don't believe in the sexualization of nudity. in general however i believe a lot of what is going on is a sexualized version of nudity and sexualizes the bystander without consent and that i find to be inappropriate and not good neighborly business. thank you. >> thank you very much. next speaker. >> hello. my name is raymond and i'm a resident of the sunset district but go off to the castro and all of that stuff, and i have been a nudist for 40 odd years plus. member of the nudist association, nature society, and i have been nude all over the world. i think san francisco has a very unique opportunity to show tolerance rather than everybody saying

that the nudity would be bad for kids. no, that is not so. i of going to nudist places for a long time as i said and i have seen lots and lots of children and it doesn't harm them at all. it is a cultural thing, yes, but i fully opposed to mr. wiener's bill. strongly suggest that it would be nixed in committee over here and pardon my stutter and i will be a nudist as long as possible and as far as the exhibitionism is concerned i don't think it's that. i want to go to jane warner plaza and

sit on the chairs there and read my book and talk to people, have some water and all that stuff. i don't go up and approach people and all that stuff, and yet i have been harassed at times. once a guy -- i was looking for shade and a guy came out of his shop and really harassed me very, very verbally. okay. thank you very much. >> thank you very much sir. next speaker. >> good morning. i am ralph and i live with my wife in woodside. i am here to ask you to vote no on this ban on nudity and i don't go to jane warner plaza myself but i support those that do. there is no property damage. there is no logical argument for the proposed ban and it comes down to one phrase

"it's disgusting". i will remind you that beauty and disgust is in the eye of the beholder and what comes next. many consider obesity disgusting and ban that and our constitution is built on individual's rights and pursuit to happiness. many laws have been passed by the majority over years and ultimately based on bigotry and disgust and gay marriage and sodomy and many more. every time one of the laws is tested in court it has been eventually over turned. the same thing would happen here. it hurts no one. let's not pass it just because a few people find it disgusting. san francisco is about individual's rights and people come to the city to be

who they are without concerns of bigging on tree and scorn. nudity is one more freedom that san francisco has championed. we took a step back with the towel law. let's not take another step backwards. i leave you with this quote from an rand. those that deny individual rights cannot be defenders for the majority. this legislation is using a sledge hammer to kill a flea. i urge you to vote no. thank you. >> thank you. next speaker. >> good morning. i am bruce dodea. as a child my father had a very racist sort of perspective on things. he felt that black people were bad people. i don't think that has

a child i would have developed an exposure to thinking that black people were bad if not for my father. as an adult i have developed a broader opinion of things in which i think that i'm more open minded, so when i hear people discuss how disturbing this might be to a child i see it more of a perspective that the parent brings to that household opposed to some impression that a child would have about nudity. what i like about the fact that the nudists have come to the castro speaks to me of the straight people that have come. i know straight women and straight men have been naked there who feel it's safe to come to the area because of the openness and liberalness and a progressive area. instead

now it's coming off as less so. i do respect supervisor wiener's opinion. i have nothing against mr. wiener. simply we have different opinions. so i would like to state that i am against the ban of nudity, and thank you for listening. >> thank you very much. next speaker. >> hello good afternoon everybody. i am pam and i am a resident of the castro district. i lived in san francisco for 17 years and in the castro for 13. i am a woman obviously. i am not a nudist but i completely oppose the ban on public nudity. i live across the street from jane warner plaza and for about a year and i could see the nudists from my patio and on saturdays i drink tea and watch

the nudists. recently i went to jew res lum and with friends and they were afraid to hold hands. and they would open the door if they thought it was okay and in chelsea new york you can't be seen kissing if you're two guys and am exciting to be back in san francisco. people say that nudists maybe them uncomfortable. i don't see what that is. i support them because they promote a healthy body image and in the castro and men's magazines and people working out. i think we should support all types of bodies. the biggest complaint these are not the people i want to see

naked and these are the people that we should see and i am scared if this pass what is is next and i love san francisco and the diversity and the castro. >> thank you very much. >> hello. i amanda conda and president of the harvey milk democratic club and we oppose the ban and we feel it's adding a draconian measure to something that is isolated problem in an isolated area. we feel as supervisor wiener said that the law on lewd behavior is not encompassing enough to be able to take actions and instead of creating a ban and censoring people's behaviors and beliefs and we should look at that law, and see if we can make it more effective law. i don't think and the club doesn't think it's appropriate to act lewdly in

public. however, we do see this as an opportunity for a better conversation and it has started a conversation in the gay community about the body face sm that we already experience and we don't think a ban is the right end to this discussion. thank you. >> thank you very much. mr. alexander. >> hello i am josh alexander. i live in the castro and i'm not a nudist but i oppose this ban. people say we need it because they're offended. well, i am offended. i am offended by this proposed legislation that i have to come to this hearing to speak up for freedom and diversity and san francisco values shouldn't be under attack by someone

