Women Go Public With Topless Equality Fight
POSTED: 10:04 p.m. EST October 27, 2003
UPDATED: 6:42 a.m. EST October 28, 2003
MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. -- Ten women in Brevard County, Fla., including a 74-year-old woman and a 14-year-old girl, who filed a federal lawsuit to abolish laws that prohibit women from going topless in places where men are permitted to go shirtless went public with their legal fight.
The "Top-Free Ten" women said in the suit filed in U.S. District Court in Orlando that they want the right to go top-free for sunbathing, gardening, swimming or mowing their front yards.
The women said that laws preventing them from taking their shirts off in public are similar to Muslim laws requiring women to cover themselves from head-to-toe.
"I don't believe there is any inherent evil in my breasts or a man's breasts," Norma Mitchell said. I don't believe my breasts are harmful, immoral, dangerous, lewd or frightening."
Jan Frandsen, a 46-year-old wife and mother, said the law as it stands is discriminatory.
"Bascially, this type of law labels women as being genetically inferior," Jan Frandsen said.
It's only a matter of time before women can remove their blouses when and where men can remove their tops, according to the group of women.
"I'm just hoping for equality," Jamie Hooper, 74, said.
No hearing schedule was announced
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
The "Top-Free Ten" women said in the suit filed in U.S. District Court in Orlando that they want the right to go top-free for sunbathing, gardening, swimming or mowing their front yards.
The women said that laws preventing them from taking their shirts off in public are similar to Muslim laws requiring women to cover themselves from head-to-toe.
"I don't believe there is any inherent evil in my breasts or a man's breasts," Norma Mitchell said. I don't believe my breasts are harmful, immoral, dangerous, lewd or frightening."
Jan Frandsen, a 46-year-old wife and mother, said the law as it stands is discriminatory.
"Bascially, this type of law labels women as being genetically inferior," Jan Frandsen said.
It's only a matter of time before women can remove their blouses when and where men can remove their tops, according to the group of women.
"I'm just hoping for equality," Jamie Hooper, 74, said.
No hearing schedule was announced
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
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