Nantucket Votes To Allow Topless Beaches On The Island

NANTUCKET, MA — Residents of Nantucket voted to allow anyone to be topless at beaches on the island Tuesday during the second night of the Annual Town Meeting.

"Gender Equality on Beaches," or Article 71, was one of 107 articles up for consideration during the town meeting. After about 30 minutes of deciding, the motion was approved with a 327 to 242 vote.

Dorothy Stover, the daughter of a former town clerk, first introduced the bylaw amendment in February to promote equality for all.

But before this measure can become a law, it must be approved by the state attorney general's office.

Stover clarified the definitions of topless and nudity - citing two very different meanings. The difference between wearing nothing on the upper body, something only men have been allowed to do, versus exposing genitals, pubic area, and buttocks.

Stover raised five points to support her measure, including the history of allowing men to be topless at the beach almost 90 years ago, the anatomy of human sexes, and other cities and states that allow people to go topless on public beaches.

The meeting, which was live-streamed over Youtube sparked topics of debate over gender equality, family values, and safety. "Being topless is not being nude," Stover said. "This bylaw would not make beaches nude beaches. This bylaw would allow tops to be optional for anyone that chooses to be topless."

Current law only allows men to go topless in public, and women can face a penalty of up to three years in prison and a fine of $300.

"This is really antiquated and this is inequality," said Stover, 40, in an interview with the Cape Cod Times. "Some men have bigger breasts than I do."

An amendment proposed to exclude Children's Beach and Jetties Beach, both of which are popular with families and tourists was brought up but eventually shot down.

The measure now goes to the state attorney general's office for approval.