Last month, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in favor of a woman being topless in
public. Despite the state’s laws prohibiting all instances of exhibiting one’s body for lewd or sexual purposes, the justices outlined their reasoning in that the woman did not fully meet the standard for a criminal violation. They declared that the law does not apply “because categorizing any action specifically ‘lewd’ or ‘sexual’ is subjective.”
AFA Action Senior Legal Fellow Trey Dellinger commented on the court’s ruling, stating their decision to sanction indecent exposure could pave the way for full public nudity and create an unsafe environment for children.
“In this ridiculous decision, the Minnesota Supreme Court has gutted local law enforcement’s ability to maintain decency on public streets,” said Dellinger. “For centuries, civilized societies have had criminal laws prohibiting public nudity, including the exposure of female breasts. No one has a constitutional right to parade naked in public. Anyone with common sense knows that a gas station parking lot is no place for the exposure of naked female breasts.
“The court tied itself in logical knots to avoid that commonsense conclusion. If not reversed or corrected by the legislature, this decision could pave the way for full public nudity. Minnesota public spaces will be a hostile place for anyone who doesn’t want to be confronted with nudity, especially families with kids. This absurd decision is a disservice to all Minnesotans.” — American Family Association
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