Being Topless and The Law!

[Julie]

Let's GO TOPLESS!


In 1992 New York's highest state court ruled that women could be topfree in public. Since 1992 women in the highly populous State of New York have enjoyed the right to bare their chests whenever men could do so. As one New York Justice wrote in his concurring opinion, "One of the most important purposes to be served by the equal protection clause is to ensure that 'public sensibilities' grounded in prejudice and unexamined sterotypes do not become enshrined as part of the official policy of government."

http://www.nydailynews.com/img/2009/08/24/alg_manhattan_topless.jpg

http://www.gotopless.org/

TOPLESS LAWS

In the following places, top freedom is in effect:

Canada
Some provinces of Canada including
British Columbia
Manitoba
Ontario (where equality has been tested and upheld several times)

United States
California coast, such as Santa Cruz
Hawaii
Maine
New York - text of the law in NY: http://naturisteducation.org/Toni_Egbert_Library/State_Supreme_Courts/NY_v_Santorelli/ny_v_santorelli.html
Ohio
Texas

Cities
Some cities and localities of the United States, including
Boulder, Colorado
Eugene, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Ashland, Oregon
Oregon Country Fair
Lucy Vincent beach in Chilmark on Martha's Vineyard
South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida
Key West, Florida
Fantasy Fest
New Orleans, Louisiana
Mardi Gras
Washington, D.C.
Columbus, OH

Even where topfree is legal, police might still arrest those practicing it for disorderly conduct or similar charges but do not let that deter you from exercising your constitutional right.

If you are going topless in public in these cities and not breaking the law behaving in a disorderly manner, no one can incriminate you. If they do... sue them as Phoenix Feeley did in NYC in 2007 and earned $29,000 in that lawsuit. Don't let the police get away with violating your top free rights. The law is the law and the police must follow it too!

In those cities, enjoy this newly found freedom that women fought very hard to earn for us!

[Rockinonahigh]

OMG... did u ever get my attention on this one...Hellooooo yes!! Ths pic is right spot on btw.I knew about NOLA but never expected Texas to be in the list..I hear they make em bgger and better in Texas..just sayin.

[Jess]

In Virginia, the law regarding indecent exposure/ nudity reads as follows:
"§ 18.2-387. Indecent exposure.

Every person who intentionally makes an obscene display or exposure of his person, or the private parts thereof, in any public place, or in any place where others are present, or procures another to so expose himself, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. No person shall be deemed to be in violation of this section for breastfeeding a child in any public place or any place where others are present.

(Code 1950, § 18.1-236; 1960, c. 233; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1994, c. 398.)"

So, I asked a friend one night, while growing increasingly incensed that I was in a dyke bar sweating my ass off, as it was a typical 95 degree Summer evening in the south, watching the gay boys dancing their sweaty asses off topless..." why that was ok and not for a woman?" Her response was because women had to cover their nipples. hmmm... I sat. I sweated. I went and asked Vicky ( the owner of the bar and old friend) for some duct tape. I cut a couple strips, covered my nipples and took off my shirt. Heh. You would have thought I dropped a damned bomb in the place.
Most of the dykes there were very supportive when one of the employees came over and told me to put my shirt back on and I questioned why men got to come into a dyke bar and take off half of their clothes but we couldn't. The cute lil gay boy decided quite loudly that I was just a bitter old dyke. To which I responded " yes, and you have just epitomized male privilege in a dyke bar and all of us should be shot for allowing it".
Vicky caught my attention and we chatted a bit. Her chat was pretty short. " Jess, they are just not ready." Once again, I let my heart sigh, put on my shirt and shook my head at the absolute travesty. I reminded Vicky, that she thought they weren't ready for drag king shows when I first talked to her about hosting them. They are now, of course, one of her most lucrative events.

I would LOVE to be able to work in my yard or lay in my pool with no top on. We have planted 58 cypress trees around the back part of the property so that eventually we can do that.

KUDOS! To the women of NYC and other areas who have fought for women's bodies to not be vilified!

[tapu]

There was a topless march here (Portland, ME) last year. Some controversy arose when men joined in. Details here:

http://www.pressherald.com/news/Women-march-topless-in-Portland-without-incident.html


I don't know HOW I missed that. Personally, though, I'd like it to go the other way. I don't want to see men walking around downtown without shirts on. It's classless. Wish they'd make it mandatory for all to wear shirts.

(NOTE: I spent 8 years frequenting the nude Black's Beach in La Jolla Ca. I'm not against nudity--just nudity where it's inappropriate.)

[princessbelle]

The only time I ever went topless was the one time I went to MWMF. The first day, when I was putting up my tent, I went down to a lace bra and my skirt. It was probably two days later that I decided to walk down to the showers with just a towel wrapped around my waist. It felt really nice and natural to do that.

Even though I live in Portland, I would not walk around in parks topless, it would not feel safe to do that.

When you went where? Monday Wednesday Monday Friday? I wanna go with or without a top.

:hangloose:

[tapu]

The only time I ever went topless was the one time I went to MWMF. The first day, when I was putting up my tent, I went down to a lace bra and my skirt. It was probably two days later that I decided to walk down to the showers with just a towel wrapped around my waist. It felt really nice and natural to do that.

Even though I live in Portland, I would not walk around in parks topless, it would not feel safe to do that.


That reminds me: I whipped my shirt off on my birthday this year at Scarborough Beach. The New Englander reaction was... dramatic. I've never seen so many jaws drop. (And believe you, me, I've made a lot of jaws drop.) I had my son and my dog with me. Both took it in stride. They know the Mama.

