2016 Nude Women’s Day Parade | Castro to City Hall

Submitted by the Event Organizer

The 2016 Nude Women’s Day Parade finally got a permit from the SFPD and they’re ready to march this coming Sunday, April 3rd in Jane Warner Plaza in honor of International Women’s Day. The parade will go to City Hall down Market St and back.

They will start the march at 11 am sharp. Their permit is only 2 1/2 hours long so they need to stay organized. If you’re participating (and we hope you do – don’t come to gawk), please come at 10 am to give yourself enough time to get ready, socialize and take pictures. All are welcome – women, men and everybody in between.

Parade Route: Jane Warner Plaza (Market St and Castro St)- rally, then take Market St to 9th St and Larkin, North on Larkin to McAllister, West on McAllister to Polk St, photo shoot in front of City Hall, down Polk St to Market, back to Jane Warner Plaza.

The purpose of this event – besides the joy of walking down the street naked – is to support women and to help create an environment where women can feel safe nude in public.

Women are often treated as sex objects and at the same time shamed for wanting sexual freedom. Many men in our society today don’t want to relinquish control over women’s bodies and souls. Many women will shame and attack other women out of ignorance and jealousy. For as long as those attacks are supported by our culture none of us are truly free nor safe.

In our backward society a naked man is usually perceived as a threat, while a naked woman is perceived as a sex object asking to be raped and disrespected. On top of that women are subjected to an enormous amount of pressure to look “perfect” and to conform to some oppressive totalitarian standards that dictate that every woman be anything but herself.

Body freedom for women involves overcoming the obstacles of social prejudice, fear of judgement, fear of perceived violence and personal self hate. It’s about liberating ourselves from the constricting beliefs that were forced on us from infancy and throughout our lives. But once a woman gets enough courage to get nude in public, if it is done in a positive environment, it is truly liberating. From there on a whole new process of personal liberation can unfold. That’s why it is really important for us as a society to examine issues of body shame, issues of oppression of women, issues of sexual violence. It is important to grow and heal and to ultimately create an environment where a nude woman can be safe in public.

We invite you all, nude or dressed or anywhere in between to join our nude rally and parade in honor of International Women’s Day.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.