Strippers bare breasts because `it feels good'

TORONTO - Some have been offended. Some have been amused.

And many are wondering just how many bare breasts will show up on Ontario streets this summer.

Three strippers turned up the heat Monday by sitting topless in lawnchairs outside their club on a busy east-end street, casually sipping mineral water as cars screeched to a halt so passengers could snap photos.

"It feels great! It feels really good!" said Miranda Rytes, 26. "Oh man, we should have done this a long time ago."

Last December, an Ontario Court of appeal overturned an indecency conviction against Gwen Jacob, who doffed her shirt to stroll the streets of Guelph, Ont., on a hot day in July 1991.

That opened the door to bare breasts in a province where the occasional outbreak of nudity on a beach has rankled conservative sensibilities.

In the past week, a woman in Welland caused titters when she mowed her lawn shirtless, hookers in Ottawa stopped traffic by displaying their wares and a woman interrupted a Toronto seniors' festival wearing nothing but nipple rings above the waist.

Those in charge of public places have mused about to do when breasts are bared.

"Sooner or later it's going to happen," said George Holm, director of operations at Toronto's SkyDome. "We just hope we've created enough of a family atmosphere here that people will think twice."

The same court ruling that permits bare breasts in places like public stadiums also stipulates bosoms may not be displayed for business or sexual purposes.

Toronto police, who previously warned prostitutes they'd likely be charged for baring their breasts, said Monday the strippers' antics will likely be ignored.

"What's wrong with it?" asked Const. Kelly Mohammed.

Just the thought that his Solid Gold club could be charged with indecency for sanctioning the outdoor romp clearly worried manager Ken Clark.

"They're not doing it for sexual content," said Clark. "They're not doing it for my business because I did not promote it."

That being said, the baring of the breasts happily coincided with the club's "grand reopening."

It's a "publicity stunt," conceded Clark. But "the girls have gone ahead and done this on their own."

The decision to go topless was made because "it's a beautiful day," insisted Rytes as she and friends Pamela Powers and "Tiffany, just Tiffany" waved a sign that read Your Choice of Toppings.

"We're just women practising our rights," said Rytes, "and filling in some tan lines."

One of those who turned out for the suntan session was 48-year-old Bruce Flemming.

As a nudist, he said he supports women who wish to bare their breasts.

"But it should be limited to public parks or swimming pools or whatever," he said.

"When strippers go topless in front of a strip establishment, they're doing it for commercial reasons. It's exploitation of the human body."

Ed Paine, who is "just over 80," didn't see anything wrong with the breast-baring. In fact, he couldn't see enough.

"I wish my eyesight was better," he said wistfully. "It's frustrating sometimes."