ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Elk Grove Village has repealed an ordinance that states residents can’t wear “clothes belonging to the opposite sex.”
The ordinance, which basically states that only men should wear pants and women wear skirts, dates back to 1961. It is still in effect in many Chicago suburbs, and local attorney Jim Naughton discovered it on the books in Elk Grove Village.
He, along with some young activists, pushed for a year to have the municipality repeal the ban. Their fight paid off Wednesday.
“This is a relatively small thing in a much larger fight, but I’m happy today about this,” Naughton told CBS 2.
He’s out to reverse other similar ordinances on the books in other suburbs, like Des Plaines and Schaumburg.
Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson told CBS 2 COVID delayed the repeal, but he is glad that the ban was removed, “because It’s not a reflection of this village."
He added that he was surprised to learn the law even existed.
“A lot of municipalities around here were taking laws from the City of Chicago and roll onto the books so they had some ordinances on the books, and once we were made aware of it, we know it’s not right. That’s when we took care of it," Johnson said.
Johnson said other laws could be repealed, as well.
“For example, in Elk Grove Village, you cannot curse on public streets or alleys,” Johnson said, adding in jest of course, “I can’t curse – I’m in trouble.”
Some LGBTQ activists demonstrated against the so-called “cross-dressing” law, and said it was significant that it was repealed at the end of Pride Month.
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