Bare indignation

Bare indignation

San Francisco, United States
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This month the nudists of San Francisco were told to get dressed when city leaders gave final approval to a ban on most cases of public nudity - something that used to be permitted in this famously free and easy city.

But the nudists did not go down without a fight. Around half a dozen turned up at City Hall, and bared their bodies and their indignation in response to the ban.

. SAN FRANCISCO, United States. REUTERS/Beck Diefenbach

The protestors were hurriedly covered up by sheriff's deputies who were standing at the ready with blankets, and who led them from the chamber.

Under the new rules, people will only be able to strip off in public at special parades, at nude beaches, or if they are children under five. The penalty for breaking the ban is up to $100 for a first offence and $200 for a second. Three-time offenders would face up to a year in jail and a $500 fine.

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In San Francisco City Hall, sheriff's deputies covered naked protestors against the ban on public nudity with blankets and led them away.
. SAN FRANCISCO, United States. REUTERS/Beck Diefenbach

In San Francisco City Hall, sheriff's deputies covered naked protestors against the ban on public nudity with blankets and led them away.

As the nudists were escorted out, some chanted, "body freedom" and "shame on you".
. SAN FRANCISCO, United States. REUTERS/Beck Diefenbach

As the nudists were escorted out, some chanted, "body freedom" and "shame on you".

Before the ban was passed, protesting nudists stripped off and organised a rally to oppose it.
. SAN FRANCISCO, United States. REUTERS/Beck Diefenbach

Before the ban was passed, protesting nudists stripped off and organised a rally to oppose it.

Four nudists, including a former San Francisco mayoral candidate, have filed suit challenging the ban, arguing that it deprives them of their constitutional rights to free speech and equal protection under law.
. SAN FRANCISCO, United States. REUTERS/Beck Diefenbach

Four nudists, including a former San Francisco mayoral candidate, have filed suit challenging the ban, arguing that it deprives them of their constitutional rights to free speech and equal protection under law.

San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener, who introduced the proposal to curb undressing, criticised the protestors, and said: "A lot of people who live in the neighbourhood are just sick of the fact that seven days a week there are men taking their pants off and displaying their genitals on our sidewalks and plaza."
. SAN FRANCISCO, United States. REUTERS/Beck Diefenbach

San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener, who introduced the proposal to curb undressing, criticised the protestors, and said: "A lot of people who live in the neighbourhood are just sick of the fact that seven days a week there are men taking their pants off and displaying their genitals on our sidewalks and plaza."

Last year San Francisco began required nudists to cover the surfaces they sit on in public places and to wear clothes in restaurants. Residents say the restrictions spurred defiant exhibitionism.
. SAN FRANCISCO, United States. REUTERS/Beck Diefenbach

Last year San Francisco began required nudists to cover the surfaces they sit on in public places and to wear clothes in restaurants. Residents say the restrictions spurred defiant exhibitionism.

Now this kind of nudity may be a thing of the past. Mayor Ed Lee is expected to sign the ban, which would clear the way for it to take effect on February 1.
. SAN FRANCISCO, United States. REUTERS/Beck Diefenbach

Now this kind of nudity may be a thing of the past. Mayor Ed Lee is expected to sign the ban, which would clear the way for it to take effect on February 1.

"There are ways of showing a person is nude, without actually showing they are nude."
Beck Diefenbach, Reuters Photographer

In America, it is often considered taboo to print a photo of frontal nudity, even if it is newsworthy. So when Reuters editor Mike Fiala asked me to shoot the latest chapter in the public nudity ban in San Francisco, I knew I would have a lot of things to consider.

San Francisco does not have a city ordinance banning nudity in public. It is just one of those San Francisco-isms everyone else in the country likes to joke about. Until the last year or two, this clothing-optional lifestyle never really caused much of a kerfuffle. But recently, store merchants in the city’s Castro district have requested that the city put a stop to bare skin.

Castro District Supervisor Scott Wiener has been trying to change the city code to eliminate the daily nudist activity. He proposed a ban that would prohibit nudity in most public places, but would still allow it in particular parades and street festivals (we are in San Francisco after all).

The final vote by the 11 city supervisors was set for Tuesday and I was assigned to photograph it for Reuters.

In previous city legislative sessions, nudists have disrobed in City Hall’s legislative chambers in protest against the proposed ban. I was pretty much certain this would happen again. Before the vote, I had two things in mind: 1) stay away from full frontal nudity, 2) the setting of City Hall’s legislative chambers was crucial to the picture.

So when the legislative session began, I decided to stay in the back of the chambers so that when someone did disrobe I would see their backsides as well as the setting around them.

When the supervisors voted 6 to 5 in support of the ban, about 7 or 8 people stood up from the gallery and immediately removed their clothing. My heart raced as I attempted to snap images of the nude protesters before they were covered with blankets by the San Francisco sheriff’s deputies. It was only a matter of seconds before nearly every nudist had been covered and was being escorted out of the chambers.

Years ago, I was in an interview for a photo internship at a small Midwestern newspaper and I was asked what I would do if I had to photograph a nude person walking down the street. My answer was that there are ways of showing a person is nude, without actually showing they are nude.

My prospective employer was looking to see if I had developed journalism sensitivity. In my book, not everything is black in white. And although the best image may involve the full monty, it may be so distracting to more prudish viewers, that the message doesn’t get across.

It is a delicate dance photographers and editors do every day. Only this time it involves the rare naked human form.

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