Leigh and others, some affiliated with the National Organization for Women, want to be able to go without a shirt anywhere men can; in Florida, a woman going topless in public, with the exception of while breastfeeding, is considered exposure of a sexual organ, a misdemeanor.

Prior to Sunday’s march, City Manager Jim Scholl met with Leigh and her husband Alan in a staging area just off Duval. He left before the march started, but Leigh said he relayed that police would first ask for compliance, then read the applicable law and issue a notice to appear in court if it came to that.

Leigh said she was prepared to be arrested and, in fact, wanted to get the issue to court.

“I would rather just the city repeal the nudity ordinance that they already have,” she said. That law requires women to cover their nipples with anything ranging from pasties to body paint, a la the yearly ribald Fantasy Fest celebration.

“If they will not repeal the nudity ordinance, which is discriminatory against women, which penalizes us, the only way you can do it is through civil disobedience. If that’s the way it has to be, that’s the way it has to be.”

That said, Leigh and the majority of the roughly 20 women participating had their nipples covered most of the time. Her red, white and blue star-shaped pasties eventually came off in the 1100 block of Duval Street, far from the crowded tourist district on the Gulf end of the street.

Key Wester Shawna Lacy Wynd, a mother of two, had her breasts exposed and was warned by police twice of the law and possibility of impending arrest.

“The last one read me the law, so I guess I’m going to cover up,” she told the Keynoter near Eaton Street, where an agitated middle-aged man began yelling: “You ought to think of people’s children.” “Boobies feed babies,” Wynd shot back.

Reactions from onlookers ranged from parents steering their young children to the other side of the street, to apathy. One man on a scooter, speaking more of the demonstrators than their cause, noted, “What a bunch of derelicts.”

Shahdaroba Rodd, a male participant wearing what can only be described as a tie-dyed G-string loin-cloth, detracted from the political message of the march, declaring that he just wanted to see breasts.

There was also the seal of approval from the Southernmost City’s resident homeless population. “Oh my God. Did you see that?” one homeless asked another on the steps of CVS while cracking open a high-gravity canned beer. “Am I blind? Course I saw,” his cohort replied.

Another topless march is planned in Key West for Aug. 22. That’s happening in concert with the national group www.gotopless.org, which, through loose affiliation with local groups, is planning demonstrations nationwide. The date marks the 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which extended the right to vote to American women.

This article was originally posted in the KeyNoter- Wednesday, July 07, 2010 11:00 AM EDT

By SEAN KINNEY

Mark Rossi
City Commissioner (DISTRICT II)
mrossi@keywestcity.com
Address: 525 Angela Street
Key West FL 33040
Direct Phone: 305-296-7050
Fax Number: 305-292-3698

Billy Wardlow
City Commissioner (DISTRICT III)
bwardlow@keywestcity.com
Address: 525 Angela Street
Key West FL 33040
Direct Phone: 305-809-3841
Fax Number: 305-809-3844

Barry Gibson
City Commissioner (DISTRICT IV)
bfgibson@keywestcity.com
Address: City Hall
525 Angela Street
Key West FL 33040
Direct Phone: 305-809-3841
Secretary Phone: 305-809-3844
Fax Number: 305-809-3847

Teri Johnston
City Commissioner (DISTRICT V)
johnston@keywestcity.com
Address: City Hall
525 Angela Street
Key West FL 33040
Direct Phone: 305-809-3841
Secretary Phone: 305-809-3844
Fax Number: 305-809-3847

Clayton Lopez
City Commissioner (DISTRICT VI)
clopez@keywestcity.com
Address: 525 Angela Street
Key West FL 33040
Direct Phone: 305-294-8729
Fax Number: 305-809-3847

Nudists usually have the reputation of being passive, compassionate people who prefer to just sun their buns than get caught up in conflict, but that all ended on the evening of April 27th 2009 when troops from the Florida Keys Free Beaches joined in the naval battle to defend the Conch Republic.

Over ten Free Beachers fought bravely during a two hour tour of duty that saw the throwing of over 30 pounds of bread against both friendly and attacking vessels.

Florida Keys Free Beaches was there in the Conch Republic’s hour of need. Will Monroe County reciprocate with a nude beach so we will have a place to tend to our tans and prepare for the next time we are called into action?

Free Beachers fend off the Coast Guard Invaders

Charter a sailboat for a private nude Key West sailing cruise

Until the Nude beach(es) is(are) established in Monroe County, here is a great way to work on your all over tan while visiting Key West: Take a nude sailing trip! It’s like having your own private floating nudist resort.

Once the boat is 200 yards offshore and clear of the shipping channels, the rules change, and you can wear as much or as little as you like. There are no clothing restrictions because only your private group of up to six passengers, Captain and female crew are onboard. Just be sure and bring lots of suntan lotion for those places that tend to burn easily. Rates range from $200 for a two person two hour sail to $625 for full-day charter with up to six passengers.