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RECENT
TOPFREEDOM NEWS
2006 April 20. Continuing with the
theme of breast flashing---which you know we do only if it's
relevant to topfree equal rights---we recommend an excellent article
by Paula Simons of the Edmonton Journal. It takes
skill to turn silly comments about flashing into serious comments
about women's breasts---and she does it.
2006 April 17. The (Toronto)
Globe and Mail carried an article today about breast flashing during sports celebrations,
one in particular in Calgary, Alberta. Professors Mary Valentich
of the University of Calgary and Ed Herold of the University of
Guelph have studied this phenomenon and female breast exposure
more generally.
In their most recent work, neither was
concerned with the widest possible application of women being
bare-breasted: topfreedom, which is far from flashing---a
phenomenon in which TERA takes little interest. So TERA's
Co-ordinator wrote a letter to the Globe and Mail pointing
out a few things about topfreedom. It will be published on April
18.
2006 April 13. On April 9 in Toronto, a group called Wild
at Heart protested in the city's
fur retail district against animal suffering and misuse. Several
women, led by Kamila Monroe, were topfree.
There were no arrests, or even the threat
of any. (Most people are aware that in Ontario topfreedom for
women is legal.)
2006 April 05. The actor Cameron
Diaz (Any Given Sunday, In her Shoes) has been awarded an
undisclosed amount by a court in a civil lawsuit for damages from
a photographer who took topfree photos of her when she was 19. She
is now 35. The photographer apparently tried to get US$3.5 million
from Diaz for the photos and is in jail for forgery, perjury, and
attempted grand larceny. He is forbidden to sell, license, or use
the photos.
Would all this be possible in another
culture? Was it mostly about breasts, or about money?
2006 March 27. Ten days ago, Jordan
Matter was on the Today show, with followup articles
such as this (mostly
accurate) and a video picked up by MSNBC (transcript here). He
is completing his project Uncovered (photos of topfree
women in New York City) and plans to turn it into a book. In late
January, the BBC sent a crew to tape him taking pictures of some
women topfree in New York.
Congratulations to this magnificent photographer!
2006 March 16. Kentucky joins the
bandwagon. The state has now declared
public breastfeeding legal. But what does the bill's wording imply
if it says "breastfeeding may not be considered an act of public
indecency, indecent exposure, sexual conduct, lewd touching or
obscenity"? It implies that exposure of women's breasts is "an act
of public indecency, indecent exposure, sexual conduct, lewd
touching or obscenity."
Moreover, there was no Kentucky law in the
first place that made breastfeeding illegal. So what this does is
confirm Kentucky's hatred of women's breasts.
No, wait, there's more: "It honors
motherhood," said Rep. Tom Burch, D-Louisville. Can the flag and
apple pie be far behind?
How about honoring women, Rep.
Burch?
2006 March 06. Today the Governor of
Kansas signed into law HB2284, authorizing public breastfeeding.
While this signing still implies that women's breasts are
ordinarily indecent or obscene, we commend the Kansas legislature
for not stating so by putting in some exemption from other
statutes dealing with that. The one line in the new bill states
simply, "A mother may breastfeed in any place she has a right to
be." That, in our view, is almost model language. Nothing about
being "discreet," which is a code for continued seditious unwanted
sexualization and control of women's bodies.
Clause 1a of the bill succinctly describes
the benefits of breastfeeding. Good for Kansas.
2006 February 18. The injustice at
Daytona continues. Yesterday, five topfree women, who were
with Elizabeth Book at her
protest in Daytona Beach last
March, had their fate announced. Three were convicted of disorderly conduct. Two were
not. Those convicted are the well-known activists Kayla Sosnow,
Norma Mitchell, and Shirley Mason. The two let go are almost
unknown.
Last month, Daytona Beach's anti-nudity
laws were struck down (see next item below). The convictions
announced today look very suspicious. And that's being very
polite.
2006 January 21. Although we don't
normally comment on such cases, this one is important. A federal
court judge in Florida has struck down
Daytona Beach's anti-nudity laws because they violate the 1st and
14th amendments to the US constitution. The immediate winners in
this case are nightclubs, i.e. places where women may strip
completely naked, including those with a licence to serve
alcohol.
Although the city will almost certainly
launch an appeal, as long as its anti-nudity laws have been struck
down, the case for topfree activist Elizabeth
Book should be . . . a walk in the
park.
2005 December 31. It was announced on the last
day of 2005 that the Moravia 4 have
filed a claim to be repaid all legal costs, including travel, plus
the small amount of $1500 each. In their August ordeal, they were
fingerprinted, handcuffed, and tossed in jail for up to six
hours---for what was a violation about as serious as a speeding
ticket.
The case was tossed out because it was not
in any way winnable. It is also possible that the District
Attorney's office created a legally nonsensical excuse to continue
the case solely to satisfy conservative voters.
2005 December 08. The BBC in London,
England is making a video documentary called "My Breasts and I."
Part of their work will include taping the excellent New York
artist Jordan Matter in
action. To quote from the BBC team's immediate aim: "We are keen
to meet women who campaign or are active in the field of
topfreedom, as we feel that this will make a valuable point in
terms of the social stigma attached to women's breasts . . . We
are keen to get a number of women who are actively involved in the
topfree movement on board for Jordan's shoot."
Would any pro-topfreedom women who are
available on or around January 27, 2006 in the New York City area
to be part of this documentary, please get in touch with TERA as
soon as possible. This appears an excellent opportunity to make
important points about topfree equality and associated
issues!
Although some police are not aware of it,
topfreedom for women is legal throughout New York State. (TERA
assumes no legal responsibility, of course, for whatever happens
anywhere. But Jordan's photo events do not run into
problems.)
2005 November 26. SECOND MAJOR
VICTORY THIS MONTH. The California case against
the women from Breasts not Bombs
has been dismissed without prosecution. The two women, Sherry
Glaser and Renée Love, were arrested for violating three statutes.
The Sacramento District Attorney has outlined why none
of them applies in this case.
Given that statement, which we think rather
obvious, why were the women charged in the first place? If
"ignorance of the law is no excuse," what was the excuse?
We conclude that the arrests were
political, since they had no legal basis. If the arresting
officers knew that, then did they not violate the law? If they
didn't know, why were they allowed to do what they did?
The DA's reasoning outlines in part why we
did not encourage TERA supporters to write to Senator Gloria
Romero (D--Los Ángeles) to push for a law legalizing exposure of
women's breasts. While we do not offer legal opinions, it appears
that under many circumstances in California, that exposure is
already legal.
