Natural Beauty (redux)

NUDE LAW FAQ

Palmira Department of Social Policy and Women's Affairs

Q. Is nudity compulsory for all females?

A. Except in the special enclave (see below), nudity is compulsory for all adult females, resident and visitor. The law does not apply to girls under eighteen years of age and is not enforced for women over sixty.

Q. Are there any other exemptions?

A. Only if nudity poses a threat to your physical safety or general wellbeing. An application for exemption can be made in person at any office of the Palmira Tourist Bureau, any government agency or any police station. Enforcement will be suspended in emergencies such as storms. Otherwise, exemptions are very rare.

Q. Can I apply for an exemption before my trip to Palmira?

A. No; you may only apply in person after your arrival. However, you can make enquiries before leaving home by contacting the Palmira Tourist Bureau.

Q. What about pregnant women?

A. There is nothing more natural and beautiful than a pregnant woman. Why cover it up, as if it were a shameful thing?

Q. Is there male nudity?

A. No; male nudity is prohibited. The nude law celebrates the natural beauty of the female body.

Q. Can I wear anything at all?

A. Outdoors footwear and headgear are acceptable. A few other accessories are permitted, provided they do not cover any part of your torso, your legs above your knees or your arms above your elbows. Nothing else is allowed without an official exemption.

Q. When do I take off my clothes?

A. When you arrive at your disembarkation point, the air or sea terminal, you're expected to remove all your clothing immediately. You may not leave the premises unless you are naked.

Q. What happens if I wear clothes?

A. If you refuse to remove your clothes, you will be reported to the police. If you still don't comply, you will be arrested and ordered to strip. If you continue to refuse, you will be held in custody at the police station or under house arrest at your hotel until you are deported. No one will forcibly remove your clothing.

Q. What if I'm shy?

A. Keep in mind that nature gave you this wonderful female body. Be proud of it, celebrate it, show it off and enjoy the attention.

Q. Am I in danger of being harassed or molested?

A. Palmira has a strictly enforced hands-off policy. It is a criminal offence to grope, fondle or in any other way harass or interfere with you. While it is not illegal to take photographs or videos of you, these cannot be published without your permission. If anyone takes advantage of your nudity, do not hesitate to make a complaint to the police.

Q. What if I am not very attractive?

A. Both men and women love to see us naked. Beautiful bodies may receive the most attention, but don't worry, you will get your share. If the locals don't seem too interested in you, that is because they're used to seeing naked women. Your fellow guests will more than make up for that!

Q. Am I allowed to cover up in cold weather?

A. Our island is a tropical paradise. Don't worry about the cold. However, the law does not make allowance for unusually cool temperatures. You will cope. Anyway, goosebumps can be sexy. Enjoy it!

Q. Do I shave my pubic hair?

A. We have a tradition, which is not always followed, that single women do while married women don't. Unshaven legs and armpits are seen as very unattractive.

Q. What about feminine hygiene products?

A. All products must be worn internally (such as tampons). Nothing must cover the external parts of your genitalia (for example, pads). If you need to apply for an exemption, see above.

Q. Where is nudity not enforced?

A. In the privacy of your house or hotel room, you may wear clothing, if you really want to. The nude law is not enforced in places of worship, schools, hospitals and other medical clinics. The town of Grandin, on the west coast, is a special enclave with its own by-laws, where nudity is optional. Here most of Palmira's families have their homes.

Q. Is nudity permitted in the Grandin enclave?

A. Female nudity is permitted and accepted in all parts of Palmira. Most women in Grandin do not cover up.

Q. Is there anything else I need to know?

A. Anything that covers or conceals any part of your body, intentionally or otherwise, is legally defined as clothing and is therefore prohibited. If you have long hair, it must not cover your breasts. You must not carry or hold any object in a way that hides your nudity. Bed linen, towels and blankets must be used only for their specified purpose and not as

de facto

clothing.

