FARMINGTON – A topless woman standing on the corner of Main and Broadway Saturday morning brought several complaints to the Franklin County dispatch center and more to town and state officials.
Farmington Police Department Officers Bill Tanner and Kim Bates responded to the first complaint at 11:22 a.m. On arrival they found Andrea Simoneau, a University of Maine at Farmington history major, topless and handing out flyers advertising an upcoming topless march from 1 to 2 p.m. on April 30 at Meetinghouse Park on Main Street. According to Tanner’s report, several pedestrians stopped and looked at the woman, with many taking flyers from her.
“A lot of people were supportive,” Simoneau said. “And some weren’t.” She credits Officers Tanner and Bates with helping those who weren’t so supportive in clarifying that it’s legal in Maine for women to go bare chested in public.
“The Farmington police were my greatest ally, backing me up a couple of times,” she said.
The officers did advise Simoneau that if rubber necking causes an accident because of the unusual sight, she may be held accountable.
“I would put my shirt back on if I thought someone might get hurt. I don’t want anyone to get hurt,” she said.
In Portland on April 3, a topless march of between 20 to 30 people was held to protest society’s gender bias that holds men can take their shirts off in public but women can’t. Simoneau of Brooks, Maine, said she participated in that march and was inspired by it to organize a march in Farmington. She plans to advertise her April 30 march again on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m.
She believes her handing out flyers and marching topless will help break the social taboo that women have to keep their shirts on in public and men don’t. It’s an important message for all those who oppose it, she said, “it’s doing something good for them and for future generations.”
After an hour and half of handing out flyers on Saturday, Simoneau left, but the incident continues to be the talk of the town. Selectmen have received complaints and calls to action, according to Town Manager Richard Davis, who fielded one complaint first thing this morning.
“No laws were broken,” Davis said. “There’s nothing selectmen can do; it shouldn’t be a matter for them.” Instead he advises people to call their local state legislator if they want to get a law on the books prohibiting topless women in public places.
Lots of people have taken that advice, because State Rep. Lance Harvell, R-Farmington, said as of Sunday night, he’d fielded 30 calls so far from people complaining of a topless woman on Main Street.
Davis said a march held at Meetinghouse Park wouldn’t need a permit approved by selectmen, as some events require, because the event would not be using any facilities and would not be occurring over a sustained period of time. Freedom of assembly in a public place is a guarantee of the U.S. Constitution, he noted.
“Some of those opposed said they had a moral objection to it, after they were told no law had been broken,” Simoneau said. In the end she hopes her political activism will help those who have a moral issue with it to ask themselves why and give more women who want to take their shirts off, the freedom to do so without objection.
She believes, so far, she has 15 people signed up to march with her on April 30.
Another thing I forgot to add……..I fail to see the point for equality 1) Maine law says women can be topless as they please. 2) Women can go around with no shirt on and not have people get upset…it’s called a BRA!!!
I went to UMF. Knowing the kind of women at UMF who would do this topless makes me think these pictures won’t be getting much attention online.
ETA,
There is not law against it…yet. And evolution will take care of things, you are right. Since we “knuckle draggers” have been around for so long, we must have the superior genes, so the modern abberations will disappear. Actually what usually takes care of things like this is that college students graduate, leave their college culture, and enter the real world.
Just so that downtown businesses know, as long as this is going on, I won’t be in town to shop. I try to do as much as I can at the small shops and stores, but I’d rather be in WalMart where there’s a shirt and shoes rule than have to subject myself and especially my kids to this garbage.
It should be interesting to see. The Mosquitoes are just starting to really get agressive. I hope it’s a little bit overcast that day.
Too bad all these people didn’t care as much about what Obama is doing to our country as they do about a couple boobs!!! This is a “flash in the pan”; get over it. This chick probably wouldn’t even have followed through anyway. Now she is obligated with all this attention!!!!
Blame the college “change the world” students who think social progress can be made like this.
News flash, it’s ALREADY legal to do what you’re doing. Why are you even protesting anything?
i’m so proud of my small-minded hometown and its self-righteous puritan prudes. doesn’t jesus look embarrassed and revolted on the icons where his shameless mother offers him some sustenance? onward christian soldiers, stomp out boobies in every bastion of society!
To all the farmington Puritans and religious freaks- It’s probably nothing compared to the porn you look at on your computer every day. Will Martin isn’t even bright enough to use a real insult against Andrea! ETA doesn’t even understand the term knuckle dragger.
