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NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE
UPDATE
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http://www.naturistaction.org
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Copyright 2007 by the Naturist Action Committee, which is responsible for its content. Permission is granted for the posting, forwarding or redistribution of this message, provided that it
is reproduced in its entirety and without alteration.
DATE: July 17, 2007
SUBJECT: Huntington Beach, California
TO: All Naturists
Dear Naturist,
This is an Update from the Naturist Action Committee concerning a proposed anti-nudity ordinance for the City of Huntington Beach, California.
As anticipated, an ordinance targeting naturists was
introduced at the July 16 meeting of the Huntington Beach City Council. By a unanimous vote of 7-0, council members have chosen to allow the ordinance to move forward. The measure, which has been assigned Number 3773, could not
have been voted into law at the meeting; it was simply allowed to continue the approval process. The proposed ordinance receives its next council consideration in a meeting scheduled for August 6, 2007.
THE SPECIFIC THREAT
The proposed new Huntington Beach ordinance, if adopted, would go beyond existing
law. It would criminalize mere nudity.
WHAT IS NAC DOING?
The
Naturist Action Committee has been working with City Council members and Huntington Beach city staff. Despite the setback, that effort continues.
On July 13, 2007, NAC issued a NAC Action Alert asking for naturists to contact members of the Huntington Beach City Council. Despite the short notice, naturists responded in large numbers, a fact that was mentioned by several council members.
NAC thanks you for your response!
THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 16
Led by NAC board member Allen Baylis, ten naturists spoke against the proposed ordinance at the council meeting on July 16. Two members of the public rose to speak in favor of the measure.
The matter was the topic of a great deal of discussion among council members and city staff. Police Chief Kenneth Small began by complaining that those who had written to oppose the ordinance were not well informed.
At the instigation of Mayor Pro Tem Debbie Cook, the proposed ordinance received amendments to two parts:
1) The age limit for breastfed infants was removed.
2) The
section of the proposed law that prohibited "any device, costume or covering that gives the appearance of or simulates the male or female genitals, pubic hair pubic hair region, natal cleft, perineum, anal region, or the
nipple and/or areola of the female breast."
The amendment concerning devices and costumes came after Police Chief Small was unable to explain the phrase to council members when they asked him. "It means what it
says," said the well-informed Chief.
Council member Don Hansen attempted to compare the situation in Huntington Beach to an anti-nudity ordinance being considered in Brattleboro, Vermont. Brattleboro, he claimed,
had represented itself last year as a welcome destination for nudists. This year, Hansen said, the town was overrun by naked people. Neither of his assertions was true, but that detail seemed not to bother Councilmember Hansen.
Mayor Gil Coerper expressed his strongly held belief that people who are completely enshrouded by blankets as they change their clothes on the beach are nonetheless guilty of being nude in public.
WHAT IS NAC ASKING YOU TO DO NOW?
This is an Update. NO ACTION is being requested at this time. Please
watch for further NAC Action Alerts, Advisories and Updates on this important issue.
MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
Additional information and links are available, along with this NAC Update on the web site of the Naturist Action Committee.
www.naturistaction.org
Select "Alerts" and find this NAC Action Alert under Current Updates.
PLEASE HELP NAC TO CONTINUE HELPING NATURISTS!
The Naturist Action Committee is a volunteer nonprofit adjunct to The Naturist Society. NAC relies entirely on the voluntary generosity of supporters like you. To donate to NAC,
please use the address below:
NAC
PO Box 132
Oshkosh, WI 54903
Or call toll free (800) 886-7230 to donate by phone using your MasterCard, Visa or Discover Card.
Or use your credit card to make a convenient online donation: www.naturistaction.org/donate/
Thank you once again for choosing to make a difference.
Naturally,
Bob Morton
Executive Director
Naturist Action Committee
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Naturist Action Committee (NAC) - PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903
Executive Dir. Bob Morton - execdir@naturistaction.org
Board Member Allen Baylis - rab@baylislaw.com
Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick - naturist@sunclad.com
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Entire contents © 2007 Naturist Action Committee, Inc.
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