Further attempts to clarify that in law may
be unnecessary or may negatively affect a situation that already
exists.
2005 November 09. And now for the
joke of the month, except that it isn't funny. Regarding the
arrests detailed in the November 7 item below, one report states
that "at the state Capitol, police say such a display [of women's
nipples, remember] could corrupt children, prompt drivers to veer
off the road, and cause sex offenders to run amok."
As they say, what were they
smoking?
The more complete story from the
protesters' point of view with many photos may be found here. Note that the
women with pasties covering only their nipples and areolas were
not arrested, nor were men. Linda Meyer's term nipplemania
was never more appropriate.
At the event on Monday, Senator Gloria
Romero (D--Los Ángeles) suggested in principle a new law to permit
women topfreedom in California. We ask TERA supporters not to
contact the Senator about that, although thanking her for her
support of the arrested women may be in order. The reason for this
will become clear in a short while.
2005 November 07. Shortly after noon
on the steps of the California state capitol, two women were arrested.
Sherry Glaser is handcuffed and arrested as
a shirt is forced on her
photo by Robert Durell, Los Angeles
Times
The organization Breasts not Bombs was
protesting against the Governor's ballot measures in the "special
election" and other things it labels "indecent."
Barebreasted and even nude protests have
been shown to constitute protected speech under the 1st Amendment.
But three days before the protest, a judge denied an injunction to
prevent arrests. One of his arguments:
"Do you think the founding fathers had this in mind when they
drafted the First Amendment?" That's an old political tactic to
pretend we are still living in the 18th century and to disallow
anything politically difficult.
The women arrested were the organizer,
Sherry Glaser, and Renee Love. As usual, they may be charged with
multiple offences so that they are intimidated into admitting
guilt to one. If convicted, they may be declared sex offenders for
life.
But California law enforcers don't know
whom they are dealing with. Watch this space.
2005 November 01. CASE
DISMISSED. The topfree Moravia 4 appeared in court tonight to
hear that the case against them
was dismissed. A few weeks ago, a letter from the District
Attorney's office admitted it had no case and would not continue.
Nonetheless, it tried to intimidate the women by suggesting they
might be arrested if they did the same thing again.
We must ask: did the DA's office not know
it had no case from the beginning? This is a victory for four
courageous women---in a battle that should never have
gone on this long, nor even been
fought at all.
2005 October 30. Sherry Glaser and
Breasts Not Bombs are planning another demonstration. This one
will be in Sacramento, California from noon to 15:00 on Monday,
November 7, on the west steps of the state capitol. "We have a
message for Mr. Schwarzenegger," says Glaser, "and will carry
signs that state what really is the difference between what is
decent and what is not."
Police have granted a permit but threatened
to arrest any topfree women. That constitutes unwarranted
intimidation, being in direct conflict with the 1st Amendment to
the Constitution. Numerous court cases have upheld topfreedom and
even nudity in conjunction with freedom of speech.
2005 October 29. Another issue
behind the next story has emerged. The
16-year-old girl who was photographed topfree (but with no breasts
showing) for her school magazine and is now claiming US$1.5
million in damages is under contract to Pulse Management. That's a
modelling agency which has been grooming the girl for four years
to be an international photographic star. Pulse Management
controls the girl's image and negotiates lucrative contracts over
it for her---as well as modelling sessions worldwide.
2005 October 27. Last week, a US$1.5
million claim was made against a San Diego high school district
for photos of a 16-year-old girl published by one of its schools
last June. The photos are being called "semi-nude." The girl in
question was topfree in some; but reports note that the photos "do
not show genitals or breasts, and do not depict sex
acts."
Apparently, the girl's parents were not
consulted first, although the photographer believed they had been.
The girl herself, Monterey Salka, clearly consented to the photos.
Now she and her family plan to sue for "defamation, invasion of
privacy, sexual harassment, negligence, and inadequate
supervision, as well as suggesting the district is guilty of libel
and distribution of obscenity. " The girl is also a professional
model.
See Marsha Sutton's excellent analysis of
the issues here.
2005 October 19. The case
against the Topfree 4 in Moravia, New York will almost certainly be dismissed. We will have more information in November. (It
ain't over till it's over.) Meanwhile, the campaign mentioned
immediately below continues. The legal bills for the women are
substantial and still rising. Please donate what you
can.
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- TERA thanks its donors very much.
Individual letters of thanks will be going out shortly.
TERA GOES INTO ACTION. As can be seen below, the case against the
topfree women in Moravia, New York is to go to trial. The women
were wrongly charged---for violating a New York State law that
allows women to be topfree! (Read more below.) The four
women now need help with legal expenses.
TERA is launching its first campaign in some time. Please
help TERA to help the Moravia 4. Here's how:
• by sending a check/cheque or draft in any currency payable to
TERA, to:
TERA
Box 81128 FGPO
Ancaster ON L9G 4X1
Canada
• by transferring money directly to TERA's account no. 636 at
branch 2624 of TD Canada Trust.
• by pressing the button below to donate via PayPal.
Please note that 100% of donations goes towards legal
expenses for women who have exercised their right to go
topfree. (TERA's office and website
expenses are not included.) TERA's account is controlled by the
lawyer John Abrams of Hamilton Ontario.
Please donate what you can, so that the
unfair case against the four women may be defeated! A victory will
be significant for topfree and breastfeeding rights in North
America at least.
2005 October 16. Diagnosed with
breast cancer at 21, then again at 31, Tania Katan has undergone
two mastectomies. She is a writer and performer, currently doing a
tour for her new book, My One-Night Stand with Cancer
(cover below, left). And last year she ran a 10k race---topfree.
In connection with that event, she wrote:
"I learned that if you don't see an image that represents you, you
need to embody that image. I would like to encourage all of you to
expose yourselves, to engage in an activity where you will
experience fear and potential public humiliation, while heading
toward a deeper understanding of yourself and how your actions can
resonate with a community."
 |
photo by Angela
Ellsworth |
We've put two new series of pictures of
others on the site too. Have a look.
2005 October 16. A few days ago came
this report from New
Brunswick detailing the firing of a newspaper editor for printing
a photo of a breastfeeding mother. The photo appeared on the front
page on October 6 in connection with World Breastfeeding
Week.
The weekly paper, called Here, is
owned by the Irving group, which owns many media outlets in the
province. Ironically, Here supposedly targets urban
youth.
The photo in question (below, left) was
replaced on the cover by a drawing (below, right). Nice move, eh?
