It's legal to be naked (anywhere) in Seattle, and WA

[Greenbare Woods]

This article is specifically about Seattle, WA, USA.  The court decision and law cited applies  to the whole state of Washington, and is similar to Oregon and California.   Despite nudity being legal anywhere in my state, few nudists venture out beyond AANR resorts and a few limited "generally CO locations."    Over here on the eastern side of WA, you would almost think nude is illegal. 

It's legal to be naked (anywhere) in Seattle
By

    Anna Boiko-Weyrauch

Sep 18, 2018 at 12:53 pm
Nudity was made legal here in the case of Seattle v. Johnson. Yes, really

Little known Seattle factoid: City law allows you to be nude anywhere, any time.

Not, however, if you flaunt it and make others uncomfortable. (Flashers, be warned.)

Despite this free range law, nudists stick to pockets of the city where others openly express their nudity.

https://www.kuow.org/stories/it-s-totally-legal-to-be-naked-in-public-in-seattle

[jbeegoode]

With Washington on the bucket list to tour and camp for a few weeks, we just may find ourselves experimenting with this information. It is certainly good to know about.

[John P]

Vermont is the same, and people do occasionally make use of their freedom there:
https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/life/2018/07/06/naked-vermont-burlington-police-explain-when-nudity-crosses-line/762719002/

And we know about crazy people out on the hiking trails! But this is like the current situation in England, where the law allows non-sexual nudity pretty much anywhere. Will it ever become common, though?

[nuduke]

That's a very encouraging article in the sense that allowing public nudity is described with so little embroidery of prurience and small minded prudery that usually attaches to articles about nude people.  Laughable though is the note that whilst being naked is ok, disrobing in public is unlawful!  Beggars belief.
John

[Greenbare Woods]

Vermont is the same, and people do occasionally make use of their freedom there:
https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/life/2018/07/06/naked-vermont-burlington-police-explain-when-nudity-crosses-line/762719002/

And we know about crazy people out on the hiking trails! But this is like the current situation in England, where the law allows non-sexual nudity pretty much anywhere. Will it ever become common, though?

Vermont has a lot of towns with local laws prohibiting things like "disrobing in public," etc.   In WA, OR, and CA, the states' highest courts have just said that humans are not obscene or indecent for existing.   Lawmaker in the Washington State Legislatures have passed laws which only prohibit using nudity as a means of alarming or frightening someone else, while knowingly attempting to do so.  Cities are limited to similar restrictions.  In California they allow cities to outright require clothing, perhaps without actually saying that bodies are obscene or indecent, but few California cities have done so.  Same with Oregon.  Only a handful of Oregon cities have passed a city law against being naked. 

Will nudity ever be common?  Not for a while, but it may become a lot more common when people learn that its not illegal.  Media usually only prints articles written by AANR which still say the place to get naked is at the AANR resort.  So its an uphill battle even to inform the public that being naked is a legal and acceptable choice.  Even so-called "nudist" organizations fight it for financial reasons.

There are other US States where nude is legal.  Nebraska, for example, only prohibits public masturbation or fornication.  It doesn't even mention public nudity.  And yet, nudist organizations like The Naturist Society do not publish this information in any way to inform the public.   Its a well guarded secret. 

Like going barefoot, most people believe its illegal to chose not to wear clothing anywhere and everywhere. 

[BlueTrain]

The real problem is, too many people do too many things to frighten, shock, annoy, alarm, irritate and generally make themselves a nuisance, even while clothed. Doing so while not wearing clothing ups the ante, in a manner of speaking. We wish people weren't like that and sometimes pretend they aren't, but we all know better. I imagine there are freedom of speech issues but some people get a kick out of wearing obscene t-shirts, although obscenity is an issue in itself. Easily the most logical place to be nude is on the beach in nice weather but in some places, people supposedly engage in sexual acts (obscene and otherwise) in public on the beach where it legal to be nude. And we wonder why the Miss Grundy's of the world object to public nudity. 

[Greenbare Woods]

Easily the most logical place to be nude is on the beach in nice weather but in some places, people supposedly engage in sexual acts (obscene and otherwise) in public on the beach where it legal to be nude. And we wonder why the Miss Grundy's of the world object to public nudity. 

