Well.

wallop · Aug 13, 2012

In the name of equality, members of a religious sect are asking females to celebrate Women's Equality Day by participating in a topless march through downtown Columbia.

The Aug. 26 event is part of a worldwide "Go Topless Day" rally that will start around 1 p.m. at Peace Park. Men and women will be asked to take off their shirts to embark on an undetermined route through downtown Columbia so women can exercise their legal right to go topless, said organizer Nadine Gary of Las Vegas.

The right to do so, she said, is suppressed by society because of the sexualized stigma of a woman's chest.

Missouri law does not forbid women from being topless in public.

"We want to do this all around the country using the law to say that men and women have the right to go topless," Gary said. "There are places where we need to change the law, and there are places the law is in effect. In those places where it is legal, it is equally as important to encourage" women "to exercise their right — not to feel shy or ashamed of their bosoms."

The inaugural Columbia event will be part of the fifth annual Go Topless Day, along with more than 20 cities worldwide. The primary rally is set to take place in Washington, D.C., in front of the White House, with other major locations in Los Angeles, New York City and Asheville, N.C. Dozens of protesters participated in those events last year, drawing crowds.

Gary is organizing the Columbia event. She said she has not requested permits for the protest or parade because she does not expect a large crowd. Local artists and musicians have shown interest in the event, which she said would be considered a success even if half a dozen women participate.
Columbia was chosen as a location after Gary read a newspaper article that noted it is legal to be bare-breasted in public.

There is no statute in Missouri prohibiting men or women from being topless, said Sgt. Jill Schlude of the Columbia Police Department.
No law is broken until some element of sexual gratification enters the equation, which falls into the realm of sexual misconduct.

Organizers have not requested police presence for the rally, and therefore police said as of today, they had no plans for providing organized security. Police said it is possible a beat officer will monitor crowds if needed, however.

The right of women to go topless is not the only gender-equality matter supported by members of the organizing group known as the Raelian Movement. It's a religious sect founded in 1973 by Claude Vorilhon, now known as Raël, after an alleged meeting with an extraterrestrial.

The controversial group also supports workplace gender equality and other women's rights issues, but one does not need to be a member of the church to participate in the topless event, said Donna Newman, a Raelian priest from Miami, Fla. The event's message is about equality, not a promotion of the Raelian Movement, she said.

"This is about gender equality," she said. "It has nothing to do with religion, morality or sex. …We need to look at the human body with more reverence, not sexual connotations."

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2012/aug/13/activists-plan-local-rally-for-topless-women/
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Zephyr Wind · Aug 13, 2012

What about Men's Pride Day?

We can call it "Willy Wednesday" and go without pants for the whole day (provided you don't already do that )!

On second thought.....nah.

DanSze · Aug 13, 2012

>topless parade

brb, finding livestream

Gingerspark · Aug 13, 2012

I suppose I can see the appeal if you have a B cup or smaller, but there comes a certain size where one would think that going topless in public would be more uncomfortable than simply being covered up - equality or not.

Danvid23 · Aug 13, 2012

Well well well...

Sparkypony · Aug 13, 2012

Not sure if want!

Blackjack · Aug 13, 2012

I thought you wanted

Rarit E · Aug 13, 2012

[video=youtube;2HJxya0CWco]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HJxya0CWco[/video]

~Locked~

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Well.

wallop ain't learn'd bugger all today

Zephyr Wind FWOOOSHH

DanSze Yard Sale Cowboy (on CD) Veteran

Gingerspark New In Town

Danvid23 Princess of the Forum

Sparkypony Antisocial ponyality disorder

Blackjack Deactivated Account Deactivated

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