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US city planning ban on low-slung baggy pants
Baggy trousers that hang way below the belt and expose what the wearer has on underneath could soon be banned in the southern US city of Atlanta
"Many youngsters are walking around with their pants way, way below their waists, and you can see everything. Some people call it a fad or a fashion statement but it is simple indecency," Dexter Chambers, the communications director at Atlanta City Council, told AFP by phone.
"A proposal to change the city code in terms of indecency will go before the public safety legal administrative committee on Tuesday for discussion," he said.
"From there it would go before the city council, but it's difficult to say when it could be passed. It depends on how much airing it receives, if you pardon the expression," Chambers said.
Councilman C. T. Martin proposed adding a clause to the city code on public morals "after several of his constituents, including many teachers, asked him to do something about this indecency," Chambers said.
The ordinance, of which AFP obtained a copy, states that "the dress fad of wearing low hanging/saggy pants which exposes ones underwear is becoming a major concern for communities, cities and states around the country."
It proposes adding a clause to the code on public morals -- which already bars real or simulated sexual intercourse, indecent exposure, or the touching, caressing or fondling of genitals or women's breasts in public -- to make "the indecent exposure of undergarments" unlawful.
Press reports have said that the proposed changes would make it illegal for women to run wearing just a sports bra, or to expose their bra straps.
"The ordinance doesn't mention anything about bras. The American Civil Liberties Union brought that up," Chambers said.
The trend of wearing oversized trousers that fall down and expose one's smalls derives from the US prison system.
"It started in prison, where, as I understand it, belts are taken away from inmates. But it evolved into a situation where it was used by prisoners to let others know they were 'available,' and it still has that sexual connotation," Chambers said.
Very low-slung trousers are already banned in the southern US city of Delcambre, in Louisiana, where offenders' cheek can earn them a fine of 500 dollars (350 euros) or up to six months in jail.
But Atlanta would not be so harsh, Chambers said.
"There would only be a small fine, no jail time at all. Councilman Martin would rather send young men and women to college than jail."
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