Many didn't think so, including Editor Miriam
Christensen.
2005 October 15. The city of Daytona
Beach, Florida appealed Liz Book's
acquittal for being topfree at a protest/demonstration in March
2004. That appeal has been upheld.
It is an open question whether Liz can get
a fair hearing in the Daytona area. (More information will be
printed when we have it.)
2005 October 01. For an account of
the Breasts not Bombs protest which took place earlier this week
in Washington, go to Sherry Glaser's report. Her group was not arrested. Topfreedom is legal in
DC, although the police might have found other reasons to arrest
if they'd wanted to.
From her blog: "We say that there is
something terribly wrong in a culture that easily allows the media
to show thousands of violent images daily to our children but says
women's breasts are offensive."
2005 September 23. Sherry Glaser of
Breasts not Bombs is co-ordinating a topfree protest in Washington
D.C. with several organizations. It is to take place near the
White House at noon on Monday, September 26 at noon. She calls the
event A Worldwide Weep:
"Let us use this immense opportunity to
make a big beautiful, sorrowful creative response in the world.
Our bodies and other signs represent decency. The issue is soft
tissue! Protect Women and Children! We're all vulnerable! Decency
is: truth, integrity, kindness, humility, humanity."
Further info from Sherry.
2005 September 21. Last night in
Moravia, New York, the lawyer for the four women who were
topfree in August
filed a motion in court for dismissal of the charge of "exposure
of a person." He based that on the obvious and binding precedent from the New York State Court of Appeal.
Incredibly, the judge denied the motion.
She may feel more responsible to the local people who put her in
her position than to the law. If that seems harsh, consider this
statement from the Assistant District Attorney, filed as official
legal material in August:
"The District Attorney has heard from many
constituents that want these defendants prosecuted . . . [he] does
not want to turn his back on the many outspoken constituents that
come from the local towns and villages."
There was no supporting document from the
DA to prove this. His whole statement proves only that the charge
against the women is purely political. It has no legal
foundation.
In the Auburn Citizen. Amaris Elliott-Engel quoted the judge as saying: "I
feel that the people presented their case, and they should have
their opportunity to present their case." How's that for legal
logic?
A trial date will be set probably for the
end of November. TERA will have more to say in a few days, here
and in an e-mail newsletter. To subscribe to the newsletter, write
to info@tera.ca.
Video report here.
2005 September 11. There's a nudist
party in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It's not an
evening gathering but a political group. It
aims to give women topfree equality, among other things, and get
elected in NSW in 2007. The founder, Sylvia Else, notes: "On a hot
day in the park, men are able to take their shirts off. But women
are essentially discriminated against, even though the offensive
behaviour laws are very unclear and vague."
2005 September 09. A woman was arrested recently
in New Hampshire for lewdness and indecent exposure. She was
standing topfree on a beach being photographed. The arresting
officer claims he was told "There's a naked girl over
there."
Apparently he thinks topfreedom is nudity,
and women are girls. We're surprised he didn't find a few more
charges to throw at her.
2005 August 17. The well-known
broadcaster Garrison Keillor had his program cancelled in Kentucky earlier this month, partly because a
poem he read in one episode contained the word "breast." The WUKY
station manager said there were no complaints but that he feared
an FCC fine for obscene language.
The cancellation was rescinded only after
many complaints.
An observer wrote: "I'm waiting for my
local grocery store to start advertising Boneless Chicken Chests
or maybe Ch*sts. But then, that's why the term white meat
was invented."
2005 August 15. The case of the four
women arrested August 11 in
Moravia, New York has been postponed to September 20, so that their lawyer may ask for dismissal.
Meanwhile, the county's District Attorney is asking the police
whether they can find other ways to charge the women besides under
the Exposure of a Person law.
In TERA's view, this is outrageous and a
travesty of justice. The women were arrested under a law that does
not apply to their case---more on that below. So to save face, the
"wheels of justice" are trying to find a way to trample the
women's rights. The only fair option for the DA is to drop the
case immediately.
The Exposure of a Person law had the part
about women's breast exposure removed in 1992 by the state's
highest court. But the legislature in Albany, in an impetuous
huff, refused to rewrite the law to agree with the court ruling.
So if they do not receive proper training, police throughout the
state learn a law whose wording about women's breasts is outdated
and invalid. Then they illegally harass and arrest women for being
topfree.
On August 4, another woman was arrested for
being topfree, in Manhattan. She is planning a civil suit for her
arrest and unlawful detention. Yesterday, a protest on her behalf
was held in New York City.
Some police and DAs, the Attorney General,
and the New York state legislature need to be taught a lesson.
2005 August 12. ARREST IN NEW
YORK. Four women were arrested yesterday in Moravia, New York,
south of Syracuse. They were topfree on a public street. In this
instance, TERA will add almost nothing for the next few days. It
has spoken with all the women and others.
The women are Madeleine McPherson, Carol
Clarke, Barb Crumb, and Claudia Kellersch. Kellersch is from
California, the others from New York.
2005 August 01. If you read
the item below for
July 23, it may seem that we are critical of the artist who
created a sculpture of a mermaid without nipples. We aren't,
although the report may be read that way.
Norman Gitzen was kind enough to tell us
that the village of Wellington demanded that his sculpture not be
indecent by its definition---which, it turns out, arbitrarily
demanded no nipples. Meanwhile, the nippleless sculpture remains
in front of the community center, where most people are having
good fun with it, including getting their picture taken next to
it.
The village seems to want to hold a vote on
whether the sculpture should stay or go. Anyone in the area who is
interested should attend that meeting to support the artist. It's
on August 9th at 19:00 (7 PM) at the community center.
Meanwhile, those in Palm Beach County
should let the village council know that art with breasts (even
large ones and even with nipples) is just fine and not indecent.
Please, write only if you live in or near
Wellington. If you write, be polite and to the point. Being
mean or long-winded will not help. Below are relevant addresses
from the Wellington Council. Feel free to phone as
well.
Thomas Wenham
(Mayor): twenham@ci.wellington.fl.us
Lizbeth Benacquisto
(Vice-Mayor): lbenacquisto@ci.wellington.fl.us
Laurie S. Cohen:
lcohen@ci.wellington.fl.us
Robert S, Margolis:
rmargolis@ci.wellington.fl.us
Dr.
Carmine A. Priore:
cpriore@ci.wellington.fl.us
A copy of your e-mail could also go to the
sculptor at norman@normangitzen.com.
