Will Walters, an openly gay San Diego man was arrested for wearing a thong under his gladiator kilt during the city's gay pride event. Walters says that he is the first person in San Diego's history to be arrested for public nudity, and San Diego police have "enforced a municipal policy on public nudity," which prohibits men from wearing thongs or G-strings but allows woman to wear the garments. He also said that San Diego Pride "wholeheartedly endorsed" the policy to "curry favor" with the authorities and to appeal the event’s sponsors as well as straight people.
Will, who was waiting in line for a drink when police approached him says that he tried to film the incident on his cell phone but the event’s security knocked his cell phone out of his hand. The complaint states that he refused to sign a citation, was handcuffed and then driven to jail. Walters is taking his case to Federal Court and is suing the city as well as San Diego Pride.
"Will Walters is a Hispanic, gay man who owns the dubious distinction of being the only person in the history of the City of San Diego to be arrested and booked on a charge of public nudity," the complaint states. "Mr. Walters was arrested for public nudity at the 2011 Lesbian Gay Bi-Sexual Transgender Pride (’Pride’) event while wearing an opaque gladiator type kilt over black underwear. Under any definition, he was not nude, as his buttocks and genitalia were fully covered. Nonetheless, he was ushered out of the event, humiliated, arrested, and incarcerated."
Will also says that San Diego County sheriff’s deputies told other inmates to "ridicule" him, who was sitting in a cell only wearing his kilt and underwear. In addition, the authorities also made fun of Walters and refused to give him clothing or a blanket. Once Walters posted the $190 bail the jail provided him with clothes.
Since when is wearing a thong under your clothes considered being nude? This is either jealousy that the cop didn't have a body like Will's, or maybe it's police profiling gay people at the one event they feel free enough to be themselves. Why is it that it's okay for women and other straight people to walk around at their events scantily-clad but it's not okay for gay people to do the same? Either way the pendulum swings next time Will wear your outfit in the Castro or at the Folsom Street Fair. At least you're allowed to walk down the street naked there.
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