Phoenix Feeley Goes Topless in NJ

Were you aware that it is legal in 12 states for women to go top-free in public? First off, this can be a smallish amount, and second, many cities can and do override this with their own laws. (Having only viewed the movie Iron Jawed Angels, I feel like a suffragette counting the states that have given women the right to vote. Haha Not the same, I know.)

Girls getting the equivalent right to go top-free wherever guys can is a cause that is become increasingly more important to me. I think what irritates me most is the scoreless arrests and physical abuse that women go through for going top-free even when it's totally legal. Does not everyone have more important things to worry about? (Seemingly not.)

Phoenix Feeley has faced authorities and mad mums in Coney Island for exercising her right to go top-free

I recently met a kindred soul against this discrimination: Phoenix Feeley, and I asked Phoenix if I could interview her about her current challenge for top-free equality.

Phoenix is actively fighting for topfreedom since 2004 when she was falsely arrested in New York City for being top-free in public. She endured physical mistreatment by the officers, spent 27 hours in jail and to top it all away, had to go through a mental assessment. It's been legal in NY since 1992. The city apologized with a resolution of $29,000 when she sued.

Since then she is been marching in top-free rallies in NYC, and today the brave Phoenix is fighting charges in a state where it isn't legal (yet), New Jersey. In 2008 Phoenix sunbathed without a top on the strand of Spring Lake as a kind of civil disobedience. Law enforcement arrested her and inflicted physical abuse once more. An fat guy had the gall to clap as she was getting detained, and Phoenix promptly answered, "Your boobs are bigger than mine!" She was given two charges of disorderly conduct, one for obstruction of justice, a charge of nudity and a charge of dressing/undressing, along with a $2,000 fine. This quote circulated last year when her appeal was rejected by the state appeals court:

"Limitations on the exposure of the female breast are supported by the significant governmental interest in safeguarding the people's moral sensibilities."

That is right, moral sensibilities! The government is simply trying to protect everyone from women's immoral breasts.

As of this point the costs are cut down to the nudity and dress/undress charges and the wonderful cut in half. However, the legal fees have added up to way more than $1,000 because this is definitely about way more than a few charges and a fine. Phoenix has now appealed it to the 4th branch of the judicial system, the NJ Supreme Court, where this law can (and hopefully will) eventually be changed. "I will not pay injustice," she said, "You need to go all the way with it." And she's prepared to do that. Regrettably the Supreme Court only hears 10% of cases, and a previous top-free case further complicates things. A couple in NJ were found fishing illegally, while the wife (a Ms. Vogt) was Growing Up As A Chubby Child And Body Image Problems . She fought for the right to go completely bare, but wouldn't testify for herself and lost. Regardless, Phoenix says if she can't get into the Supreme Court, she will appeal to the Federal Court, and even go to prison if she's to!

Are any Europeans reading this on their smartphone as they lay topless on their towel at the sand? Are they wondering what the big deal is with showing breasts in America? So are we.

As we wrapped up our meeting, I asked Phoenix why topfreedom is so particularly important to her. She responded that she views it as a symbol of My Bare Cruise Encounter on the Big Nude Boat , and this is one wall of discrimination that must be broken down. I agree!

Some of you may have attended Idiots for Freedom last month, Phoenix's magnificent top-free party and fundraiser aimed at helping her with all the legal fees. If you did not make it, you can still contribute and support her brave fight for women's right to go top-free wherever guys can!

Donate by Paypal to: phoenixfeeley[at]hotmaildotcom

Issue: Fools For Freedom

For the latest top-free news in the U.S. & Canada, this is a great site.

New Jersey Locates Phoenix Feeley's Breasts Immoral along with other Naturists and Naturists Top Free Blogs By Felicity Jones For - Young Naturists And Young Nudists America FKK

Tags: activism, breasts, feminism, new jersey, topfreedom and topfree equality, topless / topfree

Class: Felicity's Nudist Blog, Feminism and Women's Issues and Human Rights, Naked News, Social Activism, Social Nudity Websites

About the Writer (Author Profile)

Writer of Naturist Website. Cofounder of Nudist Portal. 3rd-generation nudie. Avid reader. Feminist. 70% vegan, 30% vegetarian. After I'm not active eating, I'm writing about naturism, censorship, topfree equality, body image and other fun topics. I like comments, so plz leave a comment when you have got something to say!