2005 July 28. A short news report
says that an Italian bathing group wants women on Italian beaches
not to be without tops unless they are in a horizontal position.
Is this not the "silly season" for news?
Regardless, we hope that Italian women will
not take this lying down. They need to take a stand. To walk the
walk.
2005 July 23. In Wellington,
Florida, a few people have complained about a new statue called The Siren, by
sculptor Norman J. Gitzen of Lake Worth.
photo by Bill
Ingram, Palm Beach Post
Apparently, women must have breasts of only
a certain size, and not like those of the sculpture. Equally
troubling is that Gitzen stated, "I purposely didn't put nipples
on her because of the decency clause." What decency clause? And
are women's nipples but not men's indecent?
2005 July 22. On June 12, Lorien
Bourne was charged with three infractions for being topfree in a
park in Bowling Green, Ohio. Because of lack of resources, she
decided to plead no contest and pay a fine and costs---which she
did today.
Bourne herself did much research and became
quite upset with what was being done. She had a public defender
who said if she took the case to trial, Bourne would probably lose
and end up in jail, have large expenses, or both. The ranger who
charged her threw everything possible at her, including charges
that he may have known would be withdrawn. He appears to have been
condescending as well, and told her she was immodest and would
attract "perverts."
The public defender said that she was not
going to be the one to make it possible for women to go topfree
and "scare children."
2005 July 12. During a concert in
Karlsruhe, Germany last night, singer Mariah Carey's dress top
fell away, exposing her breasts for a split second. The concert
staff quickly plunged the stage into darkness while Carey ran off,
holding her dress up.
They did better than for Janet Jackson's
wardrobe malfunction. There, CBS just changed the TV broadcast
camera.
2005 July 06. The 2006 Breast
of Canada calendar is now
available. Another winner in a magnificent series!
2005 July 06. In Cincinnati, Ohio,
there is another charge of indecent exposure over visible breasts.
The catch: it's a man. Even better: this is in a county where a
court decision has ruled that even women may be
barebreasted.
We couldn't make this one up. Read
here.
2005 July 06. Attorneys in Daytona
Beach have filed an appeal
against Liz Book's acquittal
for being topfree in 2004. In that
case, the judge said she was entirely within her rights. Her
lawyer, First-Amendment expert Lawrence Walters, calls the city's
appeal "frivolous" and "abuse of government power and a city
bringing all of its power to silence a person who disagrees with
its policies."
2005 July 04. Lactivists latch on to
Jonna Spilbor: A nurse-in is set to take place at 5:30 PM on
Wednesday, July 13, 2005 outside the offices of the
Poughkeepsie Journal, at 85 Civic Center Plaza in
Poughkeepsie, New York. On June
19, Ms. Spilbor, a lawyer, wrote
that women must not breastfeed in public because that constitutes
public nudity, and misinformed readers completely about New York
State law on topfreedom.
2005 July 02. Topfree activist,
recently acquitted, is rearrested. Daytona Beach police again arrested Liz
Book for her topfree protest for
women's equality, only a few days after she was acquitted for
almost the same action from 2004. The charge is "disorderly
conduct," which police sometimes use against persons who are
anything but disorderly.
In this case, some traffic may have slowed
to observe the event. If past experience is a guide, that will
have happened mostly after the police arrived (in three
vehicles!). Also, people stopped on a sidewalk to watch. How
disorderly can you get!
So Liz Book is the cause of people and cars
stopping? That means pedestrians and drivers are no longer
responsible for themselves. Or maybe Liz can leap tall buildings
in a single bound.
The police also state that she "corrupted
the public morals and outraged the sense of public decency . . .
in a tourist area." TERA will refrain from further comment;
readers will undoubtedly have their own.
2005 July 01. The June 30 protest in
Union Square, San Francisco, took place with about a dozen
participants. One article is here, with irrelevant
comments about women's breast size.
Note that two girls, 9 and 10, took part.
Bravo to them and their parents! Contrary to popular belief, some
police statements around the country, and the wish of many
somatophobes, topfree girls of any age are not illegal, either in
public or in photographs.
from the cover
of the music video The Right to Bare
Breasts
(photo by Laurie York)
2005 June 30. Recently, the Attorney
General of the USA had the drapes removed that his predecessor had
installed to cover a female statue's bare breast. If the current
AG wants to show what a fine fellow he is, he could return the
US$8300 or so (plus interest) that it cost John Ashcroft to
install the curtains a few years ago.
Regardless, Justice Department news
conferences will no longer be held in the room with the statue.
Too many photo ops?
2005 June 28. On June 30 (in two
days), in Union Square, San Francisco (directly across from
Macy's), Sherry Glaser, of Breasts not Bombs, will lead a
barebreasted political demonstration "to show the difference
between what is decent and what is not." TERA encourages those in
agreement who live in the Bay area to consider supporting this
event.
2005 June 28. On March 7, 2004, Liz
Book was arrested for being topfree at her protest in Daytona
Beach, Florida. The case has been dismissed by a Volusia County court because the topfree
action took place as constitutionally protected free speech.
Although that is a narrow reason, it may have wide implications.
(But Liz's lawyer and the judge agree the decision does not apply
to flashers and the like.)
Congratulations are in order to this
topfree pioneer. She plans to be out there again, topfree, on July
2 (four days from now) at the Peabody Auditorium at noon. Anyone
in the area who can support her there and then, please consider
doing so!
2005 June 25 marked the 10th
anniversary of the arrest of five women for being topfree in a
Pride Parade in Columbus, Ohio. The charges were dropped in August
1995, making topfreedom for women legal in Columbus and Franklin
County---and possibly all of Ohio. The women launched a lawsuit a
year later and settled out of court.
More than one court in Ohio has ruled that
breasts are not "private parts" and therefore are not included in
indecency sanctions.
The day after the anniversary, The
Columbus Dispatch ran a rare article on
the topic.
2005 June 19. Jonna M. Spilbor, a
lawyer, arrogantly claims in the Poughkeepsie Journal that it is illegal for women to be barebreasted in
New York State.
She is dead wrong.
2005 June 10. Controversial British
MP George Galloway has a company, "Friction Books," which
has just published
its first item---with a cover photo of a woman's breast with
nipple. It is now said that Muslim support in his East London
riding will fade away.
