Topless Tuesday 2010, Keene’s Central Square
Longtime readers of Free Keene remember the controversial and short-lived “Topless Tuesdays” events from 2010. Many critics in the area still cite it as something they didn’t like that liberty activists have done. It’s relevant to point out that none of the females who participated in that were Free State Project participants. They were all townies.
Now, five years later, the topless equality movement has come again to New Hampshire, this time with over 1,100 saying (on Facebook) they will be attending “Free the Nipple” at Hampton Beach. (Who knows what the actual turnout will be.) The event is slated for all-day on Sunday 8/23. There is no specific meeting time or location besides Hampton Beach. This is an interesting approach and one of the event organizers comments on why on their facebook page:
“Even though there is no meeting spot, I have a feeling we will notice each other and make some new friends. I plan on walking around and I’ll gladly introduce myself, but I want to enjoy the beach as much as all of you! We don’t need a giant gathering or “spectacle.” Our goal is to just be normal about it. We want to show everyone that the breast and nipple can be seen without all hell breaking loose, traumatizing kids, giving old men heart attacks, or causing the apocalypse.”
Nonetheless, certain prudes in politics are making this out to be the apocalypse. Busybody state senator Nancy Styles is talking about proposing a law banning female toplessness and some local Hampton people have been whining.
Though it’s not illegal in New Hampshire to be topless as a male or female, one city, Laconia, has made an illegal ordinance banning it. News just hit this weekend that the ladies behind Free the Nipple are planning civil disobedience in Laconia.
Things are definitely getting interesting. Stay tuned to Free Keene for the latest on this social change in New Hampshire. Though people are legally free to be topless, there’s a large social stigma that needs to be broken. Thanks to the courageous ladies who will be participating in Sunday’s event, and especially to those who will eventually risk arrest in Laconia at an unknown date in the future.
Here are the two organizers, Kia Sinclair, and Heidi Lilley explaining why they’re having this event:
[…] making international headlines and despite a major facebook mistake and bad weather, approximately two-dozen ladies persevered and […]
[…] matter. Indeed, many self described libertarians have done exactly this. Ian Freeman of Free Keene covered two “Free The Nipple” events on his blog, and later covered the trial of two women who […]
Pigs
There’s no free the nipple utah… : /
Right on! So pumped to see the turnout! (Also, let’s not forget that men being topless was illegal for some time before they started their own revolution, now it’s our turn)
Seriously. How disgusting is it that there are pigs out there who want to discriminate against women? Thankfully, some folks are willing to stand up to their misogynistic bigotry. It’s too much to imagine that my daughters will live their lives without ever dealing with sexist nonsense, but maybe these events can help keep it to a minimum, so they can be treated equally the majority of the time, and not have to deal with the bigoted pigs as much as women currently do.
Looking at the picture, it’s hard to tell the freekeene girls from the guys. In other words, you guys really need a lot of exercise and less grazing between grazings.
I understand the interest of putting women and men on the same level…but this cause doesn’t make sense. Ontario has been on board with this for about 15 years. People are in love with the idea that they can do it…they just never do do it. All men want you to do it….its other women or your own morality that eventually stops you. Just don’t waste money on this as your money and time are better spent on world changing causes like abuse, homelessness, and real food…not GMO
I_AM_CANADIAN So, you say that others are pressuring women to act like second-class citizens, and you don’t think that needs to be addressed?
And then you complain about abuse? How much abuse happens precisely because women are expected to accept second-class status? How much because of the notion that men cannot control their sexual drives, so women must do that, therefore making women responsible for how men behave? Your sexist rant is in the same vein as “she was raped because she dressed sexy.”
HA….ok I’ll bite. I said it’s women that are making themselves not go topless. If you want to equate that to “others pressuring women” feel free. When I mentioned abuse…i meant physical and emotional, which in most people’s mind includes rape. So..no…i don’t want that. Again you want to equate this cause to that…feel free. I don’t speak from a sexist mind. I speak from experience that this movement means nothing except a waste of tax payers money as women will not go topless once it’s legalized. Spend it on long term causes.
