# Banning Burkinis (or Veils/Headscarves) **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 17, 2016, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-burkinis-or-veils-headscarves/763085 "2016-08-17T15:43:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-burkinis-or-veils-headscarves/763085/21 "2016-08-17T17:23:16Z")
You know, I am wondering how they are able to determine the difference between a “burkini” and a creative (like maybe a superheroine theme) bodysuit that a surfer or diver might be wearing? Are they going to require fashion police at the beach? ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-burkinis-or-veils-headscarves/763085/22 "2016-08-17T17:31:06Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > You know, I am wondering how they are able to determine the difference between a “burkini” and a creative (like maybe a superheroine theme) bodysuit that a surfer or diver might be wearing? Are they going to require fashion police at the beach? That’s the first thing I thought of, a wet suit. I didn’t know what a burkini was - other than a strange name, nothing “kini” comes to mind when I finally saw one. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-burkinis-or-veils-headscarves/763085/23 "2016-08-17T17:35:24Z")
Well gosh, burkhini means that as a gay man, I get persecuted, tortured, thrown off a building, beheaded, stripped naked, tied to the back of a vehicle and dragged through the city streets. Wet suit means I get to swim in the ocean. Totally the same! ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-burkinis-or-veils-headscarves/763085/24 "2016-08-17T17:36:38Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Well gosh, burkhini means that as a gay man, I get persecuted, tortured, thrown off a building, beheaded, stripped naked, tied to the back of a vehicle and dragged through the city streets. > > Wet suit means I get to swim in the ocean. > > Totally the same! wut ---
**Author:** ![Vicsage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e68b1a/32.png) [@Vicsage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicsage)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-burkinis-or-veils-headscarves/763085/25 "2016-08-17T17:45:20Z")
Stupid law. As a matter of fact, having seen some of the women at the beach(and men too), I wish more people would cover up their bodies. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-burkinis-or-veils-headscarves/763085/26 "2016-08-17T17:49:32Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > wut That is why you aren’t in charge. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-burkinis-or-veils-headscarves/763085/27 "2016-08-17T17:52:18Z")
Burqini as a gay man? What are you trying to say? ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-burkinis-or-veils-headscarves/763085/28 "2016-08-17T17:55:46Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Burqini as a gay man? > > What are you trying to say? Fuck Islam? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-burkinis-or-veils-headscarves/763085/29 "2016-08-17T18:03:27Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I fail to see how my post showed “how evil and bad the US is” but whatever. Must just be me. Yes, it is you. The rest of us can comment on the actual topic of the thread without feeling the need to talk about problems in America. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-burkinis-or-veils-headscarves/763085/30 "2016-08-17T18:06:13Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > That is why you aren’t in charge. Still have no idea what you’re saying. How do burkinis = violence? Or is it some sort of sarcasm? ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-burkinis-or-veils-headscarves/763085/31 "2016-08-17T18:07:34Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Burqini as a gay man? > > What are you trying to say? To translate gibberish-to-English, I’d say the argument was something like ‘A Burkini symbolizes a philosophy that supports the violent persecution of homosexuals, while a wetsuit does not, and that is the fundamental difference between them’. Needless to say, I myself find that sort of argument unconvincing. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-burkinis-or-veils-headscarves/763085/32 "2016-08-17T18:08:09Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Still have no idea what you’re saying. How do burkinis = violence? Or is it some sort of sarcasm? How does Islam equal homophobia? ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-burkinis-or-veils-headscarves/763085/33 "2016-08-17T18:16:06Z")
I’d love to hear the reasoning of anyone who is in favor of this law. I can’t understand the logic. It’s not because the swimsuit represents the oppression of women; otherwise there are other fashion choices that need to be outlawed. It doesn’t help the women - it prevents them from enjoying the beach. It’s not because it’s religious garb, or they would be outlawing yarmulkes and priest collars. So I’m left wondering if there is a reasonable defense, or this is simple anti-muslim pandering. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-burkinis-or-veils-headscarves/763085/34 "2016-08-17T18:17:56Z")
That’s the problem with this thread: so far, it’s a debate in search of someone to take the “resolved: the French law is sensible and justified” side. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-burkinis-or-veils-headscarves/763085/35 "2016-08-17T18:19:59Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > That’s the problem with this thread: so far, it’s a debate in search of someone to take the “resolved: the French law is sensible and justified” side. I still can’t tell for sure, but I think **levdrakon** might be taking that position. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-burkinis-or-veils-headscarves/763085/36 "2016-08-17T18:21:15Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > How does Islam equal homophobia? ??? Maybe this is some kind of performance art? ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-burkinis-or-veils-headscarves/763085/37 "2016-08-17T18:23:58Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > To translate gibberish-to-English, I’d say the argument was something like ‘A Burkini symbolizes a philosophy that supports the violent persecution of homosexuals, while a wetsuit does not, and that is the fundamental difference between them’. > > Needless to say, I myself find that sort of argument unconvincing. > [@levdrakon](#): > > How does Islam equal homophobia? Well done! No easy task either! And I agree, ridiculous argument. Doesn’t France still have nuns wearing head coverings and full body coverings? Any chance this is electioneering for the anti Islam vote? Because this kind of thing has been seen before in a run up to an election, in various other countries. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-burkinis-or-veils-headscarves/763085/38 "2016-08-17T18:24:19Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > ??? > > Maybe this is some kind of performance art? Malthus got the gist of it in #31, but I’d substitute “religion” for his “philosophy”. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-burkinis-or-veils-headscarves/763085/39 "2016-08-17T18:28:08Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > So I’m left wondering if there is a reasonable defense, or this is simple anti-muslim pandering. Islam is the most violently homophobic religion on the planet. Ask a gay Muslim. Do you not consider gay Muslims to be Muslim? Not sure why you’d bend over backwards trying to defend it. Is there something about gays that makes you think wishing them death is somehow appropriate? religious freedom and all that. Except that, you know, some of them are gay. Going to a beach and seeing a woman in a burka means she want’s me dead. That’s a trigger. I’m assuming you defend triggers, and yet you value Islam more than you value gay triggers. Interesting. Islam wants to kill gays? Not a trigger. Gays feeling Islam wants to kill them? Not a trigger. Yes, interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-burkinis-or-veils-headscarves/763085/40 "2016-08-17T18:28:36Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Any chance this is electioneering for the anti Islam vote? Because this kind of thing has been seen before in a run up to an election, in various other countries. It doesn’t look like it to me. Because while the PM’s comments made it a bigger headline, he seems to have been reacting to bans instituted by local authorities in resort/beach towns. So it’s not all about national elections, anyway. What might be a factor on the local level is a fear of scaring away the tourists and their revenue. But this is pure speculation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-burkinis-or-veils-headscarves/763085.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-burkinis-or-veils-headscarves/763085.md?page=3)