2005 June 06. On Memorial Day (May
30), actor and author Sherry Glaser led a protest called Breasts
Not Bombs in Santa Rosa, California. Surprisingly, there was no
interference, and the response was polite and enthusiastic! The
immediate object of the protest, the paper The Press
Democrat, did not report the event. Ms. Glaser
wrote:
"It's an extraordinary experience to stand
out in public exposed in this manner. At first it is a feeling of
fear, but that is quickly replaced by liberation and power. A
couple of us felt a presence, a strong presence of decency. A
feeling that somehow that street at that moment was safe. It
became ordinary for us to be standing with our breasts out in the
world and claiming the streets like that. We hope for a day when
all women in every country will be safe to walk freely through her
life safe, proud, and strong in her body."
To writing like that, we can add nothing
but our congratulations.
2005 June 05. Sorry for the long
absence. We will shortly be updating the site more fully.
Meanwhile, an event tomorrow in New York of considerable
importance. Please go to The Cowgoddess and
the item dated June 3. A protest is to be held June 6 at 11 AM at
ABC (67th St. and Columbus Ave.) for its program The View
and its opinion that breastfeeding is "gross and disgusting." All
lactating mothers and their supporters are welcome!
The cartoon by Hathor the Cowgoddess from
May 17 (below) is
therefore very timely. It's called "Buttinsky." Note all the
details!
2005 June 01. The nipple ripple is
sweeping through some
segments of North America. Now women on TV must often either cover
their nipples (e.g. with tape) or have them digitally airbrushed
out in broadcast. And that's when they're wearing clothes. One
TERA correspondent calls this "sexist, stupid, prudish, and
puritanical." And those are her mild terms.
2005 May 11. A discovery that
women's topfreedom is allowed at Topsail Beach, North Carolina is
causing a media frenzy, and reporting all over the world. The
issue is being analyzed in detail; other NC beaches are being
discussed for minute legalities; and hardly any topfree women are
seen anywhere.
No one has paid attention to the report
that on encountering a topfree woman on Topsail, police "ask" them
to move to the far end of the beach. In our book that constitutes
intimidation, harassment, and unjustified discrimination.
2005 March 26. A photographer is
seeking mature women for a topfree project in New York City.
Jordan Matter is
looking for women above 40 (especially 60 and over) to participate
in an ongoing photography project titled Uncovered: Celebrating Women in New York
City. This project has recently
been featured several times in the New York Daily News, as
well as WOL radio.
It involves photographs of women casually
going about their daily routine in public while topfree. The
project is a reaction to the public madness that followed Janet
Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction."
Public topfreedom for women and men in New
York State is completely legal. If you're interested, please contact
Jordan Matter.
2005 March 26. The Kansas Senate
has rejected a pro-breastfeeding
bill. The House had passed it (HB
2284) with the requirement that women be "discreet" (thanks,
Missouri), but the Senate removed that. That justified removal
caused a few to refuse to pass it and effectively kill it for this
session.
Senator Kay O'Connor (R-Olathe) said that
private businesses should be allowed to prohibit breastfeeding,
and that "if we didn't have people who were being indiscreet, we
wouldn't need to pass this law. I couldn't support indiscreet
breastfeeding. It's called exposure in some circles."
Senator O'Connor thinks that women's
exposed breasts are a menace to American morals, and that she has
the right to tell women where and how to breastfeed. If you wish
to clue her in, please drop her a line. Be polite and to the
point. Name-calling and vituperative stuff get nowhere.
Senator Kay O'Connor
1101 North
Curtis
Olathe KS 66061 USA
Phone: 913 764 7935
Fax: 913 764
4492
Email: o'connor@senate.state.ks.us
Web site:
www.kslegislature.org/koconnor
Some Kansas senators need a thank-you for
supporting the bill. Here's one:
Senator Dr. Jim Barnett (R-Emporia)
1400
Lincoln
Emporia KS 66801
Phone: 620 342 5387
Fax: 620 342
6520
Email: barnett@senate.state.ks.us
Web site:
www.kslegislature.org/jbarnett
2005 March 22. The Topfree Florida
Five, arrested at Daytona
Beach on March 13, are now
considering their options for legal representation and challenges.
Ironically, on the same day we heard of their arrest, a news item
brought us to a site with many
photos of women topfree out and about---in New York
City.
The photographer artist is Jordan Matter.
On our Articles page, he has
written trenchantly about what he's doing. There, we also have a
few of his black and white photos from the same series,
Uncovered: Celebrating Women in New York City.
We suggest you visit his site to see
some remarkable work.
2005 March 22. Vera, of the Diablo
Sun Devils, near San Francisco, has a site that promotes
topfreedom with some fine words and many photos, such as the one
below.
2005 March 14. Liz book's topfree
protest yesterday in Daytona Beach had some success. She was not
arrested. But five other women were, because they were topfree
outside Liz's "tent."
Elizabeth Book looking at Morley Schloss, with
the American flag and the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, the
so-called Equal Protection Clause, on the day of her protest,
March 13, 2005
The city agreed that Liz would not be
arrested if she stayed in her designated area -- which mitigated
the notion of equality and made the event a "show." There was no
indication in the agreement that other women had to stay there as
well. In addition, they carried signs for topfree equality. (It is
legal in Daytona Beach to protest topfree, as it should be
everywhere else, too.) One woman is one of the most famous
American topfree activists: Kayla Sosnow. Another, from South
Florida Free Beaches, is longtime advocate Shirley Mason. A third
is another of the original Florida Topfree Ten, Norma
Mitchell.
This is going to get
interesting.
2005 March 10. The Arizona House is
preparing a budget that deliberately omits funding for student newspapers because some do not like
their content. Rep. Russell Pearce (R-Mesa) seems to think that
the state should censor whatever newspapers it wishes. Attempt at
such control goes against principles of press freedom and possibly
against the US First Amendment. Fostering ignorance about sex
appears to be his main goal.
What has this to do with TERA? Go here.
Complete coincidence, right?
2005 March 09. It was officially
revealed today that
Elizabeth Book's topfree protest scheduled for March 13 has gained
an agreement from Daytona Beach that she will not be charged with
an offence merely for being topfree. If you read the agreement
carefully, no other woman will either.
That should be enough to get a whole lot of
women---and men---to join her this Sunday at noon. It is a major
concession from Daytona Beach, and a tactical victory in women's
topfree rights. It is also a tribute to First Amendment lawyer
Larry Walters of
Orlando, who worked it out with the city.
Liz Book being arrested a year ago (2004):
Daytona Beach has indicated that is unlikely this year.
