Women march topless in Portland without incident

[Guest FroggyOne2]

Women march topless in Portland without incident | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

April 3

Women march topless in Portland without incident

The marchers want to call attention to the double standard in society's attitudes toward male and female nudity.

By Edward D. Murphy emurphy@mainetoday.com

Staff Writer

PORTLAND – About two dozen women marched topless from Longfellow Square to Tommy's Park this afternoon in an effort to erase what they see as a double standard on male and female nudity.

click image to enlarge

A group of women and men who had shed their tops march down a Congress Street sidewalk from Longfellow Square to Tommy's Park. They were promoting the freedom of women to be topless in public. The group attracted many amateur and professional photographers. Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer

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The women, preceded and followed by several hundred boisterous and mostly male onlookers, many of them carrying cameras, stayed on the sidewalk because they hadn't obtained a demonstration permit to walk in the street. About a thousand people gathered as the march passed through Monument Square, a mix of demonstrators, supporters, onlookers and those just out enjoying a warm and sunny early-spring day.

After the marchers reached Tommy's Park in the Old Port, some turned around and walked back to Longfellow Square, but most stayed and mingled in the park. Some happily posed for pictures.

Police said there were no incidents and no arrests – nudity is illegal in Maine only if genitals are displayed.

Ty McDowell, who organized the march, said she was "enraged" by the turnout of men attracted to the demonstration. The purpose, she said, was for society to have the same reaction to a woman walking around topless as it does to men without shirts on.

However, McDowell said she plans to organize similar demonstrations in the future and said she would be more "aggressive" in discouraging oglers.

[Wingshooter]

They were promoting the freedom of women to be topless in public.

Can't argue with that.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

If they are so proud of themselves, they should have shown the other side

[strickj]

If they are so proud of themselves, they should have shown the other side

Their backs?

[Worriedman]

However, McDowell said she plans to organize similar demonstrations in the future and said she would be more "aggressive" in discouraging oglers.

I'm confused, if the whole purpose was to gain the freedom to bare breast with impunity, then why the outrage when people paid attention?

[daddyo]

I'm confused, if the whole purpose was to gain the freedom to bare breast with impunity, then why the outrage when people paid attention?

Same reason for a woman's feigned outrage when wearing next to nothing and a man notices.

[Mike.357]

Froggy, keep us abreast of any updates with this

[Steelharp]

Glad I read it; I was about to jump in the car and head up 109...

[ShamGlock]

I need to see pics of the protesters before I can make my mind up on this.

[Guest mustangdave]

Bets on whether most of these "women" should be wearing BURKAS instead of going topless? Damn radical feminists...LMAO

[daddyo]

Froggy, keep us abreast of any updates with this

[ShaunM]

Just think of all those perverts that just followed them around........

[Wingshooter]

I wonder how many guys were just out with their GF or wife, minding their own business when this "parade" came through, and now they are in the doghouse. Just another good reason to always keep dark sunglasses handy.

[saintsfanbrian]

nudity is illegal in Maine only if genitals are displayed.

If it isn't illegal to do what they were doing then what is the big deal?

The reason that we as a society do this is because we consider it to be taboo. If you lived in a village in Africa or in a rain forest somewhere it wouldn't be a big deal and you could walk around with your ta-ta's hanging out all day long. No one would care.

Our society has made the female breast an object for the bedroom and not the front yard. I don't agree with women breastfeeding in public but that is more of my own issue.

If you are doing something to raise awareness - you shouldn't complain when someone becomes aware and starts taking pictures.

[Guest gts]

In the pic, all the women seem to have short hair. That speaks volumes, IMHO, about the roots of their motive.

[Guest jackdm3]

Found a pic of a woman taking shots, as well.

[Guest jackdm3]

At the bottom of this one, they imply that a sunbather is "Allowed" and sitting upright is not.

GoTopless: Go Topless in Portland, OR on Sunday August 23rd

On this video, a cop says they'd like to have gotten a permit done for the display. Yeah, right. So he could radio in to "All Units!" first. The police presence would have been at near-riot numbers!

Women Protest Topless in Portland, ME | News | Advocate.com

[memphismason]

I am confused.

Happy,

but confused

[Guest FroggyOne2]

Froggy, keep us abreast of any updates with this

LOL.. as to what TotallyTom says.. "What are mens nipples for?"

What Are Men's Nipples For?

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Their backs?

I just saw the back view, wasn't impressive:rolleyes:

[Mike.357]

LOL.. as to what TotallyTom says.. "What are mens nipples for?"

What Are Men's Nipples For?

YouTube - Meet The Parents (IN 5 SECONDS)

[Guest FroggyOne2]

LOL Right i had forgotten all about that one!

[Guest 1817ak47]

I don't think everyone believes this, there should be a video to "prove" that this event really took place!

[mcurrier]

In the pic, all the women seem to have short hair. That speaks volumes, IMHO, about the roots of their motive.

+1,000,000

[Guest TargetShooter84]

Shame on the people for "censoring" the boobs in the video....shame shame shame