Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Photos: Topless Day In Bryant Park Was NSFWomen
By
Ben Yakas
Published Aug 26, 2012
Modified Aug 26, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
View all 21
By
Ben Yakas
Published Aug 26, 2012
Modified Aug 26, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Today was the fifth annual national Go Topless Day, a celebration of women's legal right to bare their breasts in public in NYC. Lots of topless women and men hung out around Bryant Park and Times Square all afternoon—as one participant told us, "Rockin' your titties in New York City is a 24 hour job." Unfortunately, the rally attracted a lot of ogling onlookers as well, who seemed to go against the spirit of the whole event.
According to photographer Katie Sokoler, who took the lovely photos above, there were less than 20 women participating in the event at Bryant Park—but there were 10 times as many men hanging out, taking photos, and generally being disrespectful. "They would just swarm a girl and get right up in her boobs to take close ups," she said. "Three girls got so angry, they screamed, 'They're just fucking boobs!' and left."
Although there were shirtless men there laying in the grass, they were left alone for the most part. "People wouldnt even ask to take a picture of the women," Sokoler continued. "They would just be surrounded by 50 dudes taking pictures of their boobs. And that's why although it's legal to be topless, it's not equal."
You can click through to see NSFW photos from the event, including appearances by topless activists Moira Johnston and Holly Van Voast, as well as some of those oglers in pictures three and five. We also believe that the man holding the "Creepy Guy Contingent" sign is none other than Roman, the Union Square butt sniffer.
Tagged
boobs
breasts
bryant park
midtown
NSFW
photos
protest
topless
topless day
original
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 16, 2026
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
By
Sonia Rao
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .