Man sues for $1 over right to wear skirt in public

[sapphire]

Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS — A man sued the New Orleans Police Department, claiming he was harassed by an officer who threatened to arrest him for wearing a black pinstriped skirt to municipal court. Jeremy Don Kerr is asking for $1 in damages, a ruling that his rights were violated, and an order against barring access to public facilities because of gender stereotyping.

The department hasn't been served with the lawsuit and hasn't answered the claim in court.

Kerr filed the civil rights lawsuit last month. He said he finds skirts more comfortable than pants, and wears them with button-down oxfords or T-shirts.

And he said women love it.

From today's Worcester Telegram
http://www.telegram.com/article/20090506/NEWS/905069993

[JRMILLER]

Here's a little more...

http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009 ... _sues.html

[Mipi]

Cleaver guy, I must say.

[ChrisM]

Local support here has been strongly favorable to Kerr.

According to the article he lives near me, but I haven't seen him on the street (I'm the only skirted guy I see in my neighborhood.)

Chris (Currently resident in New Orleans)

[Uncle Al]

After reading both articles, I agree with the concessious(sp) of most
of the responders, the N.O.P.D officer was out of line. He was just
trying to 'throw his weight around'. It doesn't matter how long a
person has been 'on-the-force', if he/she screws things up then he/she
needs some help and guidence.

As long as the 'wearer' was not 'wearing a chip on his shoulder', then
he should not have been hassled in any way, shape or form.

A well put together outfit shows no more disrespect to 'the bench'
than if you came to the court in slacks and sport shirt.

What really 'burns my behind' is these 'kids' who imitate the dress
of an inmate by wearing their pants half-way down to their knees.

IF I were a Judge, and someone came into my court dressed in this
mannor, I'd hold them in contempt of court and sentence them to
30 days in jail. As an alternative to jail time, they could have the
option of wearing a skirt DAILY for two weeks and the contempt
charge would be purged from their record.

Would this help to change the publics mind of what is appropriate
dress in a courtroom? I don't know....but it may help to show the
public that just because someone chooses to wear a skirt, doesn't
automatically mean they are a 'gay-trans anything' person.


Oh-Ohhhhh, I'd better put away my as I think I'm
ranting on a bit.

Uncle Al
Duncanville, TX

[Kris]

What really 'burns my behind' is these 'kids' who imitate the dress
of an inmate by wearing their pants half-way down to their knees.

IF I were a Judge, and someone came into my court dressed in this
mannor, I'd hold them in contempt of court and sentence them to
30 days in jail. As an alternative to jail time, they could have the
option of wearing a skirt DAILY for two weeks and the contempt
charge would be purged from their record.

Would this help to change the publics mind of what is appropriate
dress in a courtroom? I don't know....but it may help to show the
public that just because someone chooses to wear a skirt, doesn't
automatically mean they are a 'gay-trans anything' person.

Although if a judge did that, I expect most of the public would see the skirt-wearing order as a punishment, a form of public humiliation.

Kris

[Uncle Al]

Although if a judge did that, I expect most of the public
would see the skirt-wearing order as a punishment,
a form of public humiliation.

Kris

Maybe, but if this type of trial was made known to the public, I'd sure
like to have ALL skirt/kilt wearing men show up supporting the Judge
by wearing their best skirt/kilt outfit!

Then let the 'press' have a field day by letting the 'general public' know
that wearing a skirt/kilt is only a clothing choice not to be denied to
the male populace.

This is not about gender issues/choices, but it is OK for a man to wear
a skirt/kilt and any harrassment is subject to discrimmination charges.

OK--My 2 cents worth!

Uncle Al
Duncanville, TX

[crfriend]

Maybe, but if this type of trial was made known to the public, I'd sure
like to have ALL skirt/kilt wearing men show up supporting the Judge
by wearing their best skirt/kilt outfit!