purporting to represent all districts, district eight. i am offended and legislation that ask people to mind their own business. one doesn't need to be a health professional and other people should dress according to your preferences and upset if they don't. they can't point to anything to support their issues. if proponents really think this legislation has broad support then i say prove it. put it to the voters on the ballot. don't let a small group of disgruntled conservatives to impose their will on us and it's not democracy and it's not what we put you in office to do. thank you. >> thank you. next speaker. actually before you go i apologize let me call more names and anyone that wants to make

public comment who has not filled out a card please do so. i will read a few more names. (calling speaker names). >> my name is peter spear. supervisor wiener said he hoped the public nudity phenomenon would run the course and dismissing it simply as a fad. instead it grew significantly and in a message that shouldn't be dismissed lightly. he criticized those that didn't want to wear clothes as small

group of exhibitionist men and couldn't be further from the truth. like my wife and i are responsible nudist citizens who are willing to work towards a win-win resolution. the supervisor should be doing the same thing. he said the problem at jane warner plaza and followed by action and he told them he was willing to see if it would improve the legislation. a few days later he introduced his legislation and where was the waiting and seeing in a problem solving session. supervisor wiener said we are a open and disverse neighborhood and need to embrace everyone. we clearly disagree on the definition of "everyone". asking the other ten members to approve a sweeping city wide ban

to resolve a local issue and handled in his own neighborhood is disrespectful to those board members and the constituents they serve. a dran conian ban that is integral part of what makes san francisco special and weakens our reputation and benchmark for tolerance of alternative lifestyles of all kinds. thank you. >> thank you. next speaker. >> thank you supervisors for having this today. i would like to thank the many people that have come here including many of my friend who is are both sides of this issue. i have been in a resident in the castro for 26 years both as a renter, a homeowner. i started by business there. one of the things i would like to say i have been saddened by the level of discourse on both sides and accusations against the members

of the board, the police department, comparisons to nazi germany to me are out of bounds. i think what is missing in this debate is the dedication to civility. i am fully in support of this measure. it has become a vocal debate in my home and office and within the castro and to quote donna summer and barbara striez sand qualify enough is enough". it's an issue of civility. being naked and exposing oneself in public maybe a joy to some, but those that work and tended those with hiv and worked with the lgbt homeless youth and making it not an adult neighborhood but a neighborhood. we find it offensive. i find it

offensive. i urgelet full board to pass this ban and i am sure no one is happy to see this come before the board. thank you. >> thank you. next speaker. >> i am thomas lynch. i am from berkeley. i am fearful of the precedent you will set if you allow this to continue. wearing clothes in public is certainly a healthy pres defnlt i hear now that genital decoration is the new thing and a clue to standards being yielded. if i were a parent i would be outraged. it is not a free country for children that can't play on certain streets because their parents are teaching them to be civilized. i no longer go to the castro area anymore and i don't want to encounter the exhibitionism and the clothes

individuals too busy around to stand around naked. let's keep it for the private situations where it gets its true reward. >> thank you very much. next speaker. >> good morning supervisors. i am mike and have been a resident and property owner and business owner. my conference room fronts on to the market street area at the jane warner plaza and let me give you an example to what happens when clients enter my conference room who are looking to purchase homes within the neighborhood. now i'm a proud owner of my neighborhood and celebrate our diversity within our neighborhood. i know my diversity within my neighborhood especially when i leave it. when i leave it i am very proud of my diversity, and i am happy to share that diversity with other individuals who are looking to move into

our neighborhood. the challenge with that is when you're there doing the transaction with a new person who wants to move into your neighborhood and they see that outside the conference room window they then look at you and go "do i really want to live here? is this where i want to raise my children? is this where i want to be? and how do you answer that question to that individual? the other circumstance i've had is when the tourists come into town. i had an italian family came up to me and said "is this normal? is this normal behavior for your city?" and i had to look at them and tell them it is bad behavior that encouraged others to come. i am in full support of what you're doing and i thank you. thank you for your time. >> thank you. next speaker. >> good morning. i am i van

and i don't like this ban because it's too broad. if you want to modify it great. one of the great things about san francisco we're host to a lot of events. there are minor events, bars, and clubs and stuff. we need to zero in on what the problem is. i don't think nudity in general is what we're trying to ban. for a long time people were complaining about people in jock straps and genitals were hitting and i want the city to host these events and international events and small events that are not pride, that are not folsom that would be affected. >> you're with folsom as well.

we did address the legislation for that specific concern and those events would not be impacted but thank you. i appreciate the perspective next speaker. >> my name is charles harris. i'm a resident and san refeal and advocate for body freedom and nature foundation and improving the awareness of these activities throughout north america. in 2009 the association commission had polling firm to conduct a poll of the attitude of californians towards nudity. the margin of error is plus or minus 3%.

