:Go Topless Day

{{Infobox recurring event

| name = Go Topless Day

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| image = Topless protest.JPG

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| caption = Go Topless Day protest in California, 2011

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| date = Sunday nearest August 26 (Women's Equality Day)

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| frequency = Annual

| location = Various

| years_active =

| first = {{start date and age|2007}} (established)
{{start date and age|2008}} (first observance)

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| organized = GoTopless

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| website = {{URL|gotopless.org}}

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Go Topless Day (variously known as National Go Topless Day, International Go Topless Day) is an annual event held in the United States and Canada to support the right of women to go topless in public on gender-equality grounds.{{cite web|last=Awesome|first=Barb|title=It's National GoTopless Day!|url=http://www.chicagonow.com/thats-awesome/2011/08/its-national-gotopless-day/|publisher=ChicagoNow|access-date=April 3, 2012|date=August 21, 2011|archive-date=August 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825090547/http://www.chicagonow.com/thats-awesome/2011/08/its-national-gotopless-day/|url-status=dead}} In states where women have that right, topfreedom laws are celebrated, and protests are held in states where topless women are prohibited.

Organizer

The annual event was started in 2007 by Go Topless, a Nevada group formed by Claude Vorilhon, leader of the Raelian Movement, a UFO religion.{{cite news | url=https://www.torontosun.com/2011/08/28/topless-protest-in-to | title=Topless Protest in T.O. | newspaper=Toronto Sun | date=August 28, 2011 | access-date=March 2, 2012 | author= Yuen, Jenny | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111213132714/https://www.torontosun.com/2011/08/28/topless-protest-in-to | archive-date=13 December 2011 }}{{cite news | url=https://nationalpost.com/posted-toronto/where-and-when-you-can-go-topless-in-ontario-and-what-it-has-to-do-with-ufos | title=Where and When You Can Go Topless in Ontario, and What It Has to Do with UFOs | work=National Post | date=August 27, 2011 | access-date=March 2, 2012 | author= Hume, Jessica}}{{cite news | url=http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2011/08/22/Protests-demand-equal-topless-rights/UPI-97541314038767/ | title=Protests Demand Equal Topless Rights | publisher =United Press International | date=August 22, 2011 | access-date=March 2, 2012}} GoTopless has supported events and chapters in other countries.{{cite news | url=https://www.thestar.com/news/article/1045136--group-denied-permit-to-march-topless | title=Group Denied Permit to March Topless | work=Toronto Star | date=August 25, 2011 | access-date=March 2, 2012 | author= Ndikubwayezu, Gilbert}}

History

Go Topless Day was founded in response to the arrest of Phoenix Feeley (Jill Coccaro), a topless activist who was arrested for being topless in public in New York in 2005. The city of New York settled with Feeley for $29,000 because toplessness is legal there.{{cite web|url=http://laist.com/2016/08/22/go_topless_day_returns_to_venice_be.php|title=Go Topless Day Returns To Venice Beach This Weekend|publisher=|access-date=November 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115144619/http://laist.com/2016/08/22/go_topless_day_returns_to_venice_be.php|archive-date=November 15, 2017|url-status=dead}}

Go Topless Day is scheduled for the Sunday nearest August 26, Women's Equality Day,{{cite web | url=http://www.gotopless.org/gotopless-day | title=2012 Go Topless Day | publisher=GoTopless.org | access-date=March 2, 2012}}[http://raelianews.org/e107_plugins/download/request.php?259 news352e.pdf] "The date was chosen thanks to our sister, Sylvie Chabot's remark that August 26 is Women's Equality Day in the US because it is on August 26, 1920 that women won their constitutional right to vote." since on that day in 1920 women's suffrage was approved (in 1971 the U.S. Congress declared the day to be Women's Equality Day). The event encourages women to go topless in public, and men to cover their chests by wearing brassieres or bikinis.{{cite web|url=http://laist.com/2008/08/26/shirts_off_equal_rights_for_topless.php|title=Shirts Off! Equal Rights for Topless Women Demanded|publisher=|access-date=November 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825090539/https://laist.com/2008/08/26/shirts_off_equal_rights_for_topless.php|archive-date=August 25, 2019|url-status=dead}}

Events

In 2008, the first Go Topless Day was organized.{{cite news | url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/08/19/topless-protest-to-be-held-in-middle-of-air-and-water-show/ | title=Topless Protest to Be Held in Middle of Air And Water Show | work = CBS News | date=August 19, 2011 | access-date=March 2, 2012}}

In 2009, National Go Topless Day was celebrated on August 23 in the United States.{{cite news | url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/Babes+take+age-+old+prejudice+off+their+chests/1/58333.html | title=Babes Take Age-Old Prejudice Off Their Chests | work=India Today | date=August 25, 2009 | access-date=March 2, 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://www.laweekly.com/slideshow/national-go-topless-day-in-venice-beach-nsfw-2839477|title=National Go Topless Day in Venice Beach (NSFW)|date=24 August 2009|newspaper=LA Weekly}}

