Women taking city to court over right to go topless

  • 15/01/2018
Heidi Lilley, 54, and Kia Sinclair, 23, are taking their city to court over their right to go topless.
Heidi Lilley, 54, and Kia Sinclair, 23, are taking their city to court over their right to go topless. Photo credit: Sea Coast Online

Three New Hampshire women are taking their city to court over their right to go topless.

Heidi Lilley, Kia Sinclair, and Ginger Pierro were fined in 2016, after going topless at a local beach.

Some outraged beachgoers called the police and when the women refused to cover up, they were arrested.

A legal motion to dismiss the case was denied, so the trio are taking it to court.

The three women hope the court will invalidate the city's restriction on female toplessness, saying the rule is discriminatory, since men can go shirtless.

"The law in the state of New Hampshire is that it is legal for a woman to go topless, so we're trying to get the town of Laconia to recognise and to stay with the state," Lilley said.

"The town ordinance, in our opinion, is not constitutional. We're hoping the Supreme Court will see that."

The women are part of the international 'Free the Nipple' movement.

While the women have many supporters, they also have opponents, who insist female toplessness harms children.

Ms Lilley says it's not just about toplessness, it's about inequality.

"It shouldn't be an issue," she told local media. "It's not an issue if a man takes off his shirt.

"Why should it be an issue if a woman takes off her shirt?"

Newshub.