Woman Protests for Right to Go Topless, Compares to Rosa Parks

Katrina Brees, a prominent activist with the group Equalititty, is drawing parallels between her campaign for women's right to be topless and the historic actions of Rosa Parks during the Civil Rights movement. Brees is organizing a rally of bare-breasted women in Boston this Saturday, aiming to challenge the gender norms that allow men to be topless in public while women face legal repercussions. "This is not necessarily about the desire to take our tops off. It's about the desire to have equal rights under the law," Brees stated in an interview with the Boston Globe. Brees likened her activism to Parks' refusal to give up her bus seat, emphasizing that both actions are rooted in fighting discrimination and oppression. The rally is part of a broader initiative by Equalititty and GoTopless, who are collaborating to advocate for legislative changes that would permit all genders to go shirtless without fear of legal consequences in Massachusetts. The event is strategically scheduled ahead of Women's Equality Day on August 26, which commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment. In a notable precedent, Nantucket became the first location in Massachusetts to allow toplessness for all genders on its beaches in 2022, a change driven by local resident Dorothy Stover. While some women may choose not to go topless, activists argue that current laws still discriminate against women, who can face severe penalties for doing so. The groups are also planning a GoTopless Day event in New York on August 24, furthering their mission for body positivity and equality.