Q. Is the nude law just a tourist gimmick?

A. There's no doubt that the nude law helps promote tourism; but keep in mind that Palmira is a natural holiday destination and does not need gimmicks any more than other Caribbean island resorts. More to the point, however, the nude law has existed in some form for 300 years, long before the tourist industry had any impact on the economy.

Q. Isn't the nude law sexist?

A. What most troubles critics of the nude law is that it allegedly discriminates against one sex with no reciprocal obligation on the other. This is a specious argument. Palmirene women have not only achieved equality but are now entrenched in positions of power and influence. Yet equal rights do not mean equal treatment, nor equal obligation.

"Striving for equality does not mean aspiring to sameness. Here we value equity -- ensuring justice and fairness, allowing every person the appropriate opportunities to lead a full, healthy life. To this end, we as a society must understand and acknowledge our differences; but when we have achieved equity we can celebrate those differences. So equal rights do not mean exactly the same treatment or obligations under the laws. And in this respect, here in Palmira men and women are definitely not equal. The beauty of the female body is esteemed above all else. As women, it is our right and our privilege to honour what nature has given us, by never hiding it away." (The Honourable Jennifer Hibbert, Chief Minister of Palmira)

PALMIRA GOVERNMENT GAZETTE

SUMMARY OFFENCES (FEMALE NUDITY) ACT

LONG TITLE

An Act to regulate public female nudity and to define particular offences relating thereto that may be dealt with in a summary way.

SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the Summary Offences (Female Nudity) Act.

COMMENCEMENT

This Act shall commence on a day to be fixed by the Governor by notice in the Palmira Government Gazette.

APPLICATION

This Act shall apply within the territorial jurisdiction of Palmira and shall be binding on all persons residing and abiding therein.

INTERPRETATION

For the purposes of this Act --

"Adult" shall mean a person who has attained the age of eighteen years.

"In public" shall mean any place which is open or accessible to or used by the general public, and any place so near a public place that a person may be seen from the place, notwithstanding that it may be private property, and shall include

(a) any building or enclosed space, other than a private dwelling inaccessible to the public,

(b) an outdoor workplace, marketplace, business premises, hotel, eatery, other commercial establishment,

(c) a cultural venue, place of performance, auditorium, meeting place,

(d) a thoroughfare, bridge, wharf, jetty, pontoon,

(e) a beach, park, garden, forest reserve, any other place of public recreation or resort,

(f) vacant land,

(g) a bus, taxi, any other vehicle used by the public, and land associated therewith,

(h) watercraft,

(i) any other place within the meaning of the words "public place" used in common English; but it shall not include a place of worship, a hospital, other medical or mental health treatment facility or institution.

"Clothing" shall mean a covering of any kind designed and intended to be worn on a person's body, including lingerie and swimwear, but for the purposes of this Act shall not include

(a) footwear that does not extend above the knee,

(b) gloves that do not extend above the elbow,

(c) garters, armbands, bracelets and anklets,

(d) a hat or cap which sits only upon the head,

(e) a headscarf, headband or veil,

(f) a necklace, collar or choker,

(g) a bandage, other medical dressing or cast,

(h) spectacles and jewellery, including piercings, that do not obscure any part of the body,

(i) a bag, pack or bundle carried on the back above the base of the spine.

"The police" shall mean an officer or agency of the Police Service of Palmira.

All other terms used herein shall be interpreted according to common English language usage.

A proceeding for an offence against this Act is, except where otherwise stated, a summary proceeding under the Justice Act.

Enacted by the Parliament of Palmira as follows --

1. FEMALE NUDITY

(a) It shall be an offence for an adult female to appear or allow herself to be seen in public wearing clothing or any article which may be construed to be clothing.

(b) It shall be an offence for an adult female to willfully cover, conceal or hide any part of her torso with any article or object in public, or to wear her hair in such a manner as to do the same.

(c) The authority to administer this Act shall be vested in the Minister responsible for social policy (hereinafter "the Minister").

(d) The Parliament of Palmira and the Minister shall have the power to grant exemption from enforcement of this Act to any female and to any place.

