[KarlMalone]

Group gets judge’s OK to parade nude in S.F.

It’s illegal to go naked in public in San Francisco, unless you’re part of an event with a city permit, like a parade. And that’s what 50 to 100 nudists plan to do on city streets Saturday, with an assist from a federal judge.
The parade, held the day before the city-permitted, X-rated Folsom Street Fair, is being led by the same group of unclad activists who unsuccessfully challenged San Francisco’s antinudity ordinance, which took effect in February 2013. They’re calling it a “Nude-In March” and “Declaration of Body Freedom” in protest of the ordinance, starting at noon at Jane Warner Plaza at 17th and Castro streets, down Market Street, over to City Hall and back.
The leaders applied to the Police Department for a permit in July and got turned down. Police officials said the event was too small to be a parade and could instead proceed on the sidewalk, without the need for a permit.
But without a permit, they would have to wear clothes, said Gill Sperlein, a lawyer for the nudists. He said street parades are also more visible than sidewalk marches....


“Now we’re going to be able to exercise our constitutional rights and our freedom of self-expression unobstructed by the police,” said Gypsy Taub, a leader of the nude activists. She said members of the group have been arrested at protests and other unclothed events since February 21013 after applying unsuccessfully for permits.