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The ordinance passes 4-1 as dressed-up church members and dressed-down nudists look on and chime in.
By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published April 24, 2002
BROOKSVILLE -- Hernando County officially has no tolerance for public nudity.
That's in streets, sidewalks, parks, beaches, businesses, bottle clubs, hotels, motels, restaurants, nightclubs, country clubs, cabarets and meeting facilities.
The only exceptions are in places specifically set aside for nudity, such as restrooms, locker rooms and portions of hospitals, and in places that are primarily residential.
Women also may breast-feed in public.
Commissioners adopted the ordinance 4-1, with Diane Rowden opposed, after a lengthy public hearing before a packed room.
On one side sat close to 40 members of Landmark Baptist Church, whose preacher made the issue a priority during the past month. The women and girls wore long skirts and sleeves to the wrist; the men and boys sported dress pants, long-sleeved collared shirts and ties.
On the other were the nudists, well-tanned and mainly in shorts and tank tops.
They drew the battle lines distinctly: morals vs. rights.
"I'm astounded at how much of this ordinance the Taliban would agree with," said Richard Culver, an attorney from Lutz. "Religious fanaticism in any form is to be detested, but particularly when it starts eating away at our freedom and rights. This is just the first step in the denial of freedom here."
Dan Hoover of Spring Hill agreed.
"It's just another right that we have that is being taken away from us," said Hoover, a self-professed nudist.
They were outnumbered by those who called for decency and deemed nudity a sin.
"If people want to dress down, dress nude, let them go to Pasco County," said Phillip Johnson, a local real estate agent.
"No nudity is what we want in Hernando County," said Rich Marciniak of Spring Hill. "Don't let people from out of state and out of county dictate to us what is right and what is wrong."
Rowden attempted to amend the definition of nudity, so women would be allowed to wear thong bikinis and T-back swimsuits. The majority rejected that idea.
She also tried to insert an exception that would permit private nudist camps, resorts and parks within the county.
Only Commissioner Chris Kingsley supported that notion, stating he did not believe the ordinance should impose upon people on private property.