Phoenix Feeley Goes Topless in NJ
Were you aware that it's legal in 12 states for girls to go top-free in public? To begin with, this is a little amount, and second, many cities can and do override this with their own laws. (Having just saw the movie Iron Jawed Angels, I feel like a suffragette counting the states that have given women the right to vote. Haha Not the same, I understand.)
Women acquiring the equivalent right to go top-free wherever guys can is a cause that's become more and more important to me. I believe what troubles me most is the scoreless arrests and physical abuse that girls go through for going top-free even if it is perfectly legal. Doesn't everyone have more important matters to worry about? (Apparently not.)
Phoenix Feeley has faced police and mad mums in Coney Island for exercising her right to go top-free
I lately met a kindred soul against this discrimination: Phoenix Feeley, and I inquired Phoenix if I could inter view her about her present battle for top-free equality.
Phoenix is actively fighting for top freedom since 2004 when she was falsely arrested in New York City for being top-free in public. She endured physical abuse by the policemen, spent 27 hours in jail and to top it all off, had to undergo a mental evaluation. It's been legal in NY since 1992. The town apologized with a settlement of $29,000 when she sued.
Since then beach girl is been marching in top-free rallies in NYC, and today the courageous Phoenix is fighting charges in a state where it isn't legal (yet), New Jersey. In 2008 Phoenix sunbathed without a top on the strand of Spring Lake as a kind of civil disobedience. The police detained her and inflicted physical abuse once again. An overweight man had the gall to clap as she was getting detained, and Phoenix quickly answered, "Your boobs are bigger than mine!" She was given two charges of disorderly conduct, one for obstruction of justice, a charge of nudity and a charge of dressing/undressing, along with a $2,000 fine. This quotation circulated last year when her appeal was rejected by the state appeals court:
"Restrictions on the exposure of the female breast are supported by the important governmental interest in safeguarding the people's moral sensibilities."
That is right, moral sensibilities! The government is only trying to protect everyone from women's immoral breasts.
At this point the charges are cut down to the nudity and dress/undress charges and the wonderful cut in half. Phoenix has now appealed it to the 4th division of the judicial system, the NJ Supreme Court, where this law can (and hopefully will) finally be changed. "I WOn't pay injustice," she said, "You have to go all the way with it." And beach babes is prepared to do exactly that. Regrettably the Supreme Court only hears 10% of cases, and a preceding top-free case further complicates matters. She fought for the right to go fully bare, but wouldn't testify for herself and lost. Regardless, Phoenix says if she can't get into the Supreme Court, she'll appeal to the Federal Court, and even go to prison if she has to!
Are they wondering what the big deal is with showing breasts in America? So are we.
As we wrapped up our meeting, I asked Phoenix why top-freedom is so especially important to her. She replied that she sees it as a symbol of women's subordinate legal rights, and this is one wall of discrimination that must be broken down. I concur!
Some of you may have attended Dingbats for Freedom last month, Phoenix's magnificent top-free party and fundraiser geared toward helping her with all the legal fees. If you did not make it, you can still contribute and support her brave fight for women's right to go top-free wherever men can!
Issue: Fools For Liberty
For the latest top-free news in the U.S. & Canada, this is a great site.
New Jersey Finds Phoenix Feeley's Breasts Wrong in addition to other Nudists and Naturists Top Free Sites By Felicity Jones For - Young Naturists And Young Naturists America FKK
Tags: activism, breasts, feminism, new jersey, topfreedom and topfree equality, topless / topfree
Class: Felicity's Nudist Blog, Feminism and Women's Issues and Human Rights, Naked News, Social Activism, Social Nudity Websites
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Writer of Nudist Blog. Cofounder of Naturist Portal. 3rd-generation nudie. http://www.hartfordfinancialservicesgroup.net/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=rudefly.net . Feminist. After I'm not busy eating, I'm writing about naturism, censorship, topfree equality, body image and other interesting topics. http://noteout.com/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=nudistsplace.com like feedback, so plz leave a comment when you've got something to say!