2. EXCEPTIONS

(a) It shall not be an offence for a female to wear such coverings as may be necessary to provide reasonable protection against any hazard to health and safety, provided that said coverings are worn only at the time when and the place where the hazard exists, and that prior permission has been granted, upon application, by the police.

(b) In the event of an emergency, a female may wear such protective coverings are necessary to ensure her health and safety without obtaining prior permission.

(c) The police shall have the power to grant an exemption for special circumstances, which shall be subject to review by a magistrate within three days of the granting of the exemption.

(d) It shall be an offence to misrepresent circumstances applicable in subsections 2(a), 2(b) and 2(c).

3. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

(a) It shall be an offence for a person to incite, encourage or induce an adult female to wear clothing.

(b) It shall not be an offence to represent females wearing clothing in photography, film and other media, except where such representation may conflict with subsection 3(a).

(c) It shall be an offence for a female to act or present herself in public, or to depict a female in any media for public viewing, in an indecent, lewd or obscene manner, as defined in the Crimes Act.

(d) It shall be an offence under the Crimes Act to depict a female against her will, and any female under the age of eighteen years, in any manner including any media, that is indecent, lewd or obscene, as defined in the Crimes Act.

4. ENFORCEMENT

(a) The police shall have the power to order an adult female to remove clothing and to detain her if she willfully and unlawfully refuses to do so.

(b) It shall be an offence under the Crimes Act for any person to interfere with a police officer in the performance of his or her duties under subsection 4(a).

(c) It shall be an offence under the Crimes Act for any person to forcibly remove clothing from a female or to use a threat of violence for the same purpose.

(d) An exception to subsection 4(c) shall apply to an adult female's husband, who may use a reasonable amount of coercion as defined in the Crimes Act.

5. PENALTIES

(a) The penalty for an offence described in subsections 1(a) and 1(b) of this Act shall be a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, in default thereof thirty days' imprisonment; but in lieu of which the court may order the offender to perform community service for not less than thirty hours nor more than one hundred hours.

(b) The penalty for an offence described in subsections 2(d) and 3(a) of this Act shall be a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars, in default thereof a maximum of six months' imprisonment; but in lieu of which the court may order the offender to perform community service for not less than one hundred hours nor more than three hundred hours.

(c) The penalty for an offence described in subsection 3(c) of this Act shall be a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars, in default thereof a maximum of one year's imprisonment.

(d) The penalty for an offence described in subsections 3(d), 4(b) and 4(c) of this Act is established in the Crimes Act.

6. PROCEDURAL PROVISIONS

(a) The Parliament of Palmira shall make regulations in relation to this Act for the effective application and enforcement of its provisions.

(b) The Parliament of Palmira shall at its discretion designate a zone outside the boundaries of the City of Régate, of no less than two square kilometres, to be a precinct where female nudity shall not be enforced.

(c) The Governor and the Parliament of Palmira shall have the power to suspend the enforcement of any or all provisions of this Act in the interests of maintaining or restoring public order or providing for the safety and welfare of the general public and of individual persons.

7. SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS

(a) For the purposes of this Act, a transsexual male and a transgender female are defined to be male; whereas a transsexual female and a transgender male are deemed to be female and shall not be exempted from enforcement of this Act.

(b) For the purposes herein, "transsexual male" shall mean a person who was born female and has undergone sex reassignment through surgery, "transsexual female" shall mean a person who was born male and has undergone sex reassignment through surgery, a "transgender male" shall mean a person who is biologically female but whose gender identity is male, and a "transgender female" shall mean a person who was born male but whose gender identity is female.

(c) The Minister responsible for social policy shall have the power to grant an exemption from enforcement of this Act to any transgender male upon application by a registered medical or mental health professional.

(d) It shall be an offence for a transgendered person to disguise or misrepresent his or her sex in order to evade the provisions of this or any other Act of Parliament.

(e) The penalty for an offence described in subsection 7(d) of this Act shall be a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars, in default thereof a maximum of six months' imprisonment; but in lieu of which the court may order the offender to perform community service for not less than one hundred hours nor more than three hundred hours.