In 2011, Go Topless Day in the US was held on August 24. Protesters, both men and women, participated in rallies held in twelve U.S. states, including California,{{cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/notworkrelated/6067259200/|title=Go Topless Day Venice Beach LA 2011|website=Flickr|date=August 21, 2011}}{{cite news|url=http://www.laweekly.com/slideshow/national-go-topless-day-in-venice-nsfw-2796539|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304002207/http://www.laweekly.com/slideshow/national-go-topless-day-in-venice-nsfw-2796539|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2015|title=National Go Topless Day in Venice (NSFW)|date=21 August 2011|newspaper=LA Weekly}}{{cite news|url=http://www.laweekly.com/arts/go-topless-day-in-venice-a-political-protest-or-gawkers-dream-nsfw-2373152|title=Go Topless Day in Venice: A Political Protest, or Gawker's Dream? (NSFW)|first=Paul T.|last=Bradley|date=22 August 2011|newspaper=LA Weekly}}{{cite news|url=http://www.laweekly.com/news/protesters-plan-go-topless-day-in-venice-beach-because-aliens-told-them-to-2386006|title=Protesters Plan 'Go Topless Day' in Venice Beach, Because Aliens Told Them To|first=Simone|last=Wilson|date=26 July 2011|newspaper=LA Weekly}}{{cite web|url=https://yovenice.com/2011/07/27/go-topless-day-in-venice-beach-2011/|title=Go Topless Day in Venice Beach 2011|website=Yo! Venice|date=27 July 2011}} New York and North Carolina. Women who participated in the celebration used either fake latex nipples or pasties to cover their nipples and avoid arrest due to laws in some states that prohibit women from showing their areola and nipples in public.{{cite news | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/people/Women-in-US-go-bare-chested-for-Go-Topless-Day/articleshow/9719358.cms | title=Women in US Go Bare-Chested for 'Go Topless Day' | work = The Times of India | date = August 24, 2011 | access-date=March 2, 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824163835/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/people/Women-in-US-go-bare-chested-for-Go-Topless-Day/articleshow/9719358.cms | archive-date=24 August 2011 }} The protesters displayed signs that read "Men and women have nipples. Why should women hide theirs?" and "Equal topless rights for all or none".{{cite news | url=http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/236855 | title=Protesters in US Celebrate 'Go Topless Day' for Women's Equal Rights | work=Newstrack India | date=August 23, 2011 | agency=Asian News International | access-date=March 2, 2012}} Many men who joined the demonstration wore bras and bikinis to protest against the double standard where men are allowed to go bare chested, but women are prohibited to go topless in public.

In 2011, Go Topless Day was celebrated for the first time in Canada. The 2011 Canadian Go Topless Day rally was held in Toronto, Ontario, on August 28. Nearly twenty women went topless going from Queen Street East to Kew Beach on a pick-up truck sounding loudly the song "Revolution" by The Beatles. According to Diane Brisbois, the spokesperson for Go Topless Canada, "This is not a beauty contest. It is about freedom. We have support; there are many men who come to our events too."

In 1996, the Ontario Court of Appeal overturned the 1991 conviction of Gwen Jacob, saying "there was nothing degrading or dehumanizing" about baring her breasts in public. The decision established the right of women in Canada to go topless in public.CBC online

In 2011, topless women congregated in Bryant Park in New York City on Go Topless Day,{{cite web|url=http://w2dtc.com/2012-0826-go-topless-nyc-page.htm|title=Go Topless at Bryant Park NYC 2012 photos|website=w2dtc.com}} while men mostly observed,"The Neighborhood News," New York magazine, Sept. 10, 2012, p. 15 30 cities held demonstrations in the US.

In 2013, Go Topless Day in the US was held on August 25 and marked the 6th anniversary of the event. There were demonstrations in 40 cities. Men who support the group's mission were asked to cover their nipples with pasties or bras.{{cite news|last1=David|first1=Moye|title='Go Topless Day' Is August 25 -- Unless You're A Man|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/20/go-topless-day-august-35_n_3786351.html|access-date=26 August 2013|work=The Huffington Post|agency=The Huffington Post|publisher=David Moye}}

As of 2020 there have been 13 Go Topless Days, with the event being held in the last week of August each year.{{cite web|url=http://www.nh1.com/news/update-free-the-nipple-organizer-cited-for-toplessness-in-gilford/|title=UPDATE: Free the Nipple organizer cited for toplessness in Gilford|first=Tyler|last=Dumont|publisher=|access-date=November 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730234914/http://www.nh1.com/news/update-free-the-nipple-organizer-cited-for-toplessness-in-gilford/|archive-date=July 30, 2018|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|website=newsd|title=Go Topless Day 2020 Date, History and Significance: All you need to know about this day|url=https://newsd.in/go-topless-day-2020-date-history-and-significance-all-you-need-to-know-about-this-day/|date=22 August 2020}}