Posted on 03/01/2016 1:41:02 AM PST by billorites
CONCORD — A bill that would ban topless sunbathing by women at state beaches is needed to preserve New Hampshire values and the viability of tourism, or is a sexist affront to equal rights.
Both points of view were aired with great passion on Monday, as the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee heard testimony on HB 1525, a bill that adds bare female breasts to the definition of public indecency, indecent exposure and lewdness in state statutes, with an exception for breast feeding.
The bill’s prime sponsor, Rep. Brian Gallagher, R-Sanbornton, was approached by constituents last year after the “Free the Nipple” movement promoted topless sunbathing at state beaches, including Hampton Beach and Weirs Beach.
Two women cited for going topless at the Gilford town beach last September took their case to court and won. The judge observed that state law does not prohibit toplessness, and dismissed the charges.
Gallagher testified that the issue goes beyond topless sunbathing at state-run beaches.
“It’s a movement to change the values of New Hampshire society,” he said.
He raised the specter of bare breasts in public schools, Little League games, county fairs and the UNH alumni football game, and warned about economic consequences for the state.
“We want to be very careful not to create unintended consequences that will cause the decrease in tourism revenue to the general fund,” he said.
Republican state Rep. Peter Spanos of Winnisquam said it was time to draw a line. “A stand should be made,” he said. “We should address this issue now before we see further erosion of behavior ... Once the genie is out of the bottle, we can’t put it back in.”
That argument was repeated throughout the hearing by supporters of Gallager’s legislation.
“It seems to me the moral fiber of our state and entire country is losing ground,” Chelsea Davis of Tilton said. “You all have an opportunity before you to stop that decline.”
Fears called unfounded
Opponents of the legislation argued that it was unnecessary and discriminatory, because it penalizes women for something men are free to do.
“Public lewdness (for men or women) is already illegal,” said Democratic Rep. Timothy Horrigan of Durham. “Male toplessness is commonplace. Female toplessness is much less commonplace, but that doesn’t mean it should be illegal.”
Horrigan said fears of widespread female nudity are unfounded.
“I have a season ticket to UNH hockey, and I have never seen any toplessness there, nor at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, even though there are dumb men there constantly calling on their female companions to expose themselves,” he said.
Opponents of the legislation pointed out that until the 1930s, it was illegal in most states for men to go topless at the beach, and until the 1940s, two-piece bathing suits or bikinis were outlawed.
Democratic Rep. Amanda Bouldin of Manchester warned that lawmakers could unintentionally promote more topless protests by passing the legislation. “If you give them a reason to fight, you are going to encourage more toplessness in the form of civil disobedience,” she said.
Ambiguous laws
Gilles Bissonnette, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire, said courts have ruled that citizens must tolerate offensive, insulting even outrageous speech and behavior “to allow breathing space for the free speech protections of the First Amendment.”
“This bill is intended to perpetuate traditional gender roles, and tell women what they can and can’t do with their own bodies,” he said.
The majority of states do not prosecute women under the criminal code for being topless in settings where it’s OK for men. Only Tennessee, Indiana and Utah have outright, clearly written bans like the one proposed in New Hampshire. Laws are ambiguous in 11 states, including Massachusetts.
“We’re not lunatics. We’re not radicals looking to go topless where it would not be public decorum,” said Kari Stephens of Hampton. “But where there is a man in a public space who is comfortable being topless, why should I not be?”
You let women go topless on Hampton beach and they will need to build new parking lots. It would triple tourism.
The ones who go topless are the ones who really should not.......
I went to Blacks Beach about thirty years ago. People told us it used to be a nude beach. On that long walk down the cliff as the tiny specks of people came into focus we realized that most people hadn’t gotten the used to be memo.
I love boobies!
I recall my first trip to a "clothing optional" beach, while I was stationed in Germany. I was rather hesitant to disrobe, though my date shed hers immediately. While she was gently chiding me, I noticed a naked middle aged man, who was about 5'6" and 300 lbs.
As they say, "when in Rome..."
How little you know.
Depends on the teacher. For some, going topless might help young lads to protect their eyes by focusing exclusively on their textbooks. If Rosie O’PigFat or Chelsea were a topless teacher, you see what I mean?
We are quickly becoming "uncivilized". Tattoos, piercings and tribal warfare are all part of most American cities today. This type of culture and attitude is spreading to all areas.
There is a very simple solution to this problem. The beach authority should hire all Muslim lifeguards.
The beach will soon be filled with one-piece suits or even those long gay-Nineties bathing outfits if the ladies know what’s good for them.
Or it will be filled with empty guard towers and shallow graves.
Who can POSSIBLY be opposed to bare breasts????
We’ve lost our stomach for individual revenge or honor in most of the country it seems.
They’d plead they were only following their religiou/cultural norms and some judge would let them get away with it.
They'll do whatever they can get away with, usually running in packs. I'd wager if you get them alone and outnumbered 10-to-1 by a bunch of pissed off women it doesn't end well for them.
I am against bare breasts.
I am against them as often as possible.
I stand, sundered and destroyed, because I didn’t think of that first.
As long as they pass the `pencil test’, bare breasts on the beach are A-OK with moi.
;^)
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