I understand that.  In Lane County, near Eugene, Oregon, there was a popular beach on the Willamette River where nudists congregated.   Soon some national gay publications began listing the beach as a destination for public gay sex.   That was a major excuse, with some lobbying by Oregon's largest AANR resort, for locals to enact a local ordinance against nudity in Lane County.   The whole issue with public nudity and public sex are often conflated. 

[jbeegoode]

Yup, public nudity is not public sex.
Jbee

[rick1956]

As someone who lives about 30 minutes south of Seattle, i have to say, I’ll believe it when I can mow my lawn or wash my car naked. The fact is, it’s all a crap shoot unless you’re in a crowd situation. Seattle has lots of cultural things that happen from time to time that allow—even encourage—being nude.
Other parts of Washington... eh... it’s up to us to research the dangers.
I sure wish I could wash my car naked though... it is covered with winter. Both me and the car need to rid ourselves of winter.

[Greenbare Woods]

As someone who lives about 30 minutes south of Seattle, i have to say, I’ll believe it when I can mow my lawn or wash my car naked. The fact is, it’s all a crap shoot unless you’re in a crowd situation. Seattle has lots of cultural things that happen from time to time that allow—even encourage—being nude.
Other parts of Washington... eh... it’s up to us to research the dangers.
I sure wish I could wash my car naked though... it is covered with winter. Both me and the car need to rid ourselves of winter.

What is legal and what the police allow are often two different things.   I live 30 minutes south of Spokane and my neighbors have gotten used to me being seen naked occasionally.   It will take organized support and test cases to teach the police to obey the law.  So far the nudist (commercial recreation) organizations have pretty much all been against free range nudism.  There is no organization willing to go public and provide lawyers to go to court asking that the law be enforced.  And neither political Party will support personal freedom.

Bob

[BlueTrain]

Have you contacted the NRA?

[jbeegoode]

They don't have the pocketbook to take these things to court. I know that NAC would be willing, but battles must be chosen carefully on the current budget.

Where is the money coming from, Go Fund Me? The AANR people certainly have deeper pockets, but they are as you say, "commercial recreation."

Where would the money come from? i'm looking for ideas.
Jbee

[BlueTrain]

As Will Rogers once said, "It's going to come from them that's got it."

If you want something worth having, don't wait for it to be free. And don't expect someone else to pay for it.

[jbeegoode]

As someone who lives about 30 minutes south of Seattle, i have to say, I’ll believe it when I can mow my lawn or wash my car naked. The fact is, it’s all a crap shoot unless you’re in a crowd situation. Seattle has lots of cultural things that happen from time to time that allow—even encourage—being nude.
Other parts of Washington... eh... it’s up to us to research the dangers.
I sure wish I could wash my car naked though... it is covered with winter. Both me and the car need to rid ourselves of winter.

What is legal and what the police allow are often two different things.   I live 30 minutes south of Spokane and my neighbors have gotten used to me being seen naked occasionally.   It will take organized support and test cases to teach the police to obey the law.  So far the nudist (commercial recreation) organizations have pretty much all been against free range nudism.  There is no organization willing to go public and provide lawyers to go to court asking that the law be enforced.  And neither political Party will support personal freedom.

Bob

I've thought to get together with the authorities and make sure that the police and sheriffs understand the law and that it is enforced constantly. Something uncomfortable about that. Then, there is the bureaucracy.

It is better to work as a team. It is better to come at them as an organization, just like lobbying and letter writing to legislators. At least that is what I have experienced in other matters. They want something to be offered to them that makes them look good. They don't like waves and more work, if possible.

Nothing is happening unless someone does it. It might be a start to contact NAC and find ask about starting a program in Washington State. Do they have a rep there? Has this been tried before in other states, and could contact be made of those activists, their successes, and their lessons learned.
Jbee

[John P]

There's an article in Wikipedia that you might like to look at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_nudity_in_Seattle

It doesn't have much (any?) very recent material, but what it does do is make it clear that non-sexual nudity is legal, so that must still be true unless the law has changed. It's interesting that they quote the chief of police as saying it's legal. Mark Storey, who's the guy who writes on naturist philosophy in N magazine--and who also does a fair amount of free range stuff--lives in Washington, in Everett I think.

The NAC member who deals with Washington is Don Zirbel, but he actually lives in Nevada. He might be able to put you in touch with local activists, if you want to get a group together.

BlueTrain, when you said "NRA", did you mean "NAC", or are you thinking it might come to a shootout?