World Naked Bike Ride in Madison Target of Legislation from Lawmaker

Friday, October 6th, 2023 -- 2:00 PM

(Bob Hague, WRN) This year’s Madison edition of the World Naked Bike Ride took place in June. Now it’s the subject of proposed legislation at the Capitol.

A 10-year-old participated in this year’s ride, and a photo showing her was apparently posted to Facebook. State Senator Chris Kapenga drafted two bills in response. “If you agree that people shouldn't be allowed to expose their genitals in public and that minor children shouldn't be paraded naked through streets and photographed, then I encourage your support on these bills.”

Dane County Board Supervisor Jeff Weigand was dissatisfied with police response after a  a ten-year-old took part in this summer’s ride. “Sadly because the city and county law enforcement officers refused to do their job, we are here today, and I appreciate this attempt to be explicitly clear that this type of lewd behavior should not be allowed to take place in Wisconsin.”

Milwaukee Democrat LaTasha Johnson wanted to make sure they wouldn’t apply to concert venues. “For example a Beyonce concert, the buttocks are exposed sometime. Would that prohibit parents from taking their kids to a concert?”

Noting concerts are very profitable, the bills’ author Senator Chris Kapenga, offered a solution. “A strip of cloth from Joanne's Fabric costs about 37 cents, so if they've got to buy 100 strips of cloth to cover their butt crack I'm okay with that.”

Legislative staff said the measures would likely not impact concerts. Kapenga drafted the bills after a Dane County Board member raised concerns over a 10–year-old participating in this year’s ride. Supervisor Jeff Weigand was the only person to testify on the bills.

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