[princessbelle]

Michigan Womyn's Music Festival. :) And yes, you might want to go there. I don't because of their policy on who is, and who ain't a woman, which doesn't match up with my personal core values, but I think everyone needs to make their own decision about that. :)

Ahhh ok that makes more sense. I don't think i've ever went topless in public. Well, flashing drivers doesn't count does it?

I could have been a nudist though. There is definately something freeing about it. Inside my home? heck yeah...frequently. My bra and sometimes my top are like my shoes...they come off when i hit that front door...well as long as i'm alone and my boys aren't around.

[Dominique]

..I hear they make em bgger and better in Texas..just sayin.

That is just PIG-ISH.....the kind of comment I'd expect to see from a man.

When will women be treated as more than Tit's and Ass.......sickens me, and you owe (at least me) if nobody else an apology.

[tapu]

I could have been a nudist though. There is definately something freeing about it. Inside my home? heck yeah...frequently. My bra and sometimes my top are like my shoes...they come off when i hit that front door...well as long as i'm alone and my boys aren't around.

Yeah, I call myself a closet nudist.

[blush]

OMG... did u ever get my attention on this one...Hellooooo yes!! Ths pic is right spot on btw.I knew about NOLA but never expected Texas to be in the list..I hear they make em bgger and better in Texas..just sayin.

How old are you? Do you really think it's appropriate to come in here and act like a drunk frat boy at a Mardi Gras parade?

[Dreams]

*sigh*....here we go..:runforhills:

[Rockinonahigh]

That is just PIG-ISH.....the kind of comment I'd expect to see from a man.

When will women be treated as more than Tit's and Ass.......sickens me, and you owe (at least me) if nobody else an apology.


Yes mam,my comment came at an instant and very inocent moment,My sincerest appology to you and anyone else I may have offended.I promiss to be more carefull from now on as no offence was ment.

[Dominique]

Yes mam,my comment came at an instant and very inocent moment,My sincerest appology to you and anyone else I may have offended.I promiss to be more carefull from now on as no offence was ment.

Thankyou Rockin. I was quite shocked that came from you. You are always a gentleman around the ladies. The appology is accepted.

[SomethingBeautiful]

Much respect to those who have no shame in going topless! I've never done it unless it was in private, or in my own home. Perhaps someday I'll get the nerve.

[The_Lady_Snow]

MWMF topless here the first time I went, it was great, younger days at Columbus Pride when the kids did not attend. I would do it more if people weren't so uptight.

[Rockinonahigh]

How old are you? Do you really think it's appropriate to come in here and act like a drunk frat boy at a Mardi Gras parade?

Mam im 64 years old and over the years have been one to not say much about anything,there have been times I wish I had been a drunken frat boy haveing a good time at Mardi Gras insted of the super responsable person who did all that was expected of me and them some while everyone went on with life haveing a good time.But with a sublect like this im surprised im the onlyone who has made any comment.End of statement.

[Rockinonahigh]

Thankyou Rockin. I was quite shocked that came from you. You are always a gentleman around the ladies. The appology is accepted.

Thank you very much,I would like to drop the subject and move on.

[JustLovelyJenn]

This is fascinating, and I was completely unaware. Thank you so much for sharing. My kids, at a young age, were raised to understand that bodies were only skin. It wasn't until circumstance caused us to live with others that they became ashamed of their bodies. It makes me proud that there are people who understand that by making children (and people) comfortable with their bodies we empower them.

[Linus]

Ok. I have a question. What's with the recommended reading?

[Julie]

Michigan Womyn's Music Festival. :) And yes, you might want to go there. I don't because of their policy on who is, and who ain't a woman, which doesn't match up with my personal core values, but I think everyone needs to make their own decision about that. :)

When I was writing for lgbt magazines back in the 80's - I wrote an article "Where the Boys are?" About the MWMF discrimination against male children. Boy children under the age of 4 were allowed to be with their Momma's - Boys over the age of 4 were placed in the boy came with other boys up to the age of 12. They were not allowed on the grounds -- In fact, their little camp was set up next to the parking lot.

I remember going before my kids were born - and being topless (lol) after learning their rules on male children - I stopped.

I agree June -- Everyone needs to make their own decisions.

Complete derail!

Julie


Julie

[Julie]

Ok. I have a question. What's with the recommended reading?

I am confused?

[EnderD_503]

It's also technically legal to walk around completely naked in Toronto, since public nudity laws only apply if there's a sexual nature to it (being naked is not considered sexual). I actually saw a naked dude walking down the street right past a police cruiser once without the cops doing more than laugh. And of course lots of people whistling at him, lol.

Also, they forgot Europe (and other places I'm sure). While some European countries have topless laws/nudity laws, they aren't taken very seriously and women are typically allowed to be topless where men are. In Munich in the English Garden (massive park in the middle of the city where there's a biergarten, jogging paths, historical/tourist sites etc.) there's always tons of people sunbathing/walking around naked. And also pretty much anywhere where there's a body of water.

I don't see anything wrong with it. The idea that the human body is "inappropriate" is, to me, silly. I also think that everyone should be allowed to wear what they'd like/nothing at all if one group is permitted to. Generally, I take no issue with topless or naked people, no matter their sex.

[EnderD_503]

I am confused?

I think he means the random Intelligent Design recommended reading thing at the bottom...

[tapu]

At San Francisco Gay Pride one year, I saw a preppie looking guy approach a cop and ask if he was allowed to carry his cup of beer down toward the pier. The cop deadpanned, "Son, there are people down there with nothing on but gold paint. I don't think anyone is going to notice your beer."