NY stages topless parade with 60 cities worldwide

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By VERENA DOBNIK

NEW YORK (AP) — Broadway put on a very different kind of matinee on Sunday: dozens of bare-chested women and men parading down the Great White Way to Times Square.

The GoTopless Pride Parade took to the streets of midtown Manhattan to counter critics complaining about topless tip-seekers in Times Square.

Appearing bare-breasted has been legal in New York since 1992. But Mayor Bill de Blasio and police Commissioner Bill Bratton say the body-painted women in the square who take photos with tourists are a nuisance.

The mayor even suggested doing away with the pedestrian plaza at the "Crossroads of the World" — to control both the topless women trolling for tips and the costumed cartoon characters, some of whom were arrested last year for accosting non-tipping pedestrians.

FULL story at link.



Rachel Jessee speaks into a megaphone while riding atop a car during the GoTopless Day Parade, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015, in New York. The parade took to the streets to counter critics who are complaining about topless tip-seekers in Times Square. Appearing bare-breasted is legal in New York. But Mayor Bill de Blasio and police Commissioner Bill Bratton say the body-painted women in the square who take photos with tourists are a nuisance. (AP Photo/Kevin Hagen)

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/bf5fe01e11d8424bb8baee861dfaffbf/ny-stages-topless-parade-60-cities-worldwide

[snappyturtle]

1. Good thing I'm at the far end on the spectrum of age. I find this

tasteless. What's the point? We all have nipples. Stupid. imho

[MisterP]

5. their sexualization in law--far beyond anything that could transpire in bedroom or locker-room--

is getting in the way of nipples' *only biological function*: the British are just baffled by all this

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Amazing they could get this going

French women were the first burn the bra bunch in the 1960s early 70s

Now they think it a protest that did nothing to augment women's pay or
shatter the glass ceiling, so they've put their bras back on

Scenic, and I understand their motives, but it takes a cultured and disciplined
society to support such endeavors and make them safe

You gotta be brave or stupid to go topless in NYC

[Red Mountain]

3. Yes, it's a shame

the law in many places treats some nipples differently.

Discriminatory, even.

[zentrum]

4. It's not just about nipples.

Fact is, most of the women in Times Square who are usually young, are earning their money that way because they have school debt, or children to support and no other job. This is an economic issue for women. The nipple part is a distraction.

De Blasio should do the economic analysis of why there is a proliferation of naked women in Times Square. And yes, it has to do with feminism because they didn't make a stink when there was a naked cowboy or bare chested men. But before attacking these women—ask them what choices were really available to them.

If they really would be there, given other choices, then more power to them. But dimes to dollars this is most likely an economic necessity.

[bemildred]

7. +1. Give them good fucking jobs and you will have to look at a lot fewer tits. nt

[davidpdx]

6. No nipples....

I meant comment

[TNNurse]

8. I find this to be a trivial effort.

Equal pay, healthcare, childcare.....are all more essential to a productive and happy life.

But, if this is the most important thing in their lives......they should go for it.

I doubt it translates into meaningful progress for most women.