Skinny-Dipping Is Not A Crime!
- by: Owen Mulligan
Many towns in Vermont have enacted anti-nudity ordinances. We feel all Vermonters and tourists, if they so choose, should be able to skinny-dip in secluded areas sometimes publicly used (e.g. rivers, swimming holes, etc.) without the fear or threat of persecution or prosecution for simply being naked in nature.
Dear Governor Jim Douglas and Attorney General William H. Sorrell:
Many Vermonters and tourists enjoy swimming or sunbathing without the restriction of clothing.
This has been a Vermont tradition and has always been a family-orientated and non-sexual past-time.
We find this past-time to be healthy and a great way to unwind from stress.
We are not ashamed of our bodies or do we mean to threaten anyone else's modesty.
We simply would like to enjoy our attire of choice when it comes to swimming or sunbathing.
Our attire of choice, of course, being nothing but our birthday suits.
Many towns in Vermont have enacted anti-nudity ordinances.
We agree these ordinances are necessary to keep strip clubs, etc. out of our communities.
We also agree that while in public people should respect other people's modesty and keep their clothes on.
However, these ordinances were never meant to make skinny-dipping a crime.
Many of these ordinances are so broad in their wording that they do just that. We feel all Vermonters and tourists, if they so choose, should be able to skinny-dip in secluded areas sometimes publicly used (e.g. rivers, swimming holes, etc.) without the fear or threat of persecution or prosecution for simply being naked in nature.
What we would like is a memorandum identical to Patrick J. Leahy's from 1971, but that goes further to exempt skinny-dipping from being a crime even within towns that have enacted anti-nudity ordinances.
Patrick J. Leahy's memorandum:
TO: ALL POLICE DEPARTMENTS FROM: CHITTENDEN COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY, PATRICK J. LEAHY (BURLINGTON) RE: UNCLOTHED PUBLIC OR SEMI-PUBLIC BATHING DATE: JULY 7, 1971
1. In public areas (e.g. North Beach in Burlington) and semi-public areas: Nude bathing is not acceptable. In such instances, the officer receiving the complaint should order the person to dress. Failure to stay clothed should result in a summons to Court.
2. On private land out of view of the public: The State has no legitimate interest and swimmers should be left alone.
3. In secluded areas sometimes publicly used (e.g. rivers, swimming holes, etc.): If no member of the public present is offended, no disorderly conduct has taken place. If members of the public (e.g. families wishing to use the swimming area) complain, then proceed as in No.1 above.
We think this memorandum is fair and that it should be used as a guideline for all police departments as it has been since 1971 but that it should be updated to prevent nude bathing in secluded areas sometimes publicly used (e.g. rivers, swimming holes, etc.) from being a crime in towns with anti-nudity-ordinances.
The Undersigned,
Sign PetitionSign PetitionMany Vermonters and tourists enjoy swimming or sunbathing without the restriction of clothing.
This has been a Vermont tradition and has always been a family-orientated and non-sexual past-time.
We find this past-time to be healthy and a great way to unwind from stress.
We are not ashamed of our bodies or do we mean to threaten anyone else's modesty.
We simply would like to enjoy our attire of choice when it comes to swimming or sunbathing.
Our attire of choice, of course, being nothing but our birthday suits.
Many towns in Vermont have enacted anti-nudity ordinances.
We agree these ordinances are necessary to keep strip clubs, etc. out of our communities.
We also agree that while in public people should respect other people's modesty and keep their clothes on.
However, these ordinances were never meant to make skinny-dipping a crime.
Many of these ordinances are so broad in their wording that they do just that. We feel all Vermonters and tourists, if they so choose, should be able to skinny-dip in secluded areas sometimes publicly used (e.g. rivers, swimming holes, etc.) without the fear or threat of persecution or prosecution for simply being naked in nature.
What we would like is a memorandum identical to Patrick J. Leahy's from 1971, but that goes further to exempt skinny-dipping from being a crime even within towns that have enacted anti-nudity ordinances.
Patrick J. Leahy's memorandum:
TO: ALL POLICE DEPARTMENTS FROM: CHITTENDEN COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY, PATRICK J. LEAHY (BURLINGTON) RE: UNCLOTHED PUBLIC OR SEMI-PUBLIC BATHING DATE: JULY 7, 1971
1. In public areas (e.g. North Beach in Burlington) and semi-public areas: Nude bathing is not acceptable. In such instances, the officer receiving the complaint should order the person to dress. Failure to stay clothed should result in a summons to Court.
2. On private land out of view of the public: The State has no legitimate interest and swimmers should be left alone.
3. In secluded areas sometimes publicly used (e.g. rivers, swimming holes, etc.): If no member of the public present is offended, no disorderly conduct has taken place. If members of the public (e.g. families wishing to use the swimming area) complain, then proceed as in No.1 above.
We think this memorandum is fair and that it should be used as a guideline for all police departments as it has been since 1971 but that it should be updated to prevent nude bathing in secluded areas sometimes publicly used (e.g. rivers, swimming holes, etc.) from being a crime in towns with anti-nudity-ordinances.
The Undersigned,
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