Skimpy swimwear could be out at Fort De Soto

Responding to outraged Fort De Soto visitors who have come across men and women enjoying the beach in states of near-nudity, Pinellas County may toughen its swimwear rules.

Skimpy thongs and G-strings will be banned in favor of bottom wear with more stopping power.

Officials said that after getting complaints from visitors for years, it’s time to take action and protect Fort De Soto’s image as a family vacation destination.

But nudists who have lobbied for a clothing-optional beach at Fort De Soto say the move is misguided. Among their arguments: The new rules could hurt tourism, which drives much of the local economy.

“It’s certainly going to have a negative impact,” said Ken Kushman, 62, secretary of Tampa Area Naturists, “because it’s going to turn people away who want to wear less bathing suit than their grandmother does.”

Kushman said fighting the new rules is not a priority for his group. Its goal is a clothing-optional beach in the Tampa Bay area, he said, but the proposed rules certainly move in the wrong direction.

The new rules would apply at Fort De Soto, and also at Sand Key and Fred Howard parks, the two other major county beaches.

The County Commission is expected to vote on the rules by the end of March.

Let's Talk: Ready to join the Skimpy Suit Patrol?

Will Van Sant, Times Staff Writer

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Comments

[Crilly]

A 62 year old nudist-that must be quite a sight. Let them buy their own beach, I don't need to look at any thing that gross.

[dklemm]

Wow, it sure is great that everything else in Pinellas County is so perfect that the County Commission has time to deal with this pressing issue. God forbid someone's butt cheek is showing at the beach while the county is experiencing budget, educational, public safety, and environmental issues on which the Commission has shown no leadership or initiative.

[dklemm]

Anyway, at what point do they decide that too much butt cheek is showing? Is it only thongs/g-strings that will be outlawed? Or will they include bottoms that don't quite fit that category, but still show "too much" cheek? How will they define "too much", as linear measurement, a percentage of coverage, etc? Will the park staff now have "butt cheek enforcement" duties to measure the amount of butt cheek showing on park visitors...because after all, they aren't already overworked with real duties?

[!]

So where do people sign up to measure the amount of bathing suit covering a butt?

[Timjk54]

So the main issue pressing Pinellas County is swimwear ?? While you are at the "considering" stage why not consider bringing back the green benches & shipping in a huge flock of pigeons , just like the "good old days" .. Let's see .. at the next meeting should we address school closings or T-Backs ???
Idiots !!!!!!!!!!

[Rob]

Try getting the roads fixed, synching up the traffic lights, and getting rid of the homeless scumbags from up north. Don't worry about the dog gone beaches.

[taxpaying gal]

Dear Timjk54,

I thought it was the "School" Board Members deciding about the school closings? Hmmmm

Didn't know it was on the shoulders of the County Commission to decide on school closings....

[r2cents]

Oh, please. There are so many more important things to be concerned about than skimpy swimsuits.

[observer]

At least the women in the photo can get away with wearing those skimpy suits. What about the rest of the population that wear that type of suit...but shouldn't? Maybe we should just ban everybody who doesn't have a perfect body, but goes to the beach in a bathing suit anyway. Most of them aren't pleasant to look at either.
STOP THE INSANITY!!!!

[James]

The picture of the swimsuits in your article look great. I live on Redington Beach and often see people (men and women) who should be wearing more swimsuit. However, trying to legislate a person's taste in beach attire is ridiculous. I have not seen anything on the Gulf Beaches that comes anywhere close to the small beachwear in Europe or other countries. Tell the people that complain to go to Disney if they want to have their entire life sanitized of small swimsuits.

Regards,

Beachgoer

[ctmonline]

My wife and I have traveled to Fort Desoto on vacation each and every year since we first discovered this beautiful place in 2002, the beach there is always the highlight of our trip amd we have a lot of memories from there, even though we live nearly one-thousand miles away. We rent a condo in the Isla Del Sol communtity from Capalbo Rental Agency for two weeks each year, always remembering to pack our minimal swimwear collection, while were there we go to the beach at the Fort every chance we get. We have even planned to relocating to the area because of the great time we have there, but after reading this article, we are deeply saddened by the recent turn of events. If this new set of rules is passed by the County Commission, the county will feel much the same as they're treating the minimal swimwear enthusiasts, but there case it will be the pain of decreasing Pinellas county tourism revenue. Please vote NO to this new set of rules, the economy is bad enough, turning away visitors at this point will only put the nail in the coffin of Pinellas County Tourism.