I’m of two minds about this- one half of me is completely behind the girls running the march and their message. The other thinks my tits belong with victoria’s secret, and not with Meeting house park. By freaking out about people looking at you while you protest against a taboo- you’re sexualizing yourself. I think I’d have more respect for everyone involved if they weren’t as concerned by gawkers. Once men in the area hear about this, they will FLOCK. It’s what men do. It’s how they operate. I may be a twenty one year old girl who goes to UMF, but I do actually know something.
As these topless demonstrations happen, the crowds and intrigue will be less and less.
Imagine the news on the day when women got the right to cast their first vote! How wrong was that inequity and how long did it persist? Some girl looking for attention, sure rattled a cage back then. Look at the issue of Gay weddings aka “unions”… the first ones were shocking, unthinkable, and now no one hardly covers them now. Same here with the topless issue. Women should have the right to go topless if men can.
Simple.
Although it will take some getting used to, eventually it will be meaningless. I starts with these baby steps, and this woman is a forerunner, and follows the adage “Well behaved women don’t make history”.
Embarrassed,
I was talking about society evolving.
But while we’re talking about it, your genes aren’t superior. Just like homines erectus and neanderthalis, the “real world” will someday be graced by your disappearance.
Until then, I hope you’ll continue to celebrate your manifold reasons for embarrassment.
If boobs are your biggest problem, you are a lucky person. School budgets are getting slashed left and right, yet there are no comments under that article. Let’s worry about things that actually matter.
I can tell that many of you commenters would not survive the summer in Germany or Austria !
But you can’t cry “think of the children” when you’re there, because the entire family is naked !
Wow! 83 people talking. No matter where you stand, controversy brings people
out of the woodwork. Jeeze….I wish the people in Farmington would get this riled
up about Town Meeting!
The organizer has listened to good advice and amended her statement to read: Men are also welcome to show their support. Supporters are welcome IF AND ONLY IF they are NOT showing up to leer and catcall and be inappropriate (this goes for both sexes.)
She also added: We would also like to encourage all those who have survived breast cancer and nursing moms to come out and march, as all women are beautiful and should feel the sun on their backs and breasts as well!
Good that she is listening :-)
I hope she and others understand that one person’s inappropriate comment is another’s free speech. We ALL have rights, those that are watching and those that march.
I can tell that many of us commenters could care less about spending the summer in Germany or Austria! But we can cry “think of the children” when we are here, because the entire family is clothed!
Dang! This whole thing was just a push to draw attention from the guys who want to protect the flag. It worked. And it really exposes two forces that seem to be very important in controlling how people gain power over other people and become the rich guys; some sort of theology, and brainless patriotism. They sort of merge, and sex is a major tool for both; nothing better to give one a better “handle” on another person. Christopher Hitchins (I think that’s the correct spelling of his name) said it well; “Religion poisons everything”. Gods and guns (violence) seem to go together, always have. Maybe we should get guys (especially the meaty ones) to hang out their butt cracks and join the bare-breasted women. Then, all could paint “Praise Jesus for his blessings!” on their fleshy orbs, and stick little U.S. flags in their cleavages and cracks. That would make it all good, make Steve Whittier happy, guarantee some national media coverage, and perhaps bring on the rupture, er, I mean rapture. If you don’t want to see any of it, just don’t go or don’t peeky-weeky. And as for the children, they can handle it far better than their parents if left to natural, not theologically-polluted, responses. Unfortunately that means you’ve got to get to them early because Santa Clause is just Jesus in a fat suit. I’d rather protect children from those priests, bishops, cardinals, and popes; and perhaps a “reverend” or recruiting sargent now and then. Ta ta, all y’all.
People can leer all they want.Take all the pics and vids they want. If this self proclaimed, “gender equity” juggernaut is excercising her right to make a fool out of herself on public property,then anyone can oogle,all they want, as long as she is not harrassed.She does’nt own the sidewalk anymore than any other person walking around. I read the things she had on her facebook account. This women uses crude, nasty,vulger language like it’s some kind of cool badge of honor.She wants to be a teacher, good luck with that. Whats she gonna teach, how to communicate using only 4 letter words?Most of the teachers I know are smart,well spoken, and professional. It will be funny, but also sad to see this kid and maybe others, make what will probably be the worst decision they have ever made.But hey, we all have to lie in the beds we make. It could turn out to be great! However,she will get little pity from most if this “march” turns into a trainwreck .And you can bet if this does’nt turn out quite the way she wanted, all the women who said “you go girl”! will be no where to be found. Much like the guy in that George Thorogood song who needs support,….a place to stay ,so he asks his buddy for help….. when his bud comes back from asking his wife he says… “ahhhh ….I dont know man……ahhhh……she kinda funny” ahhh. ……. …… yeah………………………everybodys funny……………………………………………………………………..
