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Christian Nudists

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We certainly know that it was after WWI when American men began going topless at public beaches and pools. That privilege has yet to be extended to women in most places in America.
 
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Darkhorse

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We certainly know that it was after WWI when American men began going topless at public beaches and pools. That privilege has yet to be extended to women in most places in America.

Actually, as you will recall, about half of the U. S. states have legalized toplessness for women, but very few women try it if anyone is around (unless it's a nude beach).
 
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I didn't realize that it was that many states ... surprised that this hasn't been more in the news.

33 states technically allow women to go topless in public. However that does not mean that they may actualloy do so. GoTopless.org states the following: "even though these states technically allow women to be publicly topless, there are many exceptions to this law. There is a fine and often subjective line between what is legally acceptable and what is considered offensive / lewd behavior. Even when a state is top-free, a municipality within that state may ban female nudity."

I previously lived in Pennsylvania where women can technically go topless in public. However a woman who did so pretty much anywhere in the Commonwealth, unless she was breastfeeding--that is specifically protected--would probably be arrested and either charged with disturbing the peace or with violating some local ordinance.
 
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OK ... I see ... so they allowed the law to change so it wasn't a gender based law but find a way to keep the out working of the law the same.

In many, probably most places, that seems to be the case. New York State is an exception. The law there was changed by the courts and it has been made clear to the police that they are not to stop women from going topless in public. Likewise with the District of Columbia. Some cities have also informed their police that they are not to harass women who go topless. Honolulu, Madison, Santa Fe, Austin, Boulder, Portland and some others all permit women to go topless.

Of course public breastfeeding is protected in every state but Idaho, so women cannot be arrested for that even if the law otherwise prohibits women from going topless. Don't know why Idaho hasn't made it legal--maybe something about their famous potatos.
 
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We certainly know that it was after WWI when American men began going topless at public beaches and pools. That privilege has yet to be extended to women in most places in America.

Yet prior to a certain time, many men bathed nude. At least, those who were leisured and bold enough to bathe for pleasure did so.
 
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Locutus

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Actually, as you will recall, about half of the U. S. states have legalized toplessness for women, but very few women try it if anyone is around (unless it's a nude beach).

why don't they try it? I mean, if it's legal? that seems odd, given it was probably women who fought for the right to do as men do.
 
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In many, probably most places, that seems to be the case. New York State is an exception. The law there was changed by the courts and it has been made clear to the police that they are not to stop women from going topless in public. Likewise with the District of Columbia. Some cities have also informed their police that they are not to harass women who go topless. Honolulu, Madison, Santa Fe, Austin, Boulder, Portland and some others all permit women to go topless.

Of course public breastfeeding is protected in every state but Idaho, so women cannot be arrested for that even if the law otherwise prohibits women from going topless. Don't know why Idaho hasn't made it legal--maybe something about their famous potatos.

Is breastfeeding illegal in Idaho? Seriously?
 
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Darkhorse

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Yet prior to a certain time, many men bathed nude. At least, those who were leisured and bold enough to bathe for pleasure did so.

Swimsuits started to be required in the mid-to-late 1800s in populated areas (like cities bordering an ocean), and men were also required to wear tops. In more rural areas and non-coastal areas, skinny-dipping persisted well into the 20th century.

My mom was a country girl and didn't have a swimsuit until she moved to Chicago (1929).
 
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OK ... I see ... so they allowed the law to change so it wasn't a gender based law but find a way to keep the out working of the law the same.

The idea may have been to ward off constitutional challenges based on sex discrimination.
 
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why don't they try it? I mean, if it's legal? that seems odd, given it was probably women who fought for the right to do as men do.

Many of the arrests for toplessness in these "legal" states are for topless-rights demonstrators "creating a public disturbance" with their demonstrations. At other times, the demonstrations go on without incident.

What doesn't seem to happen is Jane Doe taking off her shirt and mowing her suburban lawn.
 
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Swimsuits started to be required in the mid-to-late 1800s in populated areas (like cities bordering an ocean), and men were also required to wear tops. In more rural areas and non-coastal areas, skinny-dipping persisted well into the 20th century.

My mom was a country girl and didn't have a swimsuit until she moved to Chicago (1929).

Yes, this. The 20thC was a strange century. Or at least, the mid to latter half was.
 
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What were you doing at the rudey nudey beach?

I have been a nudist since 1973, and have enjoyed nude beaches since 1978 (several stories in my blog).
 
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