Naked in Vermont

[kengr]

No, this isn't one of my stories. this is about real teens in Vermont deciding to wander around nude in downtown Brattleboro, Vermont.

Note that Vermont has no state law forbidding public nudity. Instead the law only forbids nudity that is being used for sexual stimulation of oneself or others (one of the links has more details on the law)

http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2006/08/23/law_of_nature_prevails_in_vermont/
http://www.reformer.com/headlines/ci_4207655
http://www.ibrattleboro.com/article.php/20060816144820507
http://www.topix.net/city/brattleboro-vt?full=5dc8e75465

One *really* annoying quote from a town council meeting:

It was during the citizen participation portion of the meeting that the sorry tale of the nude youths was brought to our attention. A concerned citizen related the facts as she knew them. On July 20, she said, a young girl "if she can be called that" was seen walking around topless in the parking lot. Close to the same date, she said, there were also ten naked boys in the lot although she didn't say what they were doing other than being naked. The incidents occurred between the hours of 6and 11 PM. In the case of the topless girl, it was a repeat offense.

"The parking lot is not a strip club," the citizen said. It is in a commercial district and as such, the behavior of these young people is inappropriate as they might scare or offend shoppers and other downtown visitors. She said that the town police were well aware of the nude young people but said that there was nothing they could do as there is no ordinance or law against it. The citizen asked that the town enact an ordinance to deal with the problem and suggested that town ordinance9-19-44 Article 2-1 might apply. She also made it clear that she was not in favor of prosecuting the offenders, but felt that counseling was in order to help them resolve whatever personal issues they might have that make them want to be naked in public.

I think that Ms. Concerned Citizen is the one who needs counseling...

Comments

[gentlemaitresse.livejournal.com]

Of course, I agree with you.

they might scare or offend shoppers and other downtown visitors

Yes, fear the naked skin! Ha! And also, do we really need to make laws to prohibit anything that might offend someone?

[kengr]

Gee, I find her comments offensive... Does that mean we can pass a law against her? :-)

[gentlemaitresse.livejournal.com]

No, we can just prohibit her from speaking or writing.

Wouldn't that be great?? Ha ha!

Okay, not really. It's like when we say, "Stupid people shouldn't breed." While I believe that statement, I don't like the implications of making it a law.

Guess we'll just have to continue to put up with stupid people and their stupid comments, huh? ;-)

[mistresscayenne.livejournal.com]

God forbid there is anything offensive in this world for that woman. She should be punished by walking around the town square for 8 hours straight on the finest day of the year for all to see. Now that might seem unfair, but she might just get turned on after being out for a while. And perhaps she will learn something about offending people in general.

Mrs. Grundy... GO AWAY!!!

Chrissy Michelle - KE7ISL

[freetrav.livejournal.com]

I find it interesting that the state law is worded specifically to call out the issue of sexual stimulation, and not a blanket ban on public nudity.

The next question becomes whether the law in question also has an 'intent' clause in that connection.

One could quite possibly come to the conclusion that the law was written specifically to allow Vermont to be seen as a 'nudist/naturist/whateverthepreferredtermthisweekis friendly' state.

Good for Vermont!