“Topless New York” Begins Kickstarter Campaign

Around this time last year we broke news of a random topless woman strolling north on the Bowery. She was stopped by the cops for her actions. Our post went global, hitting all corners of the internet, reviving awareness of a little-known state law forged in 1992 that allows women to go sans shirt anywhere men are permitted to do the same.

This image has been archived or removed.

Like clockwork, a similar thing happened just last week. 29-year-old Moira Johnston bravely bared her breasts while walking through Union Square. First reported by EV Grieve, media outlets subsequently jumped on the story, some even getting an on-camera interview. Coincidence?

Coinciding with all this topless talk of late, one enterprising dude is taking to Kickstarter to further the cause. Indeed, his “Topless New York” project aims to spread further awareness of the aforementioned law by running a gallery exhibit, and producing pinup calendars and coffee table books. Somewhere down the road, website visitors will eventually have the ability to order prints directly from the online portal.

In 1986, several women in Rochester, NY were arrested and convicted for picnicking topless in public.  They sued to challenge the law prohibiting women, but not men, from being topless in public – and in 1992, New York State’s highest court struck down that law as violating the state constitution’s equal protection clause.

Material for these endeavors was culled from a collection of “tasteful and artistic” topless photos shot over the last few years. It’s also worth noting that all subjects signed full model releases, and are on board with the exploitation.

NSFW video of Moira Johnston: