March 19, 2024 #1 Local News, Forum, Information and Event Source for Venice Beach, California.

Topless Sunbathing Could return to Venice Beach

10:37am

The Venice Neighborhood Council last night voted in favor of a motion to support topless sunbathing on Venice Beach.

The motion proposed that because “Venice was founded and designed around the European culture of Venice, Italy” and because Venice Beach has always been a “safe haven for liberal views and free expression” that topless sunbathing should be allowed.

Speaking in support of the motion Venice Neighborhood Council Community Office Melissa Diner said the motion was important for equality and that women should be“…afforded the same rights as men to sunbathe topless”

Historically topless sunbathing has been allowed on Venice Beach but it was made illegal in the mid ’70. After a photographer came and took pictures and these images spread around the world and Venice was inundated with a special kind of tourist.

Venice Neighborhood Council President Emeritus Linda Lucks spoke saying she remembers fully clothed tourists standing crowds deep along the grass photographing the topless sun bathers.

Crowd control became such a problem for LAPD that topless sunbathing was made illegal.

Lucks said reintroducing topless sunbathing on Venice Beach would only work if there were a blanket approval across all city beaches, otherwise once again Venice could become a spectacle.

Venice Neighborhood Council Representative to DWP Dede Audet spoke suggesting that Venice could benefit from the legalization of topless sunbathing saying “…many government workers will be willing to trade work cycles to work at the beach”

While many in the room supported the motion most agreed it important to consider whether American culture would accept topless sunbathing. In Europe and on many Australian beaches topless sunbathing is accepted however these cultures tend to shun those who make a spectacle of it rather than objectifying those who choose to sunbathe without the negative side effects of tan lines.

Tags: in Opinion
Related Posts

New Program Can Help Protect Southern California Homes in the Event of an Earthquake

May 13, 2023

May 13, 2023

Residents Have Until May 31 To Apply For Seismic Retrofit Grants By Janiele Maffei, Chief Mitigation Officer for the California...

Venice Shorts: Tree Trimming Underway Thanks to the Vsa!

April 28, 2023

April 28, 2023

VSA Has Taken up the Task of Trimming Italian Stone Pine Trees. By Nick Antonicello Following the recent toppling of...

Venice Stakeholders Association’s Comments on Traci Park’s Broken Bridge Housing Promise

April 24, 2023

April 24, 2023

By Marc Ryavec I have been struggling with how to address the phenomenon that someone I and many others in...

Column: Tired OF Declinists? Some Enduring New California Positives

April 18, 2023

April 18, 2023

By Thomas D. Elias California has taken a beating lately, with (mostly Republican) governors of other states blasting many aspects...

Venice Shorts: The South Venice Blvd Encampment, Is It a Candidate for a City Cleanup?

April 14, 2023

April 14, 2023

One of the last of the large encampments closest to the beach, Venetians are hopeful help is on the way!...

Venice Shorts: Averill Defeats Tyminski 63%-37% to Become President of Venice Neighborhood Council

April 3, 2023

April 3, 2023

In second bid for top spot, surfer/photographer Brian Averill coasts to an easy win against Venice attorney and outgoing Vice-President...

Column: Install at LAX Tiny Homes From The State Grant

March 31, 2023

March 31, 2023

By Clark Brown On March 16  Governor Newsom announced in Sacramento, his first stop on his State of the State of...

Venice Shorts: Night & Day – Flower & Lincoln Transformed, Back in Business

March 28, 2023

March 28, 2023

By Nick Antonicello In what was a Venice eyesore just a few months ago has been transformed into a place...

Opinion: Please Vote for Daffodil Tyminski

March 25, 2023

March 25, 2023

This is Tom Williams, your neighbor at 1011 Main Street.  With the upcoming VNC election this Sunday, I wanted to reach...

Venice Shorts: Popular Local Jim Robb Seeks Vp Slot, Endorses Brian Averill for President of the VNC!

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

By Nick Antonicello  VENICE – In a twist of events longtime Community Officer Jim Robb will now be seeking the...

Venice Shorts: Tabor Family Legacy Amara Hordt Seeks Seat on VNC This Sunday!

March 22, 2023

March 22, 2023

Local realtor looks to follow a family legacy of engaged community involvement here in Venice By Nick Antonicello VENICE –...

Venice Shorts: Erica Moore, A Cheerleader For Venice In Her Run For Community Officer!

March 22, 2023

March 22, 2023

By Nick Antonicello VENICE – Local caterer Erica Moore is making a second run for the Venice Neighborhood Council, but...

Venice Shorts: Running Unopposed, Nico Ruderman’s Deep Dive Into Politics and Government Continues!

March 22, 2023

March 22, 2023

By Nick Antonicello VENICE – It has been an interesting two years of political action, involvement and advocacy for Nico...

Venice Shorts: “V” for Venice Volunteer

March 20, 2023

March 20, 2023

Media professional, local business owner and Dad, Eric Alan Donaldson is defined by his volunteerism and love of Venice. By...

Deborah Keaton, a Consensus Building Candidate for VNC Community Officer!

March 20, 2023

March 20, 2023

Creative director, global brander and private business owner seeks a general consensus on what’s best for Venice moving forward.  By...