question number five was "do you agree or disagree that you are personally offended by the non sexual nudity of others". the responses were as follows. strongly agree and somewhat agree and somewhat disagree 17%. strongly disagree 41-point 1% and as you can see many of the residents are not offended by the non sexual nudity of others. the results of this poll to our knowledge is the only empirical evidence on this towards the attitudes of nudity and which the proponents rely and the majority is offended by public nudity is not correct and if the choice before you and if you recommend this before the board of supervisors and act in accordance with the vast

majority of the city's residents or the vocal minority. san francisco is a beacon of tolerance and intolerance is too common. do you want to make this great city like other cities? clearly constituents do not. [inaudible] rejected an ordinance -- [inaudible] >> thank you very much. next speaker. >> hello. my name is glenda rider and the owner and producer of the international ms. leather weekend. we hold it here in san francisco and half of the attendees live outside of the city of san francisco. i would like to speak to oppose this ban on public nudity. while i may not like to see the gentlemen unclothessed in the castro i

think it's a matter of tolerance and as someone who brings half a million dollars of business to the city when we looked for a new hotel when we out grew our current property half of the city hojts me -- hotels this is a family hotel. i don't want your costumes in san francisco. i moved from the east coast and i thought california and san francisco specifically would be more tolerant. what i found that is not the case and that breaks my heart and i would hate to see the supervisors of this great city, this amazing home to free spirits, codify intolerance and the fact that some people are offended reduced the civil right scptsd

liberties that we have here and you need to consider the slippery slope you're creating this ban. >> thank you very much. thank you for your work. next speaker. >> good morning supervisors. i am andrew thompson. born and raised in san francisco. 50 years old. i am probably older than you. >> not by much. >> okay. well, both my parents came to this country -- well, i will focus on my mother. she came with her family to escape what was happening in italy with mussolini and about the time i was born in 62 about the time that -- about the time that people were fleeing to the suburbs i asked my mother why aren't we leaving? and she said "i want my children to be raised

in the city". back then i grew up in westportal. took the streetcar through the tunnel and i was going to school at seven in the morning just as the castro was winding up their evening, and saw all kinds of things that my mother may not have agreed with, but trusted in the fact that we could go through this city and see what we see. you know 30 years ago right across the street u2 played at the civic and the first thing out of bono's mouth and exactly his age. he was 20 years old. this is san francisco. we can do what we want there. well, he did that seven years later and spray painted the fountain and that was disstrugz of property and they paid for that. that

compromised the city. this is not destruction of property. this is a problem with people who do not like to see naked people. okay. >> thank you very much. actually let me call the remaining cards i have before we get to the next speaker. (calling speaker cards). those are all the cards i have. if you would like to speak you can fill out a card or if you don't want to fill out a card just stand in line and make public comment. next speaker. >> hello. my name is hank. i of living in san francisco for 18 years. i live two blocks

from the jane warner plaza. i am opposed to the legislation. i think it goes a little too far. i understand people are uncomfortable with nudity and something they're not willing to accept on a daily basis but just because of that doesn't mean we have to ban it in the entire city. i think it's a problem and 12 guys and a two block stretch and suddenly going with the draconian measure in the entire city and can't walk around. we have the critical mass rides and for 20 years naked cyclists have been riding with this and this would be a kink in this and i know you have exceptions and the critical mass ride, those things don't fall under there. am i wrong. >> they're technically illegal but the city allows them. if

they go after critical mass there are other ways than nudity but we don't. >> critical mass and people can get together and go on a bike road. it is our roads and we pay our taxes but i think this measure goes too far. in the last years there isn't a nudity ban and now we need one because of a district and business district of four blocks i think goes too far and i am totally opposed to the measure. thank you very much. >> next speaker. >> good morning supervisors. first i wanted to commend supervisor wiener. september 21 i've never been compelled to email or contact a supervisor before in my life, but in september my partner and i moved actually to the castro area. having lived in six other areas in san francisco, having guests

come in from family and friends from all over they never had the reaction that we've had and we had to experience, which prompted me to send him an email on september 21. there's a lot of discussion about diversity and freedom and all of that. i think the reality of it is if the nudists were congregating in knob hill or fisherman's wharf, the other supervisors would have who do something like mr. wiener has. it's a matter of wanting our community back and you don't have to second guess what you're going to confront. just last night a group of us went to 18th and castro and a nude iftd right outside the window and i saw first hand two families coming for dinner that they left not wanting to stand in line having a nudist just stand outside the restaurant, so i truly support

this, and i commend you for bringing it up. thank you. >> thank you very much. next speaker. >> hello. i'm matthew johnson. i live and also work and play in the castro. i moved here from oklahoma six years ago and the nudists and this is great and wonderful. however they were meandering about and now they're there. unfortunately with the addition of park lit it's a show case for exhibitionists behavior. the one day they actually went out there to enjoy my lunch i saw a gentleman came out fully dressed, proceeded to take his clothes off and put on a cock ring and started smoking. what is interesting to me when i went back to work someone