Equal Opportunity Public Toplessness March

[Acturus]

For great justice!

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...s/6944413.html

Two dozen women march topless in Maine
Associated Press
April 5, 2010, 6:58AM

PORTLAND, Maine — About two dozen women drew a crowd of onlookers when they shed their shirts and marched downtown in Maine's largest city to promote what they call equal-opportunity public toplessness.

Organizer Ty MacDowell said the point of Saturday's march in Portland was that a topless woman out in public shouldn't attract any more attention than a man who walks around without a shirt.

The Portland Press Herald reports that by the end of the march, more than 500 people had amassed — a mix of marchers, young men snapping photos, oglers and people just out enjoying a sunny, warm day.

It's not illegal for a woman to be topless in public in Maine, and police said there were no incidents or arrests.

http://www.pressherald.com/news/marc...chterm=topless

Longer article:

Spoiler: show

April 4

Marching for right to bare breasts, women faced with sea of cameras
The picture-taking bothers the event's organizer, who says partial female nudity shouldn't be remarkable.By Edward D. Murphy [email protected]
Staff Writer

PORTLAND - About two dozen women took a walk down Congress Street topless Saturday, attracting a large crowd as they tried to preach that partial female nudity is not worthy of attracting a crowd.

The point of the march was that a topless woman out in public should attract no more attention than a man walking around without a shirt on, said Ty MacDowell, 20, of Westbrook, who organized Saturday's event and promoted it on Facebook.

But as the event got under way in Longfellow Square, the marchers were soon outnumbered by scores of onlookers -- mostly young men eagerly snapping away with cameras and cell phones.

MacDowell said she was surprised by the turnout of those interested less in challenging societal convention than in seeing partially undressed women.

"I'm amazed," she said, and "enraged (at) the fact that there's a wall of men watching."

MacDowell said she understood that for women, going topless in public "is not socially acceptable yet, and obviously there's going to be a reaction to something that breaks the norm."

But, she said, the picture-taking was particularly upsetting.

"A lot of people were taking pictures without even asking," she said. "Even if you're somewhere where people are fully clothed, you should ask."

One of the marchers said she wasn't surprised by all the attention because partially nude women in public "is so taboo."

But Adrianna Tibkey, who recently moved to Portland, said the march "was really, really fun, and it's nice to know it (going topless) is legal here."

Most of the onlookers were men -- but not all of them.

Tammy Walker said she shared the marchers' viewpoint, even if she wasn't prepared to join them in going topless.

"I think it's great," she said. "You (men) can let it all out -- why can't we?"

Some of the men in the crowd thought the marchers were naive to think women going topless would ever be commonplace.

"If they were looking for no reaction -- that's just crazy," said James Gilley of Gorham.

As the march started toward Tommy's Park in the Old Port, it picked up more onlookers and the curious. Through Monument Square, there were more than 500 people -- a mix of marchers, picture-snappers, oglers and people just out enjoying a sunny, warm day.

Laurie Francis of Livingston, Mont., was enjoying the sun and a cup of coffee in Tommy's Park with her family, in Maine for a vacation, when the boisterous group swung into view.

She said the event led her to conclude that Maine -- where nudity is not illegal as long as genitals aren't on display -- is more progressive than her home state.

"You don't see this" in Montana, she said. "Everyone's wearing a lot of layers in Montana at this time of year -- including bras."

But Francis said she thought women promoting the concept of going topless as no big deal "is a nice idea."

Police said there were no incidents or arrests. Officers said their only concern was that the marchers stay on the sidewalk, since they hadn't gotten a permit that would allow them to walk in the street.

MacDowell said many of the marchers encouraged her to continue her efforts to promote public toplessness, but she said she will try to avoid a repeat of what occurred Saturday.

"We'll have a topless adventure," she said. "Go fly a kite or something."

No good pictures from the news sources, sorry to say.

Personally, I think it's ironic that 20-odd women walked around without their shirts on to draw attention to the fact that women walking around without their shirts on shouldn't draw attention.

[Qalbert]

Guess they were lucky the whole thing didn't go tits up.

[archibaldcrane]

Wait, it's not illegal to go topless, and they're fighting for the right to go topless?

Wut?

[zoobernut]

"A lot of people were taking pictures without even asking," she said. "Even if you're somewhere where people are fully clothed, you should ask."

This had me laughing. First you have to expect people to take pictures if you are walking around town topless. Second it is perfectly legal to take pictures of people if they are in a public place without their permission.

Oh yeah and what Archi said. Not sure what the point of the march was if it isn't illegal.

[Headspace]

Bet it made for some good mammories

[dudeguy]

This is like when a women wears a low-cut shirt and then gets mad at you for staring at her tits. They are all attention whores.

Trust me.

[Mohoss]

Bet it made for some good mammories

I can't decide if this is gold and should be /thread or if that was just reaching too far.

[Headspace]

I was definitely reaching, cmon

[Acturus]

Bet it made for some good mammories

Oh! I ge tit now.

[Headspace]

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...oudidthere.jpg

[Alleya]

Wait, it's not illegal to go topless, and they're fighting for the right to go topless?

Wut?

It's sad when activists aren't abreast the current situation.

[archibaldcrane]

Nice.

[Ramor]

wish i had been home for that D:

edit: to be honest, if women want to go topless i doubt the last people to care would be men.

[jimbobsonofgod]

this is the breast thread ever.

[Chun Liroy]

I think women should have the right to go topless imo.

[Woozie]

I think women should be required to go topless imo.

.

[Pirian]

Pic or it didn't happen.

[Purrrfect]

Good puns guys. /applaud

[JBurnaBTNH]

Pic or it didn't happen.

Trust me, from someone who lives in the area and witnessed the event, you do not want to see any pictures. The majority of the women in the parade were 250 pound thumpers with their tits sagging to their knees. Unless you're into that sort of thing, then it was awesome.

[Metah]

So you're saying guys weren't taking pictures cause it was hot but because its one of those things that its so sick but you can't take your eyes off it?