From: mturner@henson.cc.wwu.edu (Mark Turner)
Newsgroups: rec.nude
Subject: News Item: County Council Rebuffs Anti-Nudity Measure
Keywords: nude government laws
Date: 5 Nov 92 15:42:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: henson.1992Nov5.154200.18321
Organization: Western Washington University

In Bellingham, WA, our local CO beach is officially safe for the time
being after the county council unanimously turned town a proposed law
which would have banned nude sunbathing in county parks.  The county last
year purchased the long-time nude beach and wooded hillside from a private
owner.  The county parks department had wanted to make it a textile beach.

Here's the report of the council meeting Tuesday night (from the
Bellingham Herald):

Nude sunbathers at Teddy Bear Cove no longer are an endangered species.
	The Whatcom County Council on Tuesday voted 7-0 against outlawing
nudity at county parks, including traditional nude beaches at the
salt-water cove south of Bellingham.
	Council members said the vote surprised them.  Several said they
expected to cast lone votes against the anti-nudity measure.
	"I may be risking my political career on this," quipped Councilman
Dennis Vander Yacht, the first to state a position.
	Several council members argued that the county was big enough to
accommodate a pocket of "diversity" along Chuckanut Bay.
	Councilman Bob Imhof said he hoped the county hadn't become so
"homogeneous" that it couldn't tolerate a small group of nude sunbathers.
	The proposal resulted from the county purchase early this year of
beach and 11 acres at the cove.
	County park officials backed the anti-nudity proposal in the
interests of families who want to use the new county park but might be
offended by nudity.
	The proposal would have prohibited all people from exposing their
genitals or buttocks and women from baring their breasts.  Violators could
have been fined up to $250.
	State law prohibits indecent exposure intended to alarm others. 
The county law would have addressed nudity without considering intentions.
	At a hearing Tuesday, 13 people spoke -- 10 against the law and
three for it.
	Opponents said nude sunbathers have taken care of the cove,
deterring inappropriate behavior, pollution and noise.
	"The people who go there take care of the place because they care
about the Earth and they care about each other," said Steve Morgan of
Bellingham.
	During a few months of warm weather each year, nude sunbathers
gather and enjoy a camaraderie, he said.
	The cove "community" has included fishers, Western Washington
University teachers and students, lawyers, social workers, families and
"at least one minister," said Scott Blume of Bellingham.
	"It's not a closed group.  Anyone is welcome at the beach."
	Other opponents said they resented that advocates of the nudity
ban might impose their morals without a genuine interest in using the
beach, where no one is asked to remove clothing.
	Supporters of the law argued that nude sunbathers are vulgar
sights that mar Chuckanut Bay.
	Sandra Barnes, who lives near the cove, said she inadvertently has
come upon nudists near the cove while strolling and kayaking.
	One man did something offensive which she declined to detail, she
said.  Another man's presence made her uncomfortable.
	Other supporters said they resented the county's use of public
money to buy land to support the offensive practice.

                              -- 30 --

Mark Turner
mturner@henson.cc.wwu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.nude