Oakland, California Moving To Remove Crossdressing As A Crime

[Shana A]

Oakland, California Moving To Remove Crossdressing As A Crime
by: Autumn Sandeen
Fri May 07, 2010 at 14:00:00 PM EDT

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/16069/oakland-california-moving-to-remove-crossdressing-as-a-crime

The news from Oakland, California went into the "Bizarre News" section of the Associated Press's news clips for May 5th (at least as posted by ABC-12 news in mind-Michigan):

    Guys will soon be able wear skirts in Oakland -- legally. The Northern California city is moving to lift a 130-year-old law against cross-dressing. The City Council has voted 7-0 to remove the ban from the municipal code. A final vote is set for May 18. The ordinance outlaws dressing "in the attire of a person of the opposite sex." Officials say hardly anyone knows about the cross-dressing law, and it's never enforced.

That's right, this sexist law on the books for about on-hundred-thirty years. And, as interpreted by today's news gatherers as a law that doesn't allow men to wear skirts, it's considered a bizare and comical story. However,  no comment at all is made about how limiting gender expression also limits what women can legally wear as well.

[rejennyrated]

Funnily enough it is actually still technically illegal for a woman to wear trousers in Paris! (of all places) Likewise this law is never enforced but it remains on the city ordenances along with a load of other strange prohibitions.

So it's not just Oakland folks - and technically I'm a parisienne criminal!

[LordKAT]

US has many weird laws, like not shooting whales form your car window in OK. ( I think it is OK)