement in the Castro for a day of letting it all hang out.

According to court records Mr Serra told jurors, “He’d never done anything like that before but felt strongly about the cause and the need to stand up for individual freedom.”

Arriving at Jane Warner Plaza determined to take part he suddenly was hit with a dose of serious pee shy and opted instead of fully disrobing to just pull down his pants to his ankles and lift his tank top up a bit above his waist line. He wanted to hide some scars he had on his mid-drift that made him self-conscience.

3 Ring Binder Rings-NOT the DIY ones Mr. Serra employed on that fateful day.

3 Ring Binder Rings-NOT the DIY ones Mr. Serra employed on that fateful day.

Trying his best to fit in with his fellows nudist, who he’d observed on other prior Plaza visits sporting elaborate cock rings, Mr. Serra brought along a steel ring he’d removed from a three-ring binder-like your fave, sticker embossed, 7th grade Trapper Keeper-which he then employed as his own DIY cock-ring. Admittedly things went kind of south from there on out.

 

According to the Public Defender’s Office:

He attached it to his shirt and looped it around his penis to ensure his scars were covered. Sierra stood in front of Citibank on Castro Street, his genitals exposed. Meanwhile, a 53-year-old man walking his dog saw Sierra arranging his genitals and flagged down two police officers on bicycles. The dog walker reported that Sierra appeared to be masturbating with personal lubricant.

SFPD confronted Mr. Serra who explained he was just finding his way with the whole nudity thing and was too self-conscious to be fully naked like the other street roaming, free spirited, naked guys. The officers also noted he’d been spotted with a tube of what appeared to be masturbation lubricant which he generously applied to his kibble and bits. Nonplussed with Mr. Serra’s story the officers had heard enough and arrested him for indecent exposure.

Is anyone else shaking their heads by now?

During the trial it came out the lube tube was medicinal, $100 bucks-a-pop, eczema cream. Mr. Serra has a bit of an issue he battles with that dreaded ailment and was applying it to his affected nether region when the observant citizen who’d made the initial complaint sauntered by on his morning constitutional.

Here Comes The JudgeWhen the judge asked for the verdict to be read and ‘not guilty’ echoed in the chambers, Sierra reportedly wept with relief.

Who wouldn’t? If he’d been found guilty he faced a maximum of one year in jail and the added humiliation of registering as a sex offender-which like a incurable case of herpes-follows you around for LIFE.

Let’s hope Mr. Serra is undaunted in his wish to pursue personal body freedom. I personally think he could do with a nudity etiquette sponsor who’d show him how the naked game works avoiding all the drama not to mention the huge amounts of wasted, SF tax payer dollars.

Fed Judge Upholds City Nudity Ban

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US Federal Judge Edward Chen of the District Court for the Northern District of California

US Federal Judge Edward Chen of the District Court for the Northern District of California

The last bell has rung in the fight between the pro-nudity camp and the City. On Tues. the 29th a Federal Judge reviewing the case ruled the City’s pick and choose nudity ban didn’t violate anyones First Amendment rights of self-expression.

The new law, penned by the Castro’s own Dist. 8 Sup. Scott Wiener, will go into effect as planned on February 1st, 2013.

Federal Judge Edward Chen, an Oakland native who has been on the bench since his appointment in May 2011 stated in an 18 page opinion that, “in spite of what plaintiffs argue, nudity in and of itself is not inherently expressive.”

Judge Chens’ decision upholds the tenor of a precedent ruling made by the the US Supreme Court around a similar nudity case where the violation of a citizen’s First Amendment, freedom of expression, right to be nude was at the core of it’s substantive argument.

San Francisco plaintiffs had hoped they might have a unique angle with this particluar suit citing how the SF nudity ban is a pick and choose law in regards to where citizens may or many not show the full monty. Naked at Folsom Street Fair or during Bay to Breakers? Yes. Nude sunbathing in Jane Warner Plaza or Golden Gate Park? No, not so much.

A nude man protests against the ban on nudity in San Francisco (Photo: Reuters)

A nude man protests against the ban on nudity in San Francisco (Photo: Reuters)

The judge said while this may be unfair of the City but its not, in this context, violating anyone’s rights.

Legal eagle for the four nudist activists who brought the suit, attorney Christina DiEdoardo, speculated her clients may want to appeal. She thinks that if they can show how their individual rights are being legally disregarded once the ban is in place they would stand a better chance of winning.

The judge seemed open to the idea if, and only if, there is absolute proof of First Amendment infringement.

Last day for the public to strut their junk without fine, ticket or jailtime is Thursday, Jan. 31st. Forecasters predict SF weather will be sunny, cloudless, with a slight breeze and top out at 62 degrees for folks out there who want to make use of the final day to be as naked and free as Adam and Steve/or Eve.

 

Final Countdown to No More Pants Down-Nudity Ban to Start Feb. 1

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No Public Nudity

In less than two weeks the San Francisco law banning public nudity-unless for specific purposes or events-takes effect on February 1st.

While many who back the law, District Eight Supe Scott Wiener for example who authored the new City code, hail this as a step in the right direction for the community others find San Francisco’s turn toward puritanical modesty a sad state of affairs for a town viewed by most as the beacon of liberal thinking and actions in America.

From the Castro Nude In, Oct. 2012-sign outlines what the pro nudist camp demanded.

From the Castro Nude In, Oct. 2012-sign outlines what the pro nudist camp demanded.

The ‘Nude Issue’ has continued to be fodder of national and international story lines. Story lines pop with titillation as pundits, journalists and late night talk show hosts bandied about the furor SF’s nude cause celebre has had, it’s heated ‘for’ or ‘against’ public debates, protests and finally the subsequent law it’s produced.

Covering up this story seems hard to do. The SF, LGBT newspaper of note, Bay Area Reporter, who published a strong editorial supporting Mr. Wiener’s plan for a ban revisited the issue posting an informal, Facebook, poll on Thursday asking what readers thought. The results: 4 to 1 in favor of nudity and having citizen’s let it all hang out.

B.A.R. Poll on Nudity Jan. 2013

Federal Judge Edward Chen is expected to rule soon on a motion for a preliminary injunction to stop the City’s nudity ban. Chen could pick up the pace on things because if he dismisses the motion, there may be an appeal, and then this issue could drag on in the courts costing the taxpayers of the City big bucks defending the new law.

The basis for the suit brought by four nude activists and presented by their talented legal rep, Christina DiEdoardo, a criminal defense attorney, is that their first amendment rights will be violated if the ban stands.

The crux of that suit being the law inhibits people’s right to be ‘expressive’. Where the rub in the argument stands is the Supreme Court has already denied that as relative in an earlier case. If nudist were marching in a political context that’s being ‘expressive’.

Sitting with their junk in the sun at the Castro’s Jane Warner Plaza ‘expressive’? A stretch of the legal interpretation of the law that as yet no legal precedents supports.

The Castro Biscuit took a stand in our own editorial supporting the right of San Franciscan’s to be naked which has been widely shared and read. We still believe its the right course for our community to allow public nudity as long as it’s not lewd.

However, based on the law and it’s parameters, we believe the new nudity ban law will be allowed to move forward.

Here’s hoping for a few unseasonably warm days so those who wish to can work on their uninterrupted tan lines one more time without being hit with a ticket or jail time.

Late Nov. 2012 Gay musicians busking on the corner of 18th & Castro to appreciate crowds.

Late Nov. 2012 Gay musicians busking on the corner of 18th & Castro to appreciate crowds.