I have to place my opinion on the matter with Kris. Having the legal system use skirt-wearing as a form of public humiliation (read, "punishment") I believe would set things back a huge way for getting skirted garments on guys accepted by the general public -- and I don't think that's what we want.

Personally, I do not like the "gangsta" look; I find it juvenile and slovenly. However, it does seem to be an accepted "fashion" these days, and who are we to dictate (lest we have others dictate to us)? If I was a judge and had to deal with somebody so dressed, I'd stick to the facts and decide the case on those and those alone. Real judges do not behave like "Judge Judy": behaviour such as that is an embarrassment to the dignity of the office and the solemnity of the court setting. I would also expect the same level of professionalism to be shown by all members of my staff.

In short, there's a time and a place for everything. And, there are certain standards of behaviour that are expected in society -- especially certain standards that are expected of certain classes.

[Bob]

I'm impressed by Kerr's lack of desire for money. When a woman (born a woman, always a woman) was thrown out of the woman's dressing room at a nightclub because the (male) bouncer thought she was a guy --- and refused to even look at her ID --- she won $30K in the subsequent lawsuit, as well as a number of concessions and changes from the establishment in question.

[r.m.anderson]

Yes indeed!

It is the principle of the lawsuit - not the principal ($).

The thing I would like to see is the cop paying the court fees out of his pocket
and an apology for his bad judgement (enforcement of a law he thinks is on
the books). If such a law is actually there - then write the citation; comments
withheld! It is not his job to interpret (judge) the law and certainly no place
for his ridicule of the person being cited.
Appears like the redneck needs an attitude adjustment.
And there was no need for laying hands on Mr. Kerr if he was not being arrested.
The fortunate thing is that Mr. Kerr was not arrested and placed into a jail
cell with other rednecks equally bent on making the skirt wearing an issue
possibly resulting in a threat to his personal safety.

"KILT-ON"
rm

[Mipi]

I agree; skirts MUSTN'T be used as a punishment!

[renesm1]

http://www.wdsu.com/news/19390498/detail.html

This has a video report.

R

[tooslowprius]

Well after reading some of the post I just had to leave my 2 cents
Here is what I said

Ok, I read through all of these post on here and I see a lot of different opinion's on this article. First let me say this guy is doing the right thing by putting a law suit out there. By him suing for $1 he is showing that he is not suing for the money. He is suing for the fact that he choice to wear a skirt and was discriminated against for it. Now I'm not going to say anything about the NOPD cause i have never been there, but there is no reason that the officer should have even touched him! They way i understood it he was just leaving from his court hearing. So with that being said he must have had to stand in front of a judge wearing a skirt and the judge obviously didn't care. So the point remains this. If a guy chooses to wear a skirt why does people label him gay or a freak? I wear a skirt and I know I'm not gay! If a guy wearing a skirt is gay, a freak or whatever why does the same not hold true for a women? Oh I know because a women is allowed to be soft or tough like a man, but a guy is not allowed to even think about being soft(Ie show emotion's or act different than other men) I feel that this guy is doing the right thing by suing NOPD. He's not suing for money like most people would he is suing for his rights!

Let me know what you guy's think!

[Since1982]

Good idea that fellow had to sue for his rights.

[Uncle Al]

Well folks, I just watched the video. For my tastes, the skirt
was too short. That may have been one reason the 'cop' tried
to stop him. On the other hand, when asked why he was wearing
a skirt, I think Mr. Kerr should have given an answer instead of
walking away. If he told the 'cop' that yes, he was wearing a
skirt because it is comfortable and cooler in the LA heat, then
the 'cop' should've walked away. He had an answer, and would
not have had any reason to persue it further(unless the 'cop' was
a pompous a**).

True, we still have only one side of the situation. Too bad the NOPD
will not comment or allow the 'officer' to respond with his side of the
story. Once both 'sides' of the incident are known, the better to
make a judgement call as to who was right and who was wrong.

This is my 3 cents worth

Uncle Al
Duncanville, TX