UPDATE: In response to the public pressure and media coverage of this law, the Oakland City Council moved to remove this law from the books. Congratulations, and thanks on another victory!

Though it's nearly 150 years old, Oakland has a law on its books making it a criminal offense to wear clothing of a person of the opposite gender. The law? It's called Immoral Dress Code 9.08.080, passed in 1879 to prevent women from wearing men's clothing, and men from wearing women's clothing.

The law is not enforced, but it remains on the books as official legal language. Antiquated? You bet. Time to get it off the books once and for all? Absolutely.

Send the Oakland City Council a message that Immoral Dress Code 9.08.080 has got to go. As an staff member with the Oakland city government said, "People who were not perceived to be part of the social ‘norm' were marginalized and criminalized ... [but] everyone is affected by this, not just queer people. If this law was enforced today, all the women on the police and fire departments could be charged with a misdemeanor for cross-dressing."