First Nudity Ban Hearing Happens in Federal Court

Above: Attorney Christina DiEdoardo speaks with the media prior to the first hearing about the nudity ban in federal court.

The first hearing about the nudity ban took place in federal court here in San Francisco on Thursday, January 17, 2013. Judge Chen extensively questioned both sides during the approximately ninety-minute court proceeding. There are two matters to be decided by the court. Whether to grant or deny the "Motion to Dismiss" the lawsuit filed by the City of San Francisco and the plaintiff's request for a "Preliminary Injunction". This type of injunction could prevent the nudity ban from being enforced until the entire case is decided.

Judge Chen has taken all of the testimony and briefings "under advisement" and will be rendering his decision(s) sometime prior to February 1, 2013 when the ban is set to take effect.

Some nudists have reported that the police are not waiting for February 1. Activist Gypsy Taub informs us that during a nudity ban protest on the sidewalk in front of San Francisco City Hall on Monday, January 14, she and other nudists were harassed by a group of six uniformed police officers that arrived in three separate vehicles. Taub says the naked group was told their protest required a permit. Taub pointed out that “standing on the sidewalk does not require a permit”. After an extensive verbal altercation the police finally retreated to their cars and left the scene when the nudists refused to get dressed or leave the area.

Attorney DiEdoardo has done an outstanding job representing the nudist activists in this newsworthy lawsuit. As you likely know, with high-profile lawsuits come high-profile legal bills. We have revised our Rally.org crowd-funding goal to $20,000 as our legal expenses have already gone significantly past the original ten thousand dollar fundraising goal. Please consider helping with the fundraising efforts by making a donation if you can, and also by sharing the link to our Rally.org crowd-funding page on your Facebook page and/or Twitter feed. Use this link: https://rally.org/stopthesanfrancisconudityban

Stay tuned for further developments including the decision(s) from the federal court.