2005 March 09. Prince Charles of
Great Britain has found himself confronting several uses of
women's breasts within a few days. On March 2, he was greeted in
Alice Springs NT, Australia, by topfree indigenous women
performing a traditional dance. Yesterday he was greeted in
Wellington, New Zealand by two protesters. One was feeding her
baby and the other had an anti-colonial message written on her
chest. Both were led away and charged with disorderly
conduct.
The woman with the written message is HanaPlant. The
woman with the child is Holly Goldman.
Women's exposed breasts in protest have a
long history. Although we don't often mention such protests,
perhaps we should. This one relates directly to the use and
control of women's breasts and bodies, whatever the announced
reasons for the action.
The Prince appears to have been unfazed by
his Australian experience:
The rumour of his displeasure at the bare
breasts appears unfounded.
2005 March 03. The campaign to
allow women topfreedom at
California beaches and parks has failed. No legislator was willing
to introduce such a bill by the deadline for this session. Topfree
women may therefore still end up in the state's sex offender
registry along with those convicted of sex crimes.
A few extreme right-wing Christian groups
claimed Lianna Johnsson's campaign was to encourage or tell women
to "drop their top," and would harm "family values."
2005 February 28. Earlier this
month, the following photo was published, of Venezuelan President
Hugo Chávez talking to people in a crowd. What's wrong with this
picture?
Nothing. What do Venezuelans know
that Americans don't?!
2005 February 22. Liz Book has a new
website. Go here. Her second
annual topfree protest in Daytona Beach, Florida, is scheduled for
Sunday March 13 "at high noon." She needs all the help that's
willing to be there. The chances are good that this year's event
will be more successful than 2004's.
From her site: "I have heard many people
remark that we are in this dispute concerning topfreedom so that
we can show our breasts. We are not. This is about
personal freedom for women. This is about our Constitutional
rights to Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Expression."
2005 February 22. An artist in
Michigan, who owns the Gonzo Airbrush gallery, was facing jail time
for a mural he painted. Ed Stross, who has multiple sclerosis, was
convicted of violating a sign ordinance in Roseville for his
outdoor painting. It includes Eve with bare breasts and the word
"love." The ordinance bans "obscene, indecent, or immoral matter"
and applies to signs and advertising.
Whether Stross had a separate, more
restrictive agreement with Roseville is unclear. Yesterday, his time in jail was postponed. An appeal
may be launched on (US) First Amendment grounds.
The city's temporary mayor said, "This
country is at war, our economy is down the tubes, and the
newspaper headlines are all about Gonzo. I don't get
it."
How convenient to claim the USA is at war.
In every way, he doesn't get it.
2005 February 21. On February 19,
the Globe and Mail
(Toronto) caught up with another harassment of a woman
breastfeeding, from January. Three letters on the matter appeared
on February 21.
The mother and daughter were at a skating
rink at Dufferin Grove Park in Toronto. A volunteer named Jutta
Mason told the mother to stop breastfeeding or move.
The matter escalated, not because of
anything the mother did, but because of Mason's attempt to control
the situation. She was good enough to publicize the mother's
complaint and comments of others, but she always wrote a reply
defending herself.
She also wrote policy on the matter for
Dufferin Grove. Although she is an effective and well-known
volunteer, she overstepped her authority. Her opinion goes against
the policy of the city of Toronto and the Ontario Human Rights
Code. Unfortunately, she refuses to apologize and insists that
women breastfeed only in a manner or location that she
specifies.
When it seemed likely there would be a
feed-in protest at a Friday night supper, Mason cancelled the
suppers for the rest of the season.
2005 February 16. A topfreedom
discussion board has been restarted here. It looks quite
useful already and will be even more so as it grows.
An e-mail discussion list is available at
the Yahoo! group "usa_topfreedom." It doesn't see much activity
generally but easily could.
TERA is thinking of starting a discussion
facility of some kind to make it easier for topfreedom advocates
(and questioners) to interact. Meanwhile, do check out the
others.
2005 February 10. Game maker Tecmo
has filed a lawsuit against people who published a hack for its
Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball computer game. The hack
enables users to see women playing without bikini tops.
If the game had had them playing topfree
and the hack had covered them up, we wonder what the result would
have been.
2005 February 03. We recommend
this article by
Jessica Ellis of UCLA on the subject of Liana
Johnsson's move to decriminalize
women's breasts in California.
2005 January 29. Earlier this month
in Pilot Point, Texas, an art gallery owner launched civil action
against the city and police. In 2003, Dwight Miller had
commissioned local artist Justine Wollaston to paint a mural on
his gallery's large outside wall---"Creation of Eve."
Because Eve is nude (duh) and has bare
breasts visible, the police demanded that Miller cover the breasts
or face charges of displaying material harmful to minors. He then
covered them with a banner that read "Crime scene."
Miller's suit demands removal of the threat
of arrest when he again displays the original work. By the way,
the mural is partly a commentary on a famous Michelangelo
painting, "Creation of Adam."
In 2004, the Pilot Point Police Department
was given a Jefferson Muzzle award by the Thomas Jefferson Center
for the Protection of Free Expression, for blatant violation of
the US Constitution's First Amendment (about freedom of
expression).
2005 January 28. A typical
fear-mongering organization of the American extreme right is out
to "save California." It has pronounced on
the move to allow California women topfree sunbathing at beaches
and parks (see Jan. 23 story below).
Among its sanctimonious claims: "There are good reasons for
modesty laws---to protect the innocence of women and girls and to
promote a decent society supportive of children and
families."
Yes, there are bad reasons for topfreedom
laws: they protect discrimination against women and girls and
promote the indecency obsession over female breasts. This has
nothing to do with families. It keeps children ignorant, misled,
and even traumatized, and a lot of advertisers and strip clubs in
business.
2005 January 26. And now: an article titled "US
children still traumatized one year after seeing partially exposed
breast on TV." Here's a sample: "A great number of children who
witnessed the tragedy are still plagued by nightmares of
sun-shapes that recall Jackson's nipple ring. Of the infants who
saw the breast, 76 percent are unwilling to breast feed or use a
bottle, forcing their parents to nourish them
intravenously."
I guess we should advise, "Read it and
weep." It is, after all, in The Onion.
(It's satire, you may have figured.)
2005 January 23. We don't usually
hear news like this. Liana Johnsson,
a public defender in a California county, has managed to get a
group of lawyers to ask the legislature to make topfree sunbathing
for women legal throughout the state. One reason: current
California law may put topfree women on a sex offenders' list. But
Johnsson is quick to point out that the real issue is "equal
protection under the law."
Sunbathing only? We'll have to wait for
further details.
