Opposite-Sex Clothing Ban Repealed In Elk Grove Village

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL — A law that had been on the books for 60 years in Elk Grove Village is now off. The 1961 ordinance banned people from wearing clothes "properly belonging to the opposite sex." The Village Board voted to repeal it last week.

The decision came as organizers of "Say It With Pride Equality Now!" protested the "antiquated" ordinance June 30.

The Village Board took a necessary step to eliminate the provision of the village code that mandated individuals to wear clothing only specific to their gender, according to a news release.

Elk Grove Village resident James Naughton, Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison and Heidi Graham, president of the local League of Women Voters chapter, notified Mayor Craig Johnson of the outdated law. Johnson directed village staff to add a measure to the June 30 Village Board meeting agenda to eliminate the ordinance.

The ordinance, which was adopted by the Village Board in 1961, reads, “It shall be unlawful for any person to commit any indecent or immoral act or to appear in any public place in clothes properly belonging to the opposite sex or not properly or decently garbed.”

“We are eager to erase this dated law, which contradicts our community values, from our books,” Johnson said in the news release. “While the ordinance is unenforceable and would not stand up to legal scrutiny in any way whatsoever, it simply goes against our commitment to building and fostering an inclusive, open, and welcoming community.”

The effort to get rid of the ordinance comes just weeks after the village passed a proclamation designating June 2021 as LGBTQ Pride Month, a measure taken by communities across the nation. The Elk Grove Village proclamation reads, in part, “It is imperative that all people in our community, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, feel welcome, valued safe and supported by their peers and community leaders.”

“On behalf of the Village Board and our entire community, I would like to thank James Naughton, Commissioner Morrison and Mrs. Graham for bringing this matter to our attention,” Johnson said. “When community members work together in the spirit of collaboration, open dialogue and cooperation, we can advance the values we all share: equality, diversity, understanding, and mutual respect for all members of our community.”