[Kgtoopsphoto]

As a swimsuit photographer that shoots alot at Fort Desoto i find the complaints hard to believe that they are directed at the suits that woman decide to wear. As Far as the men, with their Banana Hammocks and sunburnt skin, if it bothers you move, what is there like 10 miles of beach there

[xiaotiki]

I am offended by “dismayed visitors" who consider the human body, of any age, obscene. In any event; Pinellas County Commissioners, why not do something creative, like creating a beach space for Floridian’s who are uncomfortable with people in a state of undress? Problem solved, and Florida would be a nicer place for all of us.

[frog]

If much of Ft DeSota’s beach is to have a dress code, the county commissioners should take this opportunity to designate, at the same time, an out of the way, clothing optional, beach section. Many of us in Pinellas County would be very happy about this.

[CTS]

Just curious how the county plans to enforce this rule. Do they have the money to hire someone?

[DBB]

Isnt it funny how conservatives (its almost always a conservative) scream about govt interference in their lives, but then run to mommy govt when something upsets their sensibilities?

Since the legislators in this state dont have the stones to let people wear whatever they want to the beach, why not divide FT Desoto into a Nude/Prude beach, and lets see which side gets the most visits!

[Edward Ringwald]

The last thing we need to see at Ft. DeSoto: Skimpy swimsuits.

After all, Ft. DeSoto Park is a park for the entire family, and I think Pinellas County needs to keep it that way. Families, especially those with children, don't need to see someone clad in a skimpy swimsuit at a public beach.

[WRM]

Would hate to seethat a few complaints to the rangers about swimwear could cause major problems elsewhere in the County. A ranger has no legal ability to do anything. So they must call a Deputy if they have a problem. Now we have a Deputy in a thong dispute on the beach while a drunk driver kills someone on the road. Hope those complainers feel really good about that. Why can we not have a beach in Pinellas like South Beach in Miami. Just mark a section of beach and allow thongs. Why should thongers have to suffer because of a few complainers? This will really hurt tourism and force beach goers to support businesses in othe Counties.

[flanygal]

Officials will study that photo for days, weeks, months............

[WRM]

If it has been that easy for few to complain about thongs and get action maybe we should complain about bicycles in the travel lanes. Maybe we should ask them to ban alcohol completely. How about outlawing off duty police to stop traffic and let people out of church parking lots on Sunday mornings. This is just the first step of big brother controlling everything you do Pinellas County. And it is caused by just a few selfish people. Everybody should fight this ban just to show them that a few complainers are not going to control the masses.

[Shannon1988]

I both agree and Disagree to this situation..Im turning 21 very soon and have gone to Fort De Soto with my family since i was a baby..so i think there should be SOME form of rules for the nudists and the whores who wanna wear that stuff because it is a family oriented beach....but at the same time...it is a free country (for the most part)and i dont think they should put that kind of law at a beach..i mean..its kinda dumb and how do they plan on stopping these people? what are they going to do? give them a ticket? lol. i think there should be some kind of divider...Families on one side and Nudists and whores on the other.

[Jo]

Some people are not built right to wear a thong or bikini. Most revolting sight to see a woman or man in a suit that you have to look closely to see where it is. The strings and straps are hidden by rolls of fat. Saw a man the other day in a thong and I nearly got sick. Wonder if they care what they look like or not. People used to take pride in their appearance.

[David Weber]

This is one of those cases where a double standard should be welcomed.

There should be a committee comprised solely of male college students to determine who may and who may not wear thongs and g-strings. To ensure that there is no bias, the committee will have 4 frat boys, 4 nerds, and 4 meatheads. I believe that fairness and justice will be the result. In fact, I'll gladly chair for a small annual salary (plus kickbacks, of course).

