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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| San Francisco votes to ban public nudity | San Francisco votes to ban public nudity |
| (8 days later) | |
| San Francisco has banned public nudity in a vote that is likely to spark protests among the city's many naturists. | San Francisco has banned public nudity in a vote that is likely to spark protests among the city's many naturists. |
| Two women stripped off as the result was read out at city hall on Tuesday. One said: "What are you afraid of? My government has failed me." | Two women stripped off as the result was read out at city hall on Tuesday. One said: "What are you afraid of? My government has failed me." |
| Another man stripped off and chanted: "The body is beautiful." | Another man stripped off and chanted: "The body is beautiful." |
| The vote went six to five in favour of the ban, which was supported by many residents and business owners in the city's Castro district. | The vote went six to five in favour of the ban, which was supported by many residents and business owners in the city's Castro district. |
| For the past two years, there has been an almost daily gathering of naked men at a plaza on the corner of Castro and Market streets – a busy commercial, tourism and transit point in the city's famous gay area. | For the past two years, there has been an almost daily gathering of naked men at a plaza on the corner of Castro and Market streets – a busy commercial, tourism and transit point in the city's famous gay area. |
| As soon as the ban was passed, one woman stood up and declared "this is not a democracy" before taking off her clothes. | As soon as the ban was passed, one woman stood up and declared "this is not a democracy" before taking off her clothes. |
| Another lady in the gallery stood up and said: "I'm going to do it too" before removing her top. Two men followed suit. | Another lady in the gallery stood up and said: "I'm going to do it too" before removing her top. Two men followed suit. |
| Security removed a handful of others who had shouted their disapproval at the result of one of the most controversial votes the San Francisco city legislators have had in recent years. | Security removed a handful of others who had shouted their disapproval at the result of one of the most controversial votes the San Francisco city legislators have had in recent years. |
| The vote was close. Five of the 11 supervisors opposed the ban, largely on the grounds that they did not see the need for a city-wide ban to deal with a problem that is confined to one small area. | The vote was close. Five of the 11 supervisors opposed the ban, largely on the grounds that they did not see the need for a city-wide ban to deal with a problem that is confined to one small area. |
| But supervisor Scott Wiener, who proposed the ban on nudity, said he had been hearing from upset residents of the Castro district for the past two years. | But supervisor Scott Wiener, who proposed the ban on nudity, said he had been hearing from upset residents of the Castro district for the past two years. |
| "This situation has changed" he said. "It's no longer sporadic. It's seven days a week in this neighbourhood where people live and work and conduct their lives." | "This situation has changed" he said. "It's no longer sporadic. It's seven days a week in this neighbourhood where people live and work and conduct their lives." |
| He said people were standing at the corner of Market and Castro, "displaying their genitals to anyone who is passing by. It is very much a 'hey, look what I have' mentality." | He said people were standing at the corner of Market and Castro, "displaying their genitals to anyone who is passing by. It is very much a 'hey, look what I have' mentality." |
| While he recognised that Castro was a place of "freedom of expression," he said: "That doesn't mean we have no standards whatsoever." | While he recognised that Castro was a place of "freedom of expression," he said: "That doesn't mean we have no standards whatsoever." |
| He was opposed by supervisor John Avalos, who said he was concerned that a ban on nudity would be an infringement of civil liberties. "Sometimes there is a little weirdness about how we express ourselves and that's part of what is great in this city," he said. | He was opposed by supervisor John Avalos, who said he was concerned that a ban on nudity would be an infringement of civil liberties. "Sometimes there is a little weirdness about how we express ourselves and that's part of what is great in this city," he said. |
| Outside city hall, protesters gathered to shout their disapproval of the ban, with some ignoring the cold to remove items of clothing. | Outside city hall, protesters gathered to shout their disapproval of the ban, with some ignoring the cold to remove items of clothing. |
| Opponents of the ban have until at least February to continue to walk naked in public. As a point of procedure the board must have a second vote in two weeks as a number of amendments were made to the legislation prior to Monday's decision. | Opponents of the ban have until at least February to continue to walk naked in public. As a point of procedure the board must have a second vote in two weeks as a number of amendments were made to the legislation prior to Monday's decision. |
| A spokesperson for the law firm representing the pro-nudists said that a legal objection is also being filed. | A spokesperson for the law firm representing the pro-nudists said that a legal objection is also being filed. |
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