New Zealand OK's Topless Porn Star Parade

[matcom]

<snip>

WELLINGTON, New Zealand --A lunchtime parade of topless porn stars down the main street of New Zealand's biggest city has been given official approval, as no laws will be broken.

The parade later this month will feature up to 30 porn stars riding on the back of motorcycles or in open cars through Auckland's CBD to promote an erotica exposition.

The bare breast drive has been held informally since 2003, but this is the first time permission has been sought, and given, by Auckland City Council.

Organizer Steve Crow said it would promote an Erotica Expo which opens in the city Aug 25.

Several city councilors opposed to the parade were surprised to find it had been given a green light without them being consulted.

They learned of the approval from a council memo from events and promotions manager Annabel Lushthat who noted that it was not against the law to go topless on the city's Queen Street.

They also were told police had approved the parade and would be in attendance to ensure road safety.

Councilor Noelene Raffills said the parade would be too distracting for a central shopping district during the busy noontime.

"It is not like a television set you can turn off or a book you can shut," Raffills was reported telling The New Zealand Herald newspaper Tuesday.

http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2006/08/08/new_zealand_oks_topless_porn_star_parade?mode=PF

[matcom]

1. where the HELL is the love for Topless Porn Stars?

:grr:

[Fox Mulder]

2. Horray for topless porn star parades!

:woohoo:

[TommyO]

3. Show me the bottomless male porn stars...

PLEASE!!!!

[ThomCat]

9. If it's a male porn star parade there MUST be bottoms there.

:P

[TommyO]

19. OK, show me the bottomless tops!

[ThomCat]

20. I'm right there with you looking for them.

:P

[Divameow77]

4. Gee

"It is not like a television set you can turn off or a book you can shut,"

You can choose not to be in that section of town though...

[idgiehkt]

5. well, so long as they aren't breastfeeding, I guess it's okay... n/t

[ThomCat]

10. It wouldn't be babies they'd be breastfeeding.

I think the line for volunteers forms to the left. :7

[idgiehkt]

12. lol

I meant to say "aren't"...

[YankeyMCC]

6. Wellington sounds like a cool place :)

[MissMillie]

7. yes, because objectifying women is such a cool thing to do

:sarcasm:

[ForrestGump]

8. Hey!

Meet the Prime Minister of New Zealand..




:P


:hi:

[MissMillie]

13. It's not the government I have the beef with

it's the people who would show up to watch such a show. This event would flop if no one showed up.

I believe in the free market. I just wish the free market didn't feel the need to objectify women this way. I wish it were not economically feasible for women to make money this way--not because of government regulations, but because men think more of women than this.

Fair enough?

[idgiehkt]

15. I'm kind of conflicted about it

cause some women have gone topless in just about every gay pride march I've ever been in, and at women's music festivals it's a big nekkid-girl fest. Plus women go topless in mosh pits for queercore bands. I don't know if men come at women with a different energy than women do or what makes it different. I really don't know, it's something to think about.

[ForrestGump]

16. You said 'flop'

:D

Seriously, though -- yep, I understand.

I'm kind of in two minds about it, though...some of these things get a little complex and, even at their minimal compexity, are not drawn in black and white. Like strippers and ladies of the evening, for example: who, exactly, is exploiting whom? Is everyone exploiting each other? Or trying to? Dunno. And the answer's going to vary markedly depending upon each context.

[MissMillie]

17. thanks for being willing to see another point of view

Gosh! I love this place.

[ForrestGump]

18. Well, it helps

that I don't particularly have a point of view... :D

:hug:

[YankeyMCC]

11. oh boy

so lets start a flame war over this now. :eyes:

[MissMillie]

14. nope, no war

just a wish