2008 Woodie Awards
Sagging pants is a fashion statement, not an illegal activity
Iris Floyd
Issue date: 9/26/07 Section: Opinion
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Apparently, lawmakers have nothing better to do than harass those who are making fashion statements.
Atlanta Councilman C.T. Martin is proposing an ordinance that would make the sagging of pants illegal. Lanine Toote of Atlanta Progressive News reports that Martin is working on amending Section 106-127 of the City of Atlanta Ordinances. His proposal would allow police officers to arrest or fine people for "the indecent exposure of his or her undergarments."
Moreover, David Pendered of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote that according to Debbie Seagraves, executive director of the ACLU of Georgia, women would not be able to wear a jogging bra in public, reveal the strap of a thong beneath their pants or flash even a wisp of a bra strap.
In addition to this, Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune points out that several towns in Louisiana have already passed similar anti-sag laws. Delcambre's "anti-sag ordinance" comes with the hefty fine of $500 and up to six months in jail.
And just recently, as reported by The Associated Press, Trenton, N.J. is seriously considering fining those that sag their pants.
Now, what I would like to know is this: Why in the hell are these lawmakers getting their boxers and panties all up in a bunch over saggy pants? And how exactly is saggy pants indecent exposure?
For the most part, when I see guys sagging their pants, they're usually wearing a long T-shirt to cover their exposed boxers. I have yet to see any of them expose their butt crack or penis because of their saggy pants. And I just can't see anything indecent about showing off a wisp of a bra or thong strap or wearing a jogging bra out in public. You can't see a woman's breast or vagina because straps or the entire bra is showing.
With all this focus on the indecency of exposing ones undergarments, I have to wonder, what's next? Are these lawmakers going to go after beachgoers for wearing their scantily clad speedos and bikinis? And what about plumbers or construction workers? Will they get fined or arrested, too, for exposing their butt cracks? And if women can't wear a jogging bra in public, are they going to stop men who jog shirtless, too? They're exposing their nipples, so shouldn't that be considered indecent, as well?
Atlanta Councilman C.T. Martin is proposing an ordinance that would make the sagging of pants illegal. Lanine Toote of Atlanta Progressive News reports that Martin is working on amending Section 106-127 of the City of Atlanta Ordinances. His proposal would allow police officers to arrest or fine people for "the indecent exposure of his or her undergarments."
Moreover, David Pendered of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote that according to Debbie Seagraves, executive director of the ACLU of Georgia, women would not be able to wear a jogging bra in public, reveal the strap of a thong beneath their pants or flash even a wisp of a bra strap.
In addition to this, Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune points out that several towns in Louisiana have already passed similar anti-sag laws. Delcambre's "anti-sag ordinance" comes with the hefty fine of $500 and up to six months in jail.
And just recently, as reported by The Associated Press, Trenton, N.J. is seriously considering fining those that sag their pants.
Now, what I would like to know is this: Why in the hell are these lawmakers getting their boxers and panties all up in a bunch over saggy pants? And how exactly is saggy pants indecent exposure?
For the most part, when I see guys sagging their pants, they're usually wearing a long T-shirt to cover their exposed boxers. I have yet to see any of them expose their butt crack or penis because of their saggy pants. And I just can't see anything indecent about showing off a wisp of a bra or thong strap or wearing a jogging bra out in public. You can't see a woman's breast or vagina because straps or the entire bra is showing.
With all this focus on the indecency of exposing ones undergarments, I have to wonder, what's next? Are these lawmakers going to go after beachgoers for wearing their scantily clad speedos and bikinis? And what about plumbers or construction workers? Will they get fined or arrested, too, for exposing their butt cracks? And if women can't wear a jogging bra in public, are they going to stop men who jog shirtless, too? They're exposing their nipples, so shouldn't that be considered indecent, as well?
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