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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think stricter public decency laws and laws against face covering would be good for the UK?

19 replies

Jane3212 · 10/09/2026 19:42

I've been thinking recently about laws about dress and think the UK is too lax in several ways.

The whole 'kink at Pride' disaster is terrible but imo points at a wider issue beyond the disturbing people running Pride. It's currently legal to walk around in obvious fetish gear. I think this should be banned, it's incredible it's legal.
Moreover, I think face coverings need to be regulated. Other countries have done this with exceptions for severe weather, health etc I have no issues with the hijab but I think we should ban the burqa definitely and niqab also. Banning balaclavas would help reduce crime imo. Would also stop furries walking around with faces covered: my DM met some on the train the other day, they didn't do anything bad as such she found the animal masks a bit unnerving and generally could facilitate crime.

OP posts:
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Mindboggl · 11/09/2026 15:41

Blooko · 10/09/2026 20:18

I agree that there should be a ban on face coverings in public or state institutions, e.g. public transport, schools, courts. And that businesses should have the right to ban people with face coverings. Even religious dress should be included. It's going too far to ban them in public at all though. To me that's a breach of people's freedom.

The kink stuff, I don't think it should be banned (because in practice its very difficult to draw a line) but it should be culturally taboo, in the same way that going to the supermarket in your swimsuit is taboo.

Businesses do have the right to ban people with face coverings on their own private premises.

Mindboggl · 11/09/2026 15:40

I’m intrigued by the notion that banning balaclavas would help reduce crime. Criminals aren’t generally known for their adherence to the law. It seems unlikely they aren’t going to commit a crime simply because the law says they can’t wear a balaclava.

Original poster
Jane3212 · 11/09/2026 15:37

FriendlyMedusa · 10/09/2026 21:33

Have you ever been to pride yourself?

I'm not saying this doesn't happen, but in my 20 years of attendance across different cities I think I've seen perhaps 2 men in "leather daddy" outfits. 1 fabric puppy mask at pride last year that was worn by a teenage girl who was not bothering anyone. It makes the tabloids when it does happen which makes it appear far more of a problem than it is.

The harnesses comment is a bit mad to me also - You see harnesses on goth girls every day in my city and I don't think anyone bats an eye.

Show quote history

', but in my 20 years of attendance across different cities I think I've seen perhaps 2 men in "leather daddy" outfits. 1 fabric puppy mask at pride last year that was worn by a teenage girl who was not bothering anyone'

  • can I ask which cities these were? I get if you'd rather not say. I know it depends on where you are, and it's good many don't have lots of kink, but the kind of outfits I mentioned have been an issue at several Prides. London Pride has a big kink issue (this article is fairly representative : www.vice.com/en/article/london-pride-parade-2022-kink-photos)
but not only that, Birmingham & Manchester among others.

'You see harnesses on goth girls every day in my city and I don't think anyone bats an eye.'- I'm glad no one seems to mind , but I still don't think that's appropriate. I don't agree with the normalisation of fetish wear in public.

OP posts:
FriendlyMedusa · 10/09/2026 21:33

Jane3212 · 10/09/2026 20:48

It is a tricky issue but I think it's possible to find a balance.

I've been looking at how other countries handle this. Japan is an interesting example : they have all kinds of subcultures in Tokyo but fetish wear like gimp suits, harnesses etc is banned from most public areas. Tokyo Pride does fine without all the awful costumes you see here.
I agree fetish wear is difficult to fully ban as technically nearly anything could be someone's fetish. But well-known stuff like the above mentioned gimp suits etc could be.

Edited
Show quote history

Have you ever been to pride yourself?

I'm not saying this doesn't happen, but in my 20 years of attendance across different cities I think I've seen perhaps 2 men in "leather daddy" outfits. 1 fabric puppy mask at pride last year that was worn by a teenage girl who was not bothering anyone. It makes the tabloids when it does happen which makes it appear far more of a problem than it is.