It amazes me that all those who seem to be supporting this also seem to think that those of us who oppose because we are God fearing, Bible believing Christians are shoving our beliefs down your throats. WOW….take a good look at the situation. Who is shoving their views down who’s throats. You are violating us in a way that we can not avoid. You can choose to believe any way you want, but because there are now women out there on days that are not announced, I can not prepare myself to avoid seeing this trash….and yes that is what it is…trash. I can avoid going to a bar, going to a porn movie etc because those are controlled places, but going out in public is different. We ALL need to consider the rights and beliefs of everyone and not do things to openly offend others in PUBLIC. Let these women go to the bars that pay them to take off their tops or they can prance around their homes topless if they want……The student who started all of this surely can not show up to her classes topless for a very good reason ~~ it offends some people. By the way, male students can’t go shirtless in class either !
It will be interesting to note how many highschool boys are absent from school that day.
Also, I expect to see more “shirts and shoes required” signs on stores and restaurants.
God is good, loving, and righteous all the time. He does judge sin. I thank Him.
I fully support this event, though I’d never be brave enough to be one of those marchers, mainly for the hostility displayed by some of the people on this page. I was tormented when I was younger for being far more developed breast-wise than anyone else in my class. My breasts have always been a target for insult and harassment and I am trilled that I’ve finally met people who fight for their right to be who they are and not be forced into the porn standard of beauty that so many women are compared to.
Freedom of speech, no matter the venue, is valued in America, and the human body, no matter it’s shape or size is not shameful, it is not repulsive, and while porn is generally considered a bad thing, sometimes women are held to that standard of unrealistic and false beauty. This concept is not only hurting adult women, but also hurting young girls who see that men are attracted to perfection and believe they have to do all they can to achieve that perfect, whether it’s starvation, popping pills, drinking or taking nude photos of themselves.
I think it would be amazing to get breast cancer survivors involved along with nursing mothers and as far as ‘harming children’, please ask yourselves how you came to think of being nude as shameful. I used to bathe with my sisters. I used to change with my door open. I used to walk around my house in my underwear. Always in my house but always comfortable with who I was. This all changed when I started being teased by my family and harassed by my classmates for having a large cup size. The verbal and sometimes physical abuse was so bad that I still have issues changing in front of my best friends. At sleepovers, I would go into a bathroom to change, and even during plays or drama practices I would hide behind band equipment while everyone else was perfectly comfortable with themselves.
For me, while I might not be there walking on the street, this march is a huge step towards getting rid of negative body image and I think everyone should respect it. If you disagree, fine, but do not claim that these women are seeking attention for being shameful or foolish. They are doing what every women has ever wanted – walking outside without feeling the need to look perfect or hide their body and they have more courage to do what they are doing than anyone who sits back and insults them.
And, just for the sake of argument, and because I am proud to be a UMF student, the ‘disgracing of the flags’, which weren’t even recognized by US law as real flags was over a year ago. By now, people should realize that Farmington fully supports students expressing their beliefs no matter what they are, and that is why I love it here in Maine, and that is why I recommend this college to anyone out of state who isn’t afraid of people expressing their different views and opinions. I apologize if anyone feels steamrolled by this comment – that’s not what I intended to do, and I feel the need to apologize, why I’m not sure. And for the grammar or spelling mistakes in here, I do fully apologize for those, because a) there is no excuse and b) sometimes when you get frustrated, you type too fast and submit too hard to spell check first.
Andrea, you are a courageous woman. Be prepared for hecklers and other supporters in the crowd of spectators. The event is likely to draw a number of news agencies and will reach national and international attention. I do not support or condemn this cause. But I will add, now that some of the bulldoggers have come out of the woodwork to offer opinions while people exercise their rights, continue to do so with the more critical issues.
jonboy, How does it feel to be the bulldog bully?
Seek to escape from your realm of discontent and show a little benevolence. (quit hiding behind inre.)
Many of the above comments accusing Andrea of numerous horrible things are based on little to no facts. These are also based on shoddy information coming merely from a Facebook page. This is a polemic and highly emotional issue for both sides, but I again encourage those that are accusing Andrea and associated people of terrible things to reconsider and get to know the real people, not the online personas.
