'Free the Nipple' Topless Rally Planned at Hampton Beach

The naked truth?

Hundreds of women are planning a topless rally at Hampton Beach this month—upsetting some local officials who say it’s simply not the right place for such an act.

The rally is scheduled for Sun., Aug. 23. It’s being organized by “Free the Nipple NH,” part of a national effort to change what advocates say is a societal “double standard.” Aug. 23 is also International Go Topless Day.

Women are invited to go topless; men are invited to wear bikini tops or cover their chests with tape.

New Hampshire doesn’t have any laws that specifically prohibit women from going topless in public. Still, rally organizers said there’s a strong cultural perception against women.

“I’m hoping that we can expose the double standard that allows a man to go topless and not a woman,” said Kia Sinclair in a video promoting the rally. “A woman’s nipple ... being so hyper-sexualized makes certain things like breastfeeding really difficult, especially in public.”

Some Hampton officials and businesses fear the rally will upset families, tourists, and young children who flock to beach.

State Sen. Nancy Stiles, R-Hampton, told NH1 she’s considering filing legislation that would allow municipalities to make it illegal for women to go topless in populated areas like sections of Hampton Beach.

• Event page for “Free the Nipple” rally Aug. 23 at Hampton Beach

Photo credit: Free the Nipple NH