Baring it all

To Ashlanders, Jen Moss is simply known as the “Naked Lady.” Most recently, however, she is not only making news for her revealing pasties and strange habits, but also for her desire to sue the city of Ashland for not allowing her to participate with a group of 10 people in Ashland’s noteworthy Fourth of July Parade–only wearing a G-string, rollerblades and a smile.

Ashland, Ore., a town seen by many as liberal, has a city ordinance that allows for women to be topless, insofar as it is not in the park, and is not in a suggestive, sexual manner. Since moving to Ashland in May, Moss has taken full advantage of the lenient ordinance; she is often seen riding her bicycle topless while singing, assuring that she catches everyone’s attention.

Even though going topless is legal, Moss was still denied in her application to march in the Fourth of July Parade, sparking her to threaten to sue the city for violation of her civil liberties. James Kidd, the parade chairman, said he denied her application because the parade committee did not feel that topless skating went with the family atmosphere of the event.

Moss is almost nude daily in Ashland, covering only her genitals. Does it make sense that the rule should be different on one day of the year? It would be more logical to have all or nothing, letting her expose herself everyday or making her cover-up all the time. Understandably, Ashland does not have the highest family population due to the influx of retirees, but the small town does attract thousands of families every year for the festivities.

Ashland is discriminating against Moss, since her request is not illegal. The disallowance also brings up the question: can one evaluate what is and is not appropriate to be viewed by families and children?

In the comfort of your own home, parents can monitor what children watch on television. Likewise, parents can choose whether or not to bring their children to the parade. And if they choose not to, then they would not be violating Moss’s right to rollerblade in the nude.

Yet, is not the point of having civil liberties to use them, without taking them away from others? Yes, she may have the right to be nude, but does her appearance in the parade inhibit family viewing pleasure?

When it comes down to it, the biggest issue with her exhibitionism in the Fourth of July Parade is the amount of families that will not go to the parade this year, because of a fleet of nude, conch shell-blowing roller skaters. It is not like avoiding a television show–the Fourth of July Parade is the biggest event in southern Oregon for the holiday, which people may avoid because of exhibitionists on display.

I don’t understand why Moss, who only recently relocated to Ashland, insists that she not only has the right to be topless on the holiday, which she does, but that she must skate in the parade. Also, for a newcomer to sue a city, a city that she will inevitably leave when the weather is too cold to be topless, is completely ludicrous.

If Moss is successful in her quest to sue Ashland, then it will be forced to reevaluate the lenient ordinance, most likely resulting in more stringent policy, or doing away with it all together. It makes me wonder if that was her intent all along. Why else would she move to the small town, causing an immediate commotion?

The only other justification is Moss wants the attention at any cost, even if it results in some parents having to explain exhibitionism to their children or by not going to the parade at all. It does not seem it should be so difficult for her to wear a little more clothing for the couple of hours for the parade. If exhibition is her goal, more people will see her, she just will not be able to flaunt her body.

Moss also claims she’ll march up and down the sidewalks in protest during the parade, which will be quite impressive, since there is no room to walk.