The harnesses comment is a bit mad to me also - You see harnesses on goth girls every day in my city and I don't think anyone bats an eye.

Original poster
Jane3212 · 10/09/2026 20:55

Minasama · 10/09/2026 20:52

Wouldn’t existing laws on public decency come into play with fetish wear?

Well currently they don't seem to. It's doesn't seem to be illegal to wear fetish wear like harnesses, gimp suits etc in public.

OP posts:
Minasama · 10/09/2026 20:52

Wouldn’t existing laws on public decency come into play with fetish wear?

Original poster
Jane3212 · 10/09/2026 20:50

LakieLady · 10/09/2026 19:57

Neither do I.

I don't have any problem with Pride either. It's easy to avoid, just don't go into the city when it's on.

Show quote history

What about people who live there or need to go into the city? There have been issues at other UK Prides too.

OP posts:
Original poster
Jane3212 · 10/09/2026 20:49

MooFroo · 10/09/2026 20:09

Can we also ban naked people or people with nipples and bum cheeks showing? It’s unecessary

Yes, I agree we should ban public nudity. It's really weird it's not unless they intend to cause distress.

OP posts:
Original poster
Jane3212 · 10/09/2026 20:48

Sunset6 · 10/09/2026 20:09

Good idea, let’s keep it decent and ban hotpants, Lycra, budgie smugglers, skirts above the knee….

Don't be stupid, there's a big difference between those and fetish wear.

OP posts:
Original poster
Jane3212 · 10/09/2026 20:48

Blooko · 10/09/2026 20:18

I agree that there should be a ban on face coverings in public or state institutions, e.g. public transport, schools, courts. And that businesses should have the right to ban people with face coverings. Even religious dress should be included. It's going too far to ban them in public at all though. To me that's a breach of people's freedom.

The kink stuff, I don't think it should be banned (because in practice its very difficult to draw a line) but it should be culturally taboo, in the same way that going to the supermarket in your swimsuit is taboo.

It is a tricky issue but I think it's possible to find a balance.

I've been looking at how other countries handle this. Japan is an interesting example : they have all kinds of subcultures in Tokyo but fetish wear like gimp suits, harnesses etc is banned from most public areas. Tokyo Pride does fine without all the awful costumes you see here.
I agree fetish wear is difficult to fully ban as technically nearly anything could be someone's fetish. But well-known stuff like the above mentioned gimp suits etc could be.

OP posts:
FriendlyMedusa · 10/09/2026 20:19

I think you need to get a grip.

Blooko · 10/09/2026 20:18

I agree that there should be a ban on face coverings in public or state institutions, e.g. public transport, schools, courts. And that businesses should have the right to ban people with face coverings. Even religious dress should be included. It's going too far to ban them in public at all though. To me that's a breach of people's freedom.

The kink stuff, I don't think it should be banned (because in practice its very difficult to draw a line) but it should be culturally taboo, in the same way that going to the supermarket in your swimsuit is taboo.

Sunset6 · 10/09/2026 20:09

Good idea, let’s keep it decent and ban hotpants, Lycra, budgie smugglers, skirts above the knee….

MooFroo · 10/09/2026 20:09

Can we also ban naked people or people with nipples and bum cheeks showing? It’s unecessary

BoredZelda · 10/09/2026 19:59

This is a joke, right? Your mum was worried about some people on the train who didn’t do anything wrong?

LakieLady · 10/09/2026 19:57

Fledgedup · 10/09/2026 19:51

I have no problem with the burqa and niqab.

Neither do I.

I don't have any problem with Pride either. It's easy to avoid, just don't go into the city when it's on.

TheNoonBell · 10/09/2026 19:56

It was only 5 years ago the government told us we had to wear masks in public, something mumsnetter's generally were very keen on.

Fledgedup · 10/09/2026 19:51

I have no problem with the burqa and niqab.

Hesperatum · 10/09/2026 19:49

Yes