Let's look at the term "clothing optional" for a moment. It basically means, according to several online sources, that you aren't required to take off your clothes if you're not comfortable with the idea. If you are comfortable, go ahead. If not, keep yourself buttoned-up.

A "nude beach" is different, in that it's expected that you will remove your clothing so that everyone there is on (for lack of a better term) an even playing field.

I guess that no one wants to admit that if several different body-types are all naked, it's still not an even playing field. You know as well as I do that some have been given greater genetic gifts than others (let's use George Costanza as an example).

Jerry Gifford, Facebook
Jerry Gifford, Facebook
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He was in the pool! Stop staring! (Getty Images)
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When You Think "Clothing Optional," Or "Nude Beaches" Chances Are You Don't Think Of The State Of Illinois

Not that it's completely out of the question for the Land of Lincoln. An Illinois nude, or clothing optional beach seems (to me, at least) to be less strange and off-putting than packing up the car and heading to one in Nebraska or Iowa.

But, apparently the citizenry in Evanston, Illinois aren't even slightly bothered by clothing options and nudity in the Midwest, and some folks there are attempting to make what they consider a long-overdue change to the city's clothing requirements.

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Sir, please don't...too late.(Getty Images)
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Miss? Miss? We frown on littering around here! (Getty Images)
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If The Change Passes, Evanston Would Not Be The First Northshore Community To Allow Topless Beachgoers

According to WGN-TV, Evanston's public nudity ordinance has been in effect since the 1950s and doesn’t allow the exposure of female breasts. Evanston council member Devon Reid hopes the clothing optional idea catches on:

Reid hopes the city of Evanston can follow other North Shore communities such as Skokie and Winnetka, allowing anyone the right to go barechested.

“I think that Evanston could follow suit,” Reid says, “especially since Evanston has been a leader in reparation and other equity issues.”

LOOK: Here are the 50 best beach towns in America

Every beach town has its share of pluses and minuses, which got us thinking about what makes a beach town the best one to live in. To find out, Stacker consulted data from WalletHub, released June 17, 2020, that compares U.S. beach towns. Ratings are based on six categories: affordability, weather, safety, economy, education and health, and quality of life. The cities ranged in population from 10,000 to 150,000, but they had to have at least one local beach listed on TripAdvisor. Read the full methodology here. From those rankings, we selected the top 50. Readers who live in California and Florida will be unsurprised to learn that many of towns featured here are in one of those two states.

Keep reading to see if your favorite beach town made the cut.

LOOK: Here are the best small towns to live in across America

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