I'm not quite sure how I missed this in my Internet peregrination last week, nor did a a single one of my friends or contacts mention this to me either: But last weekend was National Go Topless Day. As a strong advocate for gender equality, an issue I have always held closely and passionately to my chest heart, I'm disappointed in myself for not being aware and informed about this event. This particular matter, the right to go topless in public (a right and privilege that men have held since days of yore) is an area where a vast gap still egregiously and outrageously remains in this country. But, this good, kind, and righteous organization is attempting to rectify that, I think, illegal and unjust discrepancy.
While in the civilized city of New York after a brilliant court ruling in 1992, it is in fact legal for NYC women to be topless just like their male counterparts. Nonetheless showing the same spirit that compelled Susan B Anthony, women of New York City gathered last Saturday and marched, topless, around Central Park in protest to show solidarity with their sisters trapped in unenlightened communities around the rest of the country, who lack the basic freedom to enjoy the right to feel the hot summer sun or experience a cool fall breeze against the skin, without the impediment of sweatshop sewn fabric or other shackles of modernity.
As the founder of GoTopless.org, Rael, put it: "as long as men can be topless, constitutionally women should have the same right, or men should also be forced to wear something hiding their chest." Amen, sister.
Amen and hallelujah.
Government should not be legislating our bodies, so long as it does not pose a risk to the greater society. Allowing women to be topless in the same manner that men are permitted is the only decent thing to do.
In all seriousness, it's kind of sad that in the 21st century our society is still so uptight and didactic about this sort of stuff. The human body is not a taboo, people! Come on, just watch a few National Geographic specials, Nova documentaries, or HBO's Real Sex to see what a not big deal all of this is. Okay, maybe not Real Sex. I saw this one episode once and it caused me curl up into a fetal position and made me want to die a little. So, yea, skip that HBO series.
Read more here (Gothamist link, but sorta NSFW).
NOT SAFE FOR WORK (rolling eyes, sheesh) pictures of the protest after the jump.