I_AM_CANADIAN You stated that it’s “other women” or “your own morality” (since there’s no moral issue, what that means is “social pressure from others”). And yes, I know what you meant by abuse. But you’re supporting the sexist nonsense (yes, you are speaking from a position of sexism) that leads to that abuse. You also, apparently, don’t speak from any experience, since there’s no “taxpayer money” involved in this. It’s perfectly legal for women to walk about topfee anywhere it’s legal for a man to do so, here. The only time taxpayer money gets wasted in this context is when… Read more »
Excuse the taxpayer ignorance comment. In Ontario it had to be legislated which was where the waste of money came from. The same thing is presently happening up here as well. Cops need to know the laws. If they are arresting these women then they need to be set straight.
I still don’t see how I’m support sexism. I for one am all for equal rights on everything.
I_AM_CANADIAN “All men want you to do it….its other women or your own morality that eventually stops you.” That’s a seriously sexist comment. From the very beginning, you’re stereotyping “all men” as thinking that female breasts are always sexual. For starters, let’s point out that a lot of gay men may never think anything about a woman is sexual. And then let’s proceed to the men who don’t think that skin is sexual outside of a sexual context – I couldn’t give a hoot if everyone on the planet wandered around stark naked, all the time, because it’s just skin… Read more »
OK. I guess you’re right. You are painting me as being a bad person because I like to look at beautiful women. They are apparently all androgynous to you. Congrats. You have hit next level human. I appreciate women. Nude and clothed. It’s not a sexist thing to do so. I can look at the Mona Lisa …appreciate it….and walk away without having touched it. Many men and women cannot do so. It is a shame. My blanket statement about all men….was incorrect. Gay men don’t care about women sexually. You are correct. But do they feel the same way… Read more »
I_AM_CANADIAN Apparently, you care. You took the time to come here, just to post your sexist nonsense. And you just keep digging a deeper hole of sexism. It’s not a choice between treating women as sex objects, and seeing them as “androgynous.” One can be quite interested in sex, and looking at attractive people of the viewer’s preferred gender(s), and still not think of them as nothing but objects. If you were trapped in an elevator with a woman who went into labor, and had to help deliver the baby, would you be getting all horny because she’s naked with… Read more »
Why is it only fat and unattractive woman go around topless? Blech.
MikeAB That’s simply not the case. But perhaps those are the only sort who go topless around you?
FlintNH You obviously did look at the image associated with this entry. Fat and unattractive.
“Comments are disabled for this video.” What are they afraid of?
I don’t think anyone wants to see that old hag on the video walk around topless.
MikeAB They probably want to concentrate comments in one location. From what I’ve heard, there are many, many comments and much discussion on the FTN Facebook page.
645:1 doesn’t mention breasts – only genitalia. And the Hampton police have already confirmed that it’s perfectly legal, as well.
MikeAB FlintNH “Fat” is subjective, but at least the middle two appear to be fairly thin. The picture is too low-res to judge attractiveness.
No, I think that was just a pathetic attempt to back-track, after you accidentally admitted that thin, attractive women don’t want anything to do with you.
FlintNH Oh right – I see what you did there. Because I see and point out the obvious with these losers, that must mean I don’t have any relationships of my own. Wow, you really burned me there.
MikeAB FlintNH Glad you can admit it. That’s the first step.
FlintNH I guarantee that a bill will be filed in the state legislature to make it a crime for a woman to go topless in a public place, with exclusions for breast-feeding of course. These a-holes just bring this crap upon themselves.
FlintNH you’re right: the first step to pointing out how much of an idiot you truly are. Run along, little douche.
MikeAB FlintNH You appear to be powerless in stopping yourself from clicking on that “Reply” button, Mike. Are your childish emotions getting the better of you? It certainly looks that way, because lackadaisically modifying Flint’s creative remark with the words “idiot” and “douche” in your reply are not strong indicators that there’s an adult mind occupying your keyboard. Maybe if you had more patience, you could craft more age-appropriate retorts? I know, Mike! Perhaps you could obtain some assistance in the future, say from someone with similar interests? BSIZZLE has recently expressed eagerness in making a new friend. I think you two should get together. While your intellectual… Read more »
MikeAB FlintNH I only put it at 50/50 that anyone is stupid enough to file such a bill. There’s probably only a 10% chance of it passing, if filed.
But there’s essentially a 100% chance that it would be ruled unconstitutional if it did. Because it would be grossly and blatantly unconstitutional. Male breasts and female breasts are utterly identical except for average size, and the NH Constitution prohibits sex-based discrimination, so unless they banned men from being topless, too, they cannot ban women.
MikeAB FlintNH You really shouldn’t refer to yourself in the third person. It’s pretentious.