Old Regulation Prohibited Dressing As Opposite Sex, Council Said

DES PLAINES, IL — The Des Plaines City Council Monday repealed a 1963 regulation against certain clothing, the latest council decision in support of LGBTQ residents.

The decades-old regulation banned people from wearing a piece of clothing that was designed for someone of the opposite sex. Des Plaines follows Schaumburg and Elk Grove Village in updating their municipal rules.

In the original language, the ordinance called women dressing like men or vice versa "obscene and immoral acts."

While the rule technically prohibited wearing opposite sex clothing in public spaces, police could charge the person with indecent exposure if they were caught.

In an unrelated Daily Herald interview, Mayor Andrew Goczowski said the regulation was "a relic from a different and less accepting time."

The council voted to take out the language about gender-specific clothing on Monday, leaving the base of the regulation, which prohibits public indecency. The council also changed a reference to "male" genitals to use "their" pronouns to be nonspecific.

Commander Matt Bowler told Patch that Des Plaines police have no record of ever charging someone with violating the previous regulation. If they had, he said, they would have been fined $250 which is common for obscenity charges.

The regulation was struck down without any objection.

The latest change comes after Des Plaines took another step to support the LGBTQ community by voting to fly the rainbow pride flag at City Hall for one week during Pride Month.