Posted on 01/13/2018 2:18:46 PM PST by tired&retired
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — In a case that pits freedom of expression and equality against public decency, three women are challenging a New Hampshire city ordinance prohibiting public nudity and taking it to the state's highest court.
Heidi Lilley, Kia Sinclair and Ginger Pierro were ticketed in 2016 in Laconia after they went topless at Weirs Beach over Memorial Day weekend. Pierro was doing yoga, while the other two were sunbathing.
Some beachgoers complained and a police officer asked them to cover up. When they refused, they were arrested. A legal motion to dismiss a case against the women was denied so they have appealed it to the New Hampshire Supreme Court, which is expected to hear the case Feb. 1. The women want to the court to dismiss their conviction by invalidating the city's ordinance.
The three women argue there's no state law forbidding female toplessness and that the ordinance is discriminatory since men are allowed to go shirtless. They also contend their constitutional rights to freedom of expression were violated.
"The law in the state of New Hampshire is that it is legal for a woman to go topless so we're trying to get the town of Laconia to recognize and to stay with the state," Lilley said. "The town ordinance, in our opinion, is not constitutional. We're hoping the Supreme Court will see that."
The women are part of the Free the Nipple movement,
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
“In defending the ordinance, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office argues the ordinance just regulates what they can wear to the beach, not bar them entirely from the beach. It also argues the city has the right to “prevent any disturbances,” noting women exposing their nipples would cause “disturbances” where a man without a shirt wouldn’t.”
Especially in cold weather because it’s not polite to point.
This issue will split the Freepers on both sides of the debate.
I would negotiate a mutual settlement. Women can go topless on Weir’s Beach New Hampshire from October 1 through March 31.
That’s half of the year. Fair enough?
So it will be nippely out?
After spending some time on the beach in the French Riviera, I can honestly say that it is no big deal. Although many who shouldn’t go topless do. What is seen cannot be unseen.
Three young coeds next to me on the beach asked me to take a picture of them topless.(With their camera!) Ends up they were there on summer holiday from the University of Maryland!
Let’s get behind these girls and really support them!
Especially in cold weather because it’s rude to point
((Rimshot))
CC
Sign me up, let freedom ring. Just don't complain when an old lech like me stares.
You know how that's going to work. Women will be allowed to go topless, but men who look at them will be charged with for harassment or sex crimes.
If they win, I hope they have dermatologists on speed dial.
Female toplessness is awesome for the first few minutes. Then it’s kinda cool, then it’s no big deal.
A group of us did a houseboat trip many years ago on Lake Mohave and a few of the girls went topless and after a short while nobody even gave it a second thought. It was just ‘normal’ for the rest of the trip.
Society at large would probably feel the same way if the taboo was removed.
The human body is not a beautiful thing in most cases.
so true - what is seen can NEVER be unseen.
be careful what you wish for topless beaches are not all fun and games.
There are images whose horrors haunt me forever; only because of my few visits to topless beaches.
Just to change the topic for a sec., tennis season is right around the corner.
“so true - what is seen can NEVER be unseen.”
I was on the public bus in Monaco and there was a topless woman seated directly across the bus facing me.
She had to be in her 90’s with a dark tan. I swear, her wrinkles had wrinkles from years of sun and age...
I thought Barcelona would be prudent Catholic women until I went to the beach. Eye strain is common there!
Yowser, how can she hit a forehand that way :-)
>>I would negotiate a mutual settlement. Women can go topless on Weir’s Beach New Hampshire from October 1 through March 31.
That’s half of the year. Fair enough?<<
Right now that seems like a good idea with these particular plaintiffs.
But I have been on enough nude beaches to know that those who WISH to go naked are those would should LEAST be allowed to do so!
If the plaintiffs win, they will have to supply eye bleach as a public service.
“Society at large would probably feel the same way if the taboo was removed.”
I totally agree...
I told my wife that the day I stop observing the beautiful female form I will most likely be pushing posies. She humorously replied, “If you don’t stop looking you will be pushing posies soon.”
When I lived in Europe and all women were topless on the beach, it was no big deal. Grannies and teens and all in between. It sure wasn’t the playboy club.
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