2005 January 17. In the
articles section of
this site, we now have a 2003 essay by Robin Jensen of the
University of Illinois. She examines topfreedom's arguments---both
sides---from a study of a recent analysis of rhetoric.
2005 January 09. Today Linda
Meyer went topfree in the Matsqui Recreation Centre Pool in
Abbotsford, a conservative area in British Columbia. The staff
objected and called police. The police dispatcher told the staff
to tell Linda to put a top on. Shortly afterwards, the police
arrived at the pool.
Then, after a brief discussion . . . they
left.
Linda was enraged at the attitude of pool
staff. But in the end, she received an apology and free pass from
them. One reason for this outcome may be that Linda knows law,
having studied it for some years. Also, she carries with her the
decision that struck down the Maple Ridge BC bylaw discriminating
against women's breasts. As they say (or used to): Don't leave
home without it.
By the way, Linda didn't even have a
swimming top at the pool. That's gutsy, don't you
think?
2004 December 31. We exit the year
with notice about this
inspiring recent site. Mama's Milk
Tees sells products that are pro-breastfeeding, from "subtle to
in-your-face." They have not only T-shirts but sweatshirts,
buttons, magnets, bags, mousepads, clocks, and more. The theme may
be summed up by their motto, "Wear your passion for
breastfeeding!" and this logo:
Other images available among
many:
Another slogan you may get printed on
shirts: "You're staring at my baby's lunch."
The products are sold by a third party,
Café Press.
2004 December 22. The FCC is
investigating NBC's broadcast of the summer Olympics for
"indecency." There was a total of 9 complaints about the opening
ceremonies in an estimated viewership of 56 million. One
complainant wrote that "my children saw an exposed breast during
the opening ceremonies."
Really? How about that. Only one, you
say?
Read Lisa de Moraes' wry commentary
here.
2004 December 19. In Manchester NH,
several mothers held a breastfeed-in
near a J C Penney store in support of Jennifer Fox. On December
12, Ms. Fox had been approached by a manager who repeatedly and
strongly "hinted" that she should feed her daughter in the
bathroom.
New Hampshire law states, "Breastfeeding a
child does not constitute an act of indecent exposure; and to
restrict or limit the right of a mother to breastfeed her child is
discriminatory."
Another store manager apologized profusely
and then added that "there was never an issue that the person
could not breastfeed in the store." Yeah, right.
But we're glad they seem to get it
now.
2004 December 04. In Battle Creek
MI, 14 women of St. Thomas Episcopal Church went topfree in pews
for a calendar to raise money for
breast cancer research. They called themselves the Belles of St.
Mary's. As far as we know, no nipples appear in the calendar---the
usual situation, except for the Breast
of Canada calendar. The Belles'
calendar's cover:
One churchgoing mother of four was not
amused: "It [runs] counter to the morals I am attempting to
instill into my children."
2004 December 01. A man was fined
AU$500 today for taking pictures of topfree women on an Australian
beach without their knowledge. He used the camera in a portable
phone.
2004 November 19. The faculty of the
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at
Arizona State University passed a resolution
in strong support of the school's student newspaper, the State
Press. Why? On October 7, the Press carried an article on its
front page about body piercing, with two pictures of breasts. One
was this (click here or on the photo
to link to the original State Press article):
photo by
Andrew Benson, State Press
Through a lower official, the university's
President, Michael Crow, then threatened to withdraw the funding
the university provides to the paper and to force its premises off
campus -- unless it adhered to a policy he approved of. But the
paper is editorially independent of the university administration
and decried its attempt at censorship.
One reason the administration acted is that
one of the university's biggest donors, Ira Fulton, had called the
President to complain about the photos.
2004 November 07. The New York City
Marathon, sponsored by ING, had over 36,000 entrants today. The
person who drew the most commentary is pictured below. (That's her
camera strap in front of her face.) A typical celebration well
known in the sports world---for men. Why not for women
too?
2004 November 05. The decision in the trial
of Elizabeth Book at Daytona Beach has been delayed, pending
another case which is to be decided in a federal district court in
January. On March 7, 2004, Book was the only topfree protester,
demonstrating in part against the inequality of women's and men's
breasts, also against Daytona Beach's anti-nudity
ordinance.
Yesterday, her lawyer, First Amendment
expert Lawrence Walters, stated, "Ms. Book was engaging in core
political speech and she was silenced." He pointed out that the
ordinance in question says that nudity can't be prohibited if it
is "part of a bona fide live communication, demonstration, or
performance."
Meanwhile, the Daytona police force is
claiming that she is responsible for the $7000 to 8000 it cost for
police duty that day. We might call that downloading with a
vengeance.
She is interested in continuing her protest
next March, with more women. Among other things, she
writes:
"I have even seen people staring fixatedly
at my breasts in the grocery store. Some of these people are the
very ones who would act outraged in front of their peers (that my
nipples are apparent through my shirt). Yet they stare unabashedly
when they think no one is looking. Hypocrisy is the word for
it."
2004 November 01. TERA has been
informed that the Topfree 10 case in Florida, to recognize women's
topfree rights in accord with the US constitution, has been
dismissed on a technicality. [Sorry, no URL.] Although that is
unfortunate, it lessens not one bit the validity of topfree
equality as we see it, in Florida and elsewhere in North
America.
2004 October 15. A swimming coach
has been suspended at a Minnesota high school. Some of her girls
swam topfree in a practice a few days ago for 15 minutes or less.
That's all the report indicates!
Excuse us while we wonder what the problem was.
2004 October 05. Yesterday, the
Cleveland Plain Dealer printed an enlightened article by Connie Schultz. It all started one hot day when
her 9-year-old daughter wanted to take her shirt off . .
.
(Unrelated to that, also check out the new
material below under September 23.)
2004 September 25. It's official.
The FCC Commissioners voted a few days ago
to fine 20 CBS TV stations US$27,500 each for "wilfully" (direct
quote) exposing Janet Jackson's right
breast in the 2004 Super Bowl
half-time show.
CBS claims the exposure could not have been
known in advance. The FCC did not investigate that claim. It also
ignored Justin Timberlake's role. More significantly, FCC Chairman
Michael Powell stated that the rest of the half-time show, with
all its sexual references, was not indecent.
Obviously the FCC believes that Janet
Jackson's breast is indecent all by itself.
2004 September 23. In two events over the summer, women in Mendocino, California stood bare breasted
to protest the war in Iraq. One resident, Janie Rezner, stated
simply that it's not breasts that are indecent, it's
war.