Farmington has no claim to being in the real world. It’s a small town in western maine of white conservative christians.
Jamie Cummings from Mississippi – Hate to sound rude, but… actually, I don’t feel like I’m being rude at all. I’m being bluntly honest and yes, judgmental of how you see other cultures. Please, do the world a favor and take an African Politics class. Take an African Cultures class. Take any class on United States culture or go see these places you are judging. Once you have lived in that culture and know the people, then you can make all the insulting comments you want. Afterwards, it’s my guess that you won’t make them at all.
And all the people insulting how Andrea presents herself on her facebook page, please observe how others also present themselves. Observe how anyone presents him or herself on any social networking site. And realize that if all you do is insult someone’s beliefs or call it garbage, or toss scripture at it, or act in hostile ways, no one will take you seriously. Adults aren’t supposed to use insults and mud slinging to gain respect.
I don’t get this whole men are attracted to perfection argument or the double standard argument. The fact is men and women are different. Emotionally and physically and therefore they cannot, and should not be treated exactly the same. End of story. And as for society portraying a need for women to be perfect, does not this society also portray that of men. How many of you women admire a man with a nice six pack. How many times are men subjected to half clothed men with bulging muscles and washboard abs? What about men who starve themselves, use laxatives or have low self-esteem because of those ads based on perfection. I am a man who has struggled with these issues and know dozens of others who have too. This isn’t a gender biased issue, sorry. I also disagree with the fact that the European argument is being used. First of all this isn’t Europe. Our society has a completely different attitude towards nudity than the Europeans do. We are not going to change societies view point from farmington, Maine either. Second of all, as someone who has been to Europe you do not often see a topless/nude person just walking down the street. Finally I know many of the people in this march and I really like and admire some of them. But I have to respectfully say that this country, this state, and this town are not ready for such a march and as non-resident college students I do not feel we have the right to hold a march like this in others’ hometown. People have the right to raise their children, conduct their business and live their life as they want and the whole don’t come downtown or don’t look argument is absolute crud. People should not have to adjust their lifestyle to accomplish those things. Like Casey I will apologize in advance for the spelling/grammar mistakes and for the same reasons.
Go girl go. Thank you for organizing this! Time for gender equality and freedom. Rock ON!!
I do not want my children exposed to this! If I wanted that I would just purchase a playboy and hand it to my son! I don’t want my daughter exposed to this either! My family and I will NOT be doing ANY business in the downtown Farmington area until this is taking care of! I do not want to see a man walking around without his pants on and I do not want to see a woman walking around without her top! Quite frankly I dont want to see a man walking around without a shirt on! I love what Wilton man and the UMF student said, they both summed it up nicely. There are just people who live to protest and if there is nothing political to protest they will find something and that’s all she is doing! Doesn’t she have anything better to do with her time? Last time I checked there was still hungry and homeless who could use our attention!
How about every business in Farmington post a sign saying “Shirts and Shoes Required?” It won’t stop the march but it will express most residents’ opinions about this issue and do so without violating gender equality.
I am not jamie cummings from mississippi but I think you misunderstood her remark. I do not think she meant that in an insulting way. I believe she just meant if you want to live like that move somewhere that it is the cultural norm but this is not that place. I got this from the way she said or some other country where that is the societal norm. She did not talk about uncivilized or anything else. That statement could well apply to many continents and countries. As many supporters have pointed out Europe would fit the mold, to an extent. In other words, while her argument was not eloquently stated, I do not think it was meant to be insulting. Finally you are assuming she has not taken any classes on Africa or United States culture, when she very well may have. Plus does taking a class necessarily make you more knowledgeable about a subject? I really don’t think it does. You have to realize that there is far more diversity in the south, so it is also quite likely that ms. cummings has numerous minority friends and has at least passing experiences with immigrants from other countries and therefore first hand experience with foreign cultures. I know this from experience, I have spent numerous years and summers in the South.
Several corrections- men do have breasts and(while the rate is much lower than in women) do experience breast cancer.
Not everyone enjoys the site of a male nude publicly displayed chest.
I truly hope that if a nudity ordinance is taken up by elected officials local, state or otherwise, that the ordinance include men as well.
Not all residents are white, not all residents are conservative and not all residents are christian. That does not mean we are without morals, ethics and thoughtful judgments. Culture goes well beyond the surface images. It seems to me that the issue is being lost and hostilities have taken control.
