Krys Fox is a 37-year-old NYC photographer. He was at Riis Beach in Queens, NY on the 4th of July, which is known as a destination and safe place for LGBT people. And also for its tolerance of nude sunbathers. Not anymore, apparently.
On Monday, Fox was photographing a friend at the beach when his towel reportedly slipped off, and he was suddenly surrounded by police. Fox, who lives in East Flatbush and said Riis Park is his “special place” and visits there frequently throughout the summer.
“I thought it was a clothing optional beach…
They shoved my face in the sand in front of hundreds of people, I was humiliated. I got an arm around my neck and they threw me to the floor and was literally surrounded by like 11 cops.
They didn’t read me my rights, they handcuffed me.
It’s the worst moment of my life. My biggest problem is that Riis is my safe space and I’ve been going there for almost a decade. I got married in 2011 almost exactly where I was arrested. I shoot there all summer long and was working on a photo project I was devoting to the Orlando victims.”
A bystander, Mariel Reyes, captured the whole scene on video. She described the incident as,
“Absurd, excessive, fucking ridiculous.”
Fox was charged with disorderly conduct and public nudity, officials said. They said he will either be asked to pay a fine or appear in federal court.
Nude sunbathing was made illegal by state law in 1983, but it is rarely enforced and Riis Park has become known as a safe destination for sunbathing nude. Fox says he spent three hours in a jail cell after the arrest.
NY State Senator Brad Hoylman released this statement about the incident,
“Jacob Riis Park has been a safe and peaceful haven for LGBT beachgoers for decades. I find any harassment of beachgoers at Jacob Riis and the overwhelming display of force demonstrated by the United States Park Police yesterday to be utterly repugnant. It also seems to be an enormous diversion of resources. I’d hazard a guess that our police have more pressing concerns in this day and age than arresting a nude sunbather at a gay beach.
“The National Parks Police should be ashamed. Just last week we designated Stonewall as a National Monument. Based on news accounts, I hope the police apologize to Mr. Fox and any pending charges against him are dropped.”
(via Towleroad)