[birdman]

This is so stupid. I can't believe our commissioners have nothing better to do. What a waste. Jeez! So...so stupid. Seriously..I would like to see some hard data from the BOCC that demands their attention into this matter.

[Mr.Fabulous]

People... IT'S A BEACH. Don't want to see any skin (old or young, good or bad), go someplace else.

[surfrider]

sick old man and women out there cant even go to that beach with my kids

[Wolf]

I volunteer to take the measurements. I promise to be extremely conscientous about my job. Heck I might have to do it 2 or 3 times to make sure I get it right, but that's the sacrifice, I'm willing to make to ensure that nobodys' delicate sensibilities are offended.

[lori]

So, our county attorneys are busy working away on this issue for the Commission. HOW MANY OF OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING WASTED on this nonsense. I will be at any meeting and encourage everyone else to attend as well, and bring friends! And those who are complaining - I'm amazed - you have all of the beauty of Ft Desoto to appreciate, yet you can't control yourself and stop gawking and judging others? Get some therapy, I think your self esteem is very low indeed.

[fllady]

I have lived in the Tampa area for 50 years, 46 of those years in St.Pete. I spent much of my childhood at Ft DeSoto and only saw a small part of the beach. There's room for everyone to enjoy the sun, sand and water without offending each other. I agree that there should be an area given to those who want to wear very little or nothing at all. All we need to do is post signs to warn people that may not care to see the beauty of the human body.

[Georg]

Hey, this is the US of A, the land of prudery and censorship. The country where "wardrobe malfunctions" on TV are punsished with hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, four letter words are bleeped on network TV, racy magazine covers are hidden behind plastic sheets at grocery checkout lines and even certain books are banned from public libraries.

So, banning skimpy swimwear from beaches is only a logical consequence.

Ex-pat from Europe

[fllady]

Commissioners in action.

http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=3xv7REV2HEY

[JamesM]

The problem with regulating thong swimsuits on the beach is you have to have someone going around measuring or judging peoples rears. Since most thong swimsuits are worn by nubile young women I would like to be first in line for that job, but I am not sure it’s something we should be paying a public officials to do.

Do you really want a rangers and policeman inspecting your daughters bottom to make sure her swim suit is correct?

Thong swimsuits have been part of the Florida beach scene for many years. There have been no deaths attributable to thongs. They don’t even sting people like the jelly fish do.

Fort De Soto is a local county park, mostly used by locals. The complaints are supposedly from tourists, who should simply be told “You are not in Kansas anymore.”

The current rules do not allow people to go naked. They must comply with the current law and wear thongs to cover the sexual parts. Buttocks maybe sensual but they are not sexual.

Thongs are legal on most of the beaches in South East Florida, and they even have a large public nude beach in the middle of Haulover park in Miami. Over the years the nude beach down there has dramatically increased tourism near the park, and the counties revenue from the park.

I am not suggesting we start a nude beach, but changing the rules to drive out the residents and tourists who currently wear thongs is counter productive. What next, are we going to measure the hem lines of the girls dresses?

The language of the proposed rule is vague and obscure. What exactly are your ‘nates’ and how much coverage should there be? In this time when budgets are short, the last thing we need is rangers inspecting the cleft and breadth of your ‘nates’.

I am sure that now and again there is a problem with some one who wears less than a thong, maybe by going nude on the beach. In which case the existing law is fine. The ranger has the authority to ask them to cover up, or to call the police if needed.

The last thing the county needs to do is to get into legal battles over what swimsuits have the correct rear coverage and which don’t. As written the correct size of rear coverage will vary wildly depending on the interpretation of the rule, and possibly the shape and size of the wearer. People come in many different shapes and sizes which will lead to further confusion, which is going to lead to arbitrary enforcement.

In the end the new rule will be a waste time and money. It will lead to the county fighting a number of court cases with expensive lawyers arguing over the interpretation this vague rule, or the county sees the light and rescinds it. Either way the county will end up spending lots of money, while looking small minded and mean spirited.

