(WCCO) A committee of the city’s Park Board approved a measure Wednesday night to remove a ban on the display of female breasts in public -- the first step to allow women to go topless at the city’s parks. A final vote is Aug. 5.
The move comes amid news that Golden Valley police used drones to catch nude or topless beach goers and write tickets.
That goes against the principles of 'free the nipple' advocates like Helena Howard. Howard was cited for being topless at a Minneapolis beach two years ago. She was lying her back, topless, reading a book while her male partner sat, also topless. Police approached and ticketed her. The case against her was dropped almost immediately when she got a pro bono lawyer.
As restrictions start to loosen against toplessness, she joined WCCO's morning show Thursday to say, "it's about time."
"I've been biking topless the last two years, mostly to work and back," she revealed.
People ask her why she's doing what she's doing all the time. Some comments are negative, many are positive. Now, she said some people approach as she rides and cheer her on.
What does she say about why she's riding without a top?
"I just tell them it's hot out."
Advocates for the change toward allowing toplessness believe the current regulations discriminate against women. A Minneapolis Parks ordinance says, “no person 10 years of age or older” shall expose their “genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast below the top of the areola." The ordinance applies only the parks, hence the fact that Howard freely rides around city streets topless.
She loves the feeling of riding topless that Howard has in the past created topless bike ride events where all participants are shirt-free. She said she's considering another.
In the meantime, she's urging supporters of the change to allow toplessness to contact their representative and make their voice heard.