"We are baring our breasts to expose the
truth of humanity, what's at stake, what's important . . . using
it as a reflection against the madness, murder, and deceit of the
[Bush] administration . . . I have a vision of women all over the
world standing bare-breasted in silence with the Women in Black,
holding signs, joined together in outrage by what the greed-filled
and insane men of this world dare to do."
Rezner carried a sign that read, "Breasts
nourish life, war feeds on death."
Read one of her essays here.
2004 September 15. With a date of
September 16, this article is an
update of sorts on the Topfree 10 lawsuit in Florida. Nine women
and a girl seek to overturn Florida's laws used against topfree
women, basing their arguments on the US constitution.
The reporter had to stretch it to get
"arguments" from the other side. Judge for yourself.
2004 September 08. The American
Federal Communications Commission plans to hand down
fines of US$550,000 for Nipplegate. That's
$27,500 to each of 20 CBS stations that broadcast Janet Jackson's
bejewelled right nipple on February 1 distantly for about a second
and a half.
CBS affiliate stations escaped the same
penalty by a technicality. They are not owned by Viacom, which
owns CBS.
Whether or not the Super Bowl halftime show
was appropriate, we hesitate to calculate the value of Janet
Jackson's body at $550,000 for about one square inch.
Never has one nipple done so little for so
much.
2004 August 23. The 2005 edition of
the Breast of Canada
calendar is available! Another winner in this magnificent and
important series of annual calendars from Guelph, Ontario. TERA is
glad to be a sponsor and encourages all its supporters to purchase
calendars, hang them everywhere, and give them to as many people
as possible.
For a lot more information, click on the
photo below.
2004 August 16. Today the Governor
of Illinois signed into law a bill allowing mothers to breastfeed
in public. This may make life somewhat easier for
women.
This flag-and-apple-pie law constitutes an
exception, however, meaning women's breasts are still indecent.
May we be excused for not cheering a whole lot?
2004 August 11. Police were called in
to search a Florida government building washroom for---you guessed
it---a topfree woman. "She may have been just washing up," noted
one sheriff's deputy sombrely. "She wasn't running around." Did
the police think she'd be attempting the 500-metre? They searched
the whole building, just in case.
Heaven forfend a woman should do something
illegal like wash in a washroom. We look forward to massive
numbers of police storming a washroom stall and charging the
person therein with indecent exposure.
2004 August 10. A nurse-in at a
Starbucks store in Maryland emphasized the push to get the chain
to allow breastfeeding in all its stores in every state. Starbucks
merely recognized Maryland law and told its employees there to
allow breastfeeding.
In a Starbucks in Silver Spring, Lorig
Charkoudian had been told on July 8 to use a blanket or take her
child to the bathroom. In response, an
enterprising website was set up to
pressure Starbucks into sense on this issue.
2004 August 02. A couple was removed from an
American Airlines flight on July 31 because the man was wearing a
T-shirt with a bare breast depicted on it. Apparently American
believes it has the right to eject anyone "clothed in a manner
that would cause discomfort or offense to other passengers." We
presume the breast wasn't doing much of anything. If that's all
there is to this story, then American is wrong.
A person could be a problem for wearing
shorts. What about a shirt that read "Women have equal rights"?
The concept is offensive to many.
Seven law enforcers were called to get the
couple off the plane in Miami after one flight attendant
apparently had yelled at the man, "You have to take off that shirt
right now!"
Maybe he should have taken it off. Then his
companion could have taken hers off too.
2004 August 01. Around the USA,
there are more reports of women being removed from premises for
breastfeeding but not putting up with such ill treatment.
Arguments continue about "discreet" feeding, which are either
irrelevant or keep women's breasts under the control of
men.
One (male) commissioner in Lawrence, Kansas
had this to say: ". .
. it's unfortunate that people are disturbed by seeing a nursing
mother. I think we're raising an entire generation who think the
purpose of the breast is to sell beer, instead of providing the
best possible nutrition for the baby."
2004 July 19. More from Iowa (see
July 08, below). A nurse-in was held
July 17 by about 50 mothers and children, across from the Hoover
House restaurant in West Branch. A few state legislators weighed in that
breastfeeding mothers should be discreet, and that if there is a
complaint, a restaurant staffer should approach the
mother.
Nope. He/she should advise the complainer.
Breastfeeding is healthy and legal; and women's breasts are not
owned by others. If you don't like breastfeeding, don't look. The
phrase MYOB comes to mind.
Meanwhile, a 15-year-old wait person at
Hoover said she would refuse to serve a breastfeeding
mother.
Another story here.
2004 July 15. In Missouri's McDonald
County, a man with some topfree women in a canoeing party on the
Elk River may have assaulted two other women onshore. Admittedly,
rowdy behaviour seems common on certain parts of the river. There
are laws in place to deal with it.
So what is the county's reaction? Ban
"nudity" on county waterways. This has
to be read to be
disbelieved. Along the way, we learn that women's exposed breasts
endanger children.
2004 July 14. Prof. Sherry Colb,
from Rutgers Law School in New Jersey, is sympathetic to
breastfeeding in public, She points out why it is
still hard for women to do it. However, she implies that women's
breasts may be exposed for either feeding or sex. What about
having them out just for comfort, or for no obvious
reason?
2004 July 08. In West Branch, Iowa,
an Iowa City mother named Amy Schoon was accosted in
Hoover House restaurant July 3 and told to breastfeed her child in
the bathroom. As sometimes happens, La Leche League stepped in to
make helpful comments. However, LLL suggests only
"discreet" breastfeeding, which reinforces the notion that women's
nipples are indecent---and belong to men first and
foremost.
To its credit in the Iowa case, LLL's
spokeswoman pointed out that Iowa law doesn't require women to
"cover up." To its discredit, the same person excused the
restaurant owner for harassing Amy Schoon.
In this story, the
restaurant's co-owner said "he realizes breast feeding is
'natural' but doesn't feel it's appropriate to do it in a way that
children see it and the parents of those children have to explain
it."
So: is a woman to be penalized for doing
the right thing for her child and herself just because a person
may not be able to "explain" it and children are---excuse us while
we choke---harmed by seeing breastfeeding?
Oh, we almost forgot: this restaurant also
holds wet T-shirt contests.
2004 July 02. In Grandview Park,
Vancouver, British Columbia, there was a topfree demonstration to
demand that women not be hassled for going topfree anywhere in
Canada. Linda Meyer was in the centre of this one. A photo will be
posted when it's available.
Earlier topfreedom news is here.
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