It seems that the county is saying that the new rules are to make a few tourists happy, for people who don’t even live here. There are plenty of local beaches the tourists and locals can go to where there are no thongs, let the picky ones go there.

Personally I like the look of young women in thong swimsuits, there is no finger way to decorate a beach. I don’t even mind the older folk who still think they are young, more power to them.

[whasup]

When you can read the serial number of a woman's breast implants through her skin, she's wearing a too-teeny bikini.

[whasup]

Succinct enough for ya JamesM?

[Oh No it's MONGO]

I am so tired of seeing huge hairy butts and beer guts in thongs! And thats just the women! For crying out louud i feel like I'm back in the navy again

[Timjk54]

First of all to "taxpayingirl" you missed my point entirely .. There are more important things to do than "ban T-Backs" laws .

And "Shannon1988" if that is the year you were born then sweetheart you definitely need to get out more .. Women in thongs = Whores ???!!!

[Stephen]

In Europe they are all over the place, and nobody pays attention to it. Here it is like we still live in the Victorian age. Americans need to grow up, and don't be so narow minded.

[familynaturist]

With the worsening economy, the county should be looking at ways to INCREASE tourism, not DECREASE IT!

[familynaturist]

I love the comment by surfrider about the kids. Have you EVER, EVER seen kids offended by nudity??? Kids absolutely love skinny-dipping at the beach, and all of us who are no longer kids, wish we were! Skinny-dipping like kids, that is.

[familynaturist]

If the county drives away tourists with this anti-European swimwear ban, WHAT will the county do to provide an ALTERNATIVE to ensure that these tourists will KEEP COMING to Pinellas County???

[familynaturist]

BOCC, is catering to a couple complainers worth ruining our tourist economy???

[Joe]

This is a great opportunity to separate the beach into Prude/Nude sections. It's certainly extensive enough that there's room for everyone.

Do the complainers really think that a couple more inches of material are going to make some people more attractive? They should address their self loathing and get some therapy, and in the meantime stay home in their burkas. These puritans are raising a new generation like Shannon1988 who automatically seem to equate exposed skin to promiscuity. What's next? A bag over the head of ugly people?

And for DBB...I'm a 53 year old conservative that thinks the government isn't chartered to control all aspects of our lives and should focus on more important things.

[familynaturist]

If the county bans us residents who wear European-style swimwear from OUR beaches, what ALTERNATIVE will they provide to keep us being residents of Pinellas County? Do you care about our property taxes? Do you care about the rent we provide to Pinellas County? Do you care about the sales taxes that we provide you with?

Are you ready to be sued for violating our 14th Amendment rights to "Equal Protection"??? I hope you are, because we're going to sue you for everything you've got!

[Piobair]

It's so comforting to know that despite the wholesale collapse of the economy, with evaporating 401K's, savings, incomes, and home values, and skyrocketing unemployment, homeowner's insurance, power bills, foreclosures, bankruptcies and homelessness, our fearless elected leaders resolutely haven't allowed any of that to distract them from the primary mission of government; to be the public's ever vigilant, puritanical, and overprotective busy-body nannies.

[familynaturist]

Those in government are misguided by a few complainers because the rest of us don't speak up enough.

It's time to write, call and visit your county commissioner and express your EXTREME disapproval of this regressive measure that will severely harm our tourist economy.

And, it's time for county commissioners and park supervisors to either provide for our tourists and residents or resign.

[CJ]

I have lived in St Petersburg for more than 30 years and I have been to Fort DeSoto Park hundreds of times over the years. I use the Fort to get away from the crowded everyday life that has taken over Pinellas County. This county needs to focus on other more importants matters than whether someone has to small of swim suit on. At the beach. Remember we are talking the beach were you were are suppose to sun-bathe ! You have taken away our right to enjoy Shell Key on our boat with our pets and now you are wanting to tell us what type of swim suit we should were. NO - NO - NO!!!! Gov't needs to take a step back and get out of our lives. Focus on bringing in revenue to our county not the opposite.

