DADEVILLE, Ala. — Dadeville City Councilman Frank Goodman who is currently pushing for a new local ordinance banning saggy pants says that God wants the sartorial slippage to be illegal.
Goodman said ever since he took office in 2008, he’s wanted to pursue legislation to prohibit saggy pants, but the legislation has never gotten off the ground until now.
“Seeing the young boys with pants hanging down, having to walk wide-legged, holding their pants up to keep them from falling down—now it’s gotten real bad,” Goodman said. “It’s something I couldn’t take no more.”
Other Alabama cities have pursued similar clothing restrictions, but to no avail. In 2011, Mobile City Council attempted to pass a ban but fell one vote short. A year later, the Alabama House of Representatives considered outlawing sagging, though the law would have only applied to Montgomery County. The bill, which threatened those who sag with fines of up to $150, died like its Mobile predecessor.
However, in a recent interview with The Daily Beast, the councilman says that God is on his side.
“I prayed and asked God to show me what I should do, and the way I should go about it. What would God do? Did God go around doing this?” Goodman said. “He would show me this saggy pant—it’s one of the things He did not do. It is not in His orders to do that to gain eternal life.”
Although still in discussion, the ban looks to have support from other council members. “I have heard more favorable positive comments about us even considering this than I have on anything else since I have been on the council,” fellow council member James Tarpley said. Other council members have even tried to take the saggy pants ban a step further and include a ban of women’s short shorts, miniskirts and other clothing deemed inappropriate.
At a council meeting this month, Goodman stated that saggy pants are “disrespectful,” and wearing such pants has serious effects, such as being bad example to children, and limiting the wearer from employment.
“I prayed about this. I know that God would not go around with pants down,” Goodman said.
Attorney Robin Reynolds plans to prepare the ordinance for the Dadeville City Council’s next meeting later this month.
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