While I reserve nudity to comfort of home and trusted loved ones, I do respect women (not just Simoneau) who are brave enough to take on the inequality of the topic in an attempt to dispel the media’s objectification of women’s bodies. Female mammorary glands should not be for sale!
To the men who are thinking of attending the march:
Why go out for hamburger, when you have steak at home(Paul Newman quote)
The more I think about this and read the comments and talk to others, the clearer it is that this has nothing to do with “equal rights.” Exposing one’s breasts in public is exhibitionism and violates most people’s sense of decency.
Women’s bodies are nothing to be ashamed of, but disrobing in public is shameful. It will set back legitimate efforts for equal treatment and respect. This behavior will generate disrespect toward women.
Bare-breasted women are beautiful, whether they are a perfect 10 or not. Many people seem to be jealous of them. You can tell by many of the comments. Have a great march next week.
Ann D.
Very well said, I think people keep screaming equal rights but are forgetting what is right.
I apologize for railing at Cummings, but her statements were very black and white and could in fact be considered very insulting. I admit that I was angry at the time and didn’t think things through and realize I could have been insulting to her, but her comments were very insulting in there nature.
Ummm… Provazeney? I think we were actually arguing from the same side.
What’s your justification for lumping me together with the knuckle-draggers, and why do you claim that I don’t understand this term?
Isn’t it curious that it is not enough in our society that something not be illegal but instead must be made specifically legal in order to be enjoyed freely? In North America a woman going topfree risks being charged with anything from ‘causing a disturbance’ to a sex crime. Breastfeeding women faced, and in some cases still face, the same discrimination and many States and Provinces had to enact laws to make breastfeeding a child in public specifically legal. In some cases even this was found to be insufficient and laws had to be enacted to make harassment of a nursing mother (by passers-by, business owners, police) illegal. In this case the attending constables were a great help in protecting Ms Simoneau’s legal right and informing the public that she was doing nothing illegal. In my opinion, it isn’t topfreedom that is immoral but the systemic discrimination of women that surrounds it.
To put it in perspective, it is not illegal in North America for a woman, like a man, to go about in public without a head covering. If someone were to complain to the police or mall-security about such a woman it would be very unlikely that she would be arrested, accosted, harassed or told to cover-up or get out. In fact, the complainer would be informed that this is not illegal and that they had the option not looking. Should they confront the woman or women offending them in this way it would be they, and not the women in question, who would be arrested or asked to leave. Yet should a woman, like a man, choose to go about in public without a breast covering the complete opposite reaction is not only likely but expected and accepted. It wouldn’t matter that breasts are not genitalia, that their exposure is non-sexual and not illegal, that men can do so freely or even that they are being used for their natural function. In our society, unlike in Europe, the primary purpose of the female breast is to please men or generate profit, often both together. Their accepted role is to titillate and they, and therefore women, are treated accordingly. Please, tell me how that is NOT systemic gender discrimination and objectification of women.
I would support this “topless” march if it’s goal to help a specific cause such as animal shelters, women and children of sexual and domestic abuse, etc., but nooooooooo…not to support the right for women to be able to go topless in public. Shameful, no…ridiculous, yes!
I think if girls want to walk around with their shirts off, that’s fine. Sometimes I walk around with mine off when it’s hot, and of course at the beach. I don’t think someone exposing their breasts is harmful to anyone. Everyone has similar equipment up there; mens’ are generally hairy, womens’ are generally gooshy (although many males fall in to this category as well). Besides which, there are many dudes out there I don’t want to see walking around with their shirts off, like a 300 pound guy with the natural sweater and the plumbers crack; a topless girl would honestly be more visually appealing to me. My two cents. However, please consider that if you’re doing this all the time just to prove a point, your boobs are going to get all gross and aborigine-looking. Then you’ll fall into the same category as the 300 pound dude mentioned above, and won’t get support from even the horniest high school kids. Food for thought.
Listen Up! I’m going to organize a march to protest the exposure of male dogs’ testicles in public. PPPLLLLEEEZZZZZ—this is so stupid. There are people right here in good old Franklin County that can’t even put decent food on their tables! Who gives a “Fiddler’s F–t” if a bunch of unconscious girls want to march around with their breasts exposed for a bunch of men to drool over?
I’m just thankful that I’m not a “Proud Parent” of one of them, shoveling money into their college tuition!!! Just my opinion, and I’m sticking to it. God Bless America!