Sen. Thompson says federal court ruling on Colorado city’s topless ban does NOT change Oklahoma laws

Media and internet attention over a ruling handed down by the federal 10th Circuit Court of Appeals from last winter has resulted in confusion and misinformation, said State Sen. Roger Thompson.

Last February, the federal appeals court upheld a lower court’s ruling that said a Fort Collins, Colorado city ordinance banning women from going topless violated the U.S. Constitution’s equal protection clause because it was gender specific.

Oklahoma is one of six states that fall under the jurisdiction of that appeals court, but Thompson said the ruling doesn’t preempt any laws here.

“I want to be clear that this case dealt with a very specific city ordinance from Fort Collins, Colorado. It does not overturn any Oklahoma laws. Our Attorney General issued a statement Monday and he also said this case does not change any local city ordinances or laws in our state,” said Thompson, R-Okemah. “Media reports saying the court decision makes this legal in Oklahoma or that it has created a new law in our state are simply wrong.”

Thompson said Attorney General Mike Hunter’s statement pointed out that most courts around the country that have examined the issue have upheld traditional public decency and public nudity laws and recognized states and cities have a legitimate interest in prohibiting public nudity as traditionally defined.

“The bottom line is the case does not overturn any state or city laws in Oklahoma,” Thompson said.