A woman takes a photo of a group of naked men at the 20th Annual Folsom Street Fair September 28, 2003 in San Francisco. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images).

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) — The right to bare all in San Francisco might soon come with some restrictions under legislation that was proposed at Tuesday afternoon’s Board of Supervisors meeting at City Hall.

The legislation, which was introduced by Supervisor Scott Wiener, would require those going nude to cover public seating before sitting down and put on clothes before entering restaurants.

PICTURES: San Francisco Nudity

Wiener’s district includes the Castro, which has seen a recent increase in public nudity, according to his office.

KCBS’ Barbara Taylor Reports:



The supervisor said the legislation would ensure that public health standards are maintained by requiring nudists to put a towel or other item between their body and a public seat.

“San Francisco is a liberal and tolerant city, and we pride ourselves on that fact,” Wiener said in a statement.

“Yet, while we have a variety of views about public nudity, we can all agree that when you sit down naked, you should cover the seat, and that you should cover up when you go into a food establishment,” he said.

He said the idea for the ordinance came after he received numerous constituent complaints and saw some of the unsanitary behavior himself—particularly in Jane Warner Plaza and elsewhere in the Castro.

“One would hope we wouldn’t need to legislate this, but people aren’t doing it,” he said.

Before Tuesda’s meeting, Wiener emphasized that the legislation is not banning public nudity, but is simply maintaining public health standards.

He said his office has not received any complaints from local nudist groups about the proposal.

Wiener acknowledged that the legislation could be the butt of jokes as an “only in San Francisco” proposal—with the added punch line that his last name is a slang term for the male genitalia.

“They’ll say what they’re going to say,” he said. “I look forward to the conversation about this legislation.”

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)