We have created a petition at: https://www.change.org/p/mitchell-j-silver-allow-public-nudity-in-an-area-of-a-new-york-city-park?recruiter=111669820&utm_source=petitions_show_components_action_panel_wrapper&utm_medium=copylink
Here's the jist of this petition:
As New York City has shown itself to be at the forefront of social
change, and anecdotal evidence has shown that both toplessness and
exposure in appropriate public settings does not harm, nor represent a nuisance to society,
we hereby petition the great city of New York to set aside an area of
public park land within the city limits for clothing-optional recreation
consistent with the Rules and Regulations of the New York City
Department of Parks and Regulations excluding Section 1-04(n).
Since 1992, NY v Santorelli has given equal rights to men and women
to be topless in public areas of New York. While there were few women
that took advantage of this right at the beginning, it has become more
prevalent and legitimate over the past decade due to the efforts of
groups like the Outdoor Co-ed Topless Pulp Fiction Appreciation Society and social action campaigns like Free the Nipple.
These groups have continuously demonstrated that the stated purpose of
laws like Section 245.01 of New York State Law - to “protect parents
and children… ‘from the discomfort caused by unwelcome public nudity’ “
(NY v Santorelli, 1992 Titone, J concur) - are erroneous in their
assumptions, and therefore these laws are unnecessary and unwarranted.
Moreover, events like the World Naked Bike Ride and NYC Bodypainting Day
have shown that this stated purpose is in error with regards to
exposure in general, therefore negating the entire purpose of this
section of the law.
Clothing-optional areas that have been set aside in other
communities have not shown an increase in public disturbances, and, in
fact, have been shown to be good at self regulating their community. As
expressed by sociologist Martin S. Weinberg in Sexual Modesty, Social Meaning, and the Nudist Camp
(1965), the rules and customs observed [in clothing-optional public
settings] were sufficient to maintain modesty (defined as a form of
reserve) and, participants were as modest as their clothed counterparts.
A recent poll conducted for the Naturist Education Foundation showed strong public support for public nude recreation.
This includes strong public support for nude sunbathing and
significant rejection of the claim that the majority of Americans are
personally offended by the non-sexual nudity of others. (The independent
poll was conducted by the prestigious Zogby Analytics polling firm. Naturist Education Foundation Poll Results )
Government has the responsibility to represent the citizens of its
community and to provide the lawful and decent services requested by
that community. Therefore, we humbly request an area of public park
land within New York City be designated for clothing-optional use. This
area would be subject to all of the same rules and regulations as any
other public park area other than the regulation on exposure.
This
petition created on behalf of a group on Facebook that works to educate
the general public about the rights of those citizens who choose
clothes free recreation. We are working to educate and gain equal
rights of those citizens who choose the clothes free lifestyle. For
more information visit one our petition planning group at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1561706037411423/
or our general information website about the clothing optional lifestyle at:
http://www.wearlesslivemore.org
Again, visit https://www.change.org/p/mitchell-j-silver-allow-public-nudity-in-an-area-of-a-new-york-city-park?recruiter=111669820&utm_source=petitions_show_components_action_panel_wrapper&utm_medium=copylinkhttps://www.change.org/p/mitchell-j-silver-allow-public-nudity-in-an-area-of-a-new-york-city-park?recruiter=111669820&utm_source=petitions_show_components_action_panel_wrapper&utm_medium=copylink to sign this petition.
