Chilean governor pulls back on his miniskirt ban after ridicule by fellow conservatives

Chilean governor’s miniskirt ban cut short

SANTIAGO, Chile — A ban on miniskirts didn’t last long in Chile, where a governor faced protests by women who otherwise share his conservative views.

Coquimbo region Gov. Sergio Gahona had banned public employees from wearing miniskirts or exposing their shoulders. He says he was merely trying to “put things in order” and didn’t mean to restrict anyone.

But Chile’s women’s affairs minister, Carolina Schmidt, calls his ban a joke.

Sen. Evelyn Matthei says she’ll keep wearing miniskirts to show off her “nice legs,” and would personally protest if the ban remains in effect.

The governor’s aide Ivan Espinosa says parts of the order dealing with personal presentation were excessive and would be corrected.