Topless in the United States

Topless in New York

In 1992, the New York Court of Appeals ruled that a group of women protestors did not violate a New York State nudity statute by protesting topless in a Rochester public park. In the 1940s and 1950s the Tammany Hall judiciary was among the extreme in corruption in picking judges in the U.S. There was virtually no quality control and the resulting judiciary was loaded with hacks, incompentents and occasional crooks. Although there has been significant reform in the past quarter century, it is more likely that a New York state judge was a lawyer who was friendly with a senator.

To view The People v. Santorelli Decision

To view Law Professor Alan Dershowitz's Commentary

Since the decision, New York officials have largely disobeyed the court's ruling.
Here's some comments posted on USENET:
1994? Jun 95 Jul 95 Jul 96

Female breasts are legally different says Federal Court in Apr 97 Article
Female breasts are legally different says Federal Appeals Court in Mar 98 Article

To view New York public opinion on toplessness Jun 97 Poll

To view New York public changing views on pornography in Aug 97 Article.

Topless in Maine

An amusing story about a topless lawnmowing woman in Maine which made national headlines.

To view Aug 06 Aug 08 Aug 11 Aug 14 Aug 14 1998 Articles

Topless in Texas

In 1972, the Texas Equal Rights Amendment was passed into law. Subsequently, it has been used as a legal basis for striking down gender-specific ordinances in Lewisville and Fort Worth. However, women appearing topless in public are typically charged under public nuisance laws. The Texas Court of Appeals has consistently upheld convictions of women appearing topless in public, most recently the conviction of topless Angie Carreras by the 14th Texas Court of Appeals (Houston) on December 30, 1996..

(Not) Topless in Michigan

Women going topless in public in Michigan may be charged for disorderly conduct which, upon conviction, carries a sentence of up to 90 days in jail. An Ontario woman, who works as an exotic dancer in Windsor, decided to go topless in the vicinity of a Detroit area beach. After many complaints and repeated warnings she was finally arrested and put in jail pending bail.

To view July 22 July 23 July 23 Aug 12 1997 Articles

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Most recent revision: August 14, 1998