[surfrider]

ok first off if you never been out there and just read this article well u have no idea.2nd its a pubic beach

one time i saw one of those people look back and bend over in front of a little kid the dad saw what that guy did and almost killed the guy
couple of citizens on the beach stopped this told the father it wasnt worth it
so if your for this action go to that beach and take your kids
they need to be put in jail SCUM BAGS

[surfrider]

if you don't know what kind of suit there wearing then don't post a comments
YES its that bad out there

[surfrider]

familynaturist this is for you
what are you? your comments make me believe your one of those
kids not teenagers 5,6,7 and 8
are u f##king kidding me
kids need to see it
do this goto your nearest jail and put yourself in it
SCAM BAG

[JamesM]

The argument that kids are hurt by seeing a bottom has long been disproved. Nudists bring up perfectly normal children.

But that is NOT the point. The issue is should be ban all thongs just becuase one or two people go beyond a thong and wear something that makes them look a little ridiculous?

There are already good laws on the book to cover swimsuits that go fully transparent when wet, or people who go nude. The way it works now is the ranger asks them to cover up and if they don't then they risk arrest.

We don't need to penalize all the locals who are responsible thong wearers, all the pretty young girls who layout in their thong bikinis, just becuase the park manager is a prude, or just because some anonymous tourists don't like the view.

People should be able to go to the beach and wear what they like so long as their sex bits are covered, as is currently required.

The county should not be in the business of defining swimsuit fashion, or in the business of inspecting the behinds of young women to make sure they comply with this new vague law.

What's worse, the fine is only part of the punishment for the proposed new law, it could lead to young women being charged as criminals, and may lead to predominant sexual predator status, just becuase the ranger did not approve of the back side of their swimsuit.

Come on folks, get a life. If you don't like the view look somewhere else, or go to one of the many beaches in the county where the local city has already banned thongs.

If we are not colorful who the heck did the tourists come to see?

[Joe]

They need to set aside a small area of the beach for nude or skimpy swim wear. With all the miles of beach that Pinellas county has there is no reason that a small portion could be set aside for nude recreation. My girlfriend and I go to Haulover Beach every year. No one there cares how you look or what you wear or don't wear. Let's figure out how to solve more pressing problems other than this one.

[Mrs. Anderson]

They are closing my son's school (Palm Harbor Elem) and yet they have time to spend our money and discuss issues as unimportant as this! Nudity is no big deal in the European countries/beaches I've visited. We Americans could stand to learn a few things from them. If you don't like what you see then DON'T LOOK! As far as the family is concerned, my children are raised that nudity is a natural state of being (not sexually). They could care less if someone is in a g-string or t-back! Get over yourselves County Commissioners! Lets get down to business about the serious issues that are affecting our county and state!

[windowsugar]

dklemm, that's IT exactly. They've taken a giant step towards CRIMINALIZING the human body.
jesus who do all these people complain TO? I've never SEEN anyone there to even show me a bathroom never mind whine about someone's derriere.
Or boobies.
Men look like crap in speedos. OUTLAW THEM !!!!!!!
No it DOES NOT matter how good your body is.
Anyway ... file this under GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM and let us run our own state. Though some try to say the same to me because I'm NOT fifth gen. like they.
whew .........

[windowsugar]

also, this really IS part of what the beach is all about. LOOKING.
Guys forgive me for this one:
Will they outlaw HAIRY BACKS???

[windowsugar]

At the pinellas county jail:
What are you in for??

My butt cheek was showing too much.

Community service: Picking up trash at the beach.

[InterestedGuy1972]

This all seems like a bunch of crap to me. Who cares, and if they do... go elsewhere. I've gone to Ft. Desoto since I was a kid, and since I was a young teen, I've known which area's to go and not to, depending on what I was looking for (yes over the years there have been a few changes in locale, but not too many, and they're VERY easily spotted).

If these complaints were about open sexual activities, or worse sexual harassment, fine, put an end to it - but swimwear?? Really?? Swimwear at a BEACH, this is something that requires legal action?

I'm afraid I have to agree with several of the previous posters, if this is what is truly important to our county officials, they REALLY need to get new jobs. Soon.