Rehoboth Beach in Delaware isn't a topless beach _ but a few transgender women caused a stir by treating it like one. Police say passers-by complained after they removed their tops and revealed their surgically enhanced breasts over Memorial Day weekend. A lifeguard asked them to put their tops back on. They initially refused, but covered up before police arrived.
Even if they hadn't, though, Police Chief Keith Banks notes they were doing nothing illegal. Since they have male genitalia, they can't be charged with indecent exposure for showing their breasts. Banks says there's no need for a specific law to address the issue.
"It is important to say that under Rehoboth law this was not against the law ... In this case, they had male genitalia; therefore, they are not guilty of a crime." Police there were called to the beach after lifeguards requested that the sunbathers replace their tops. "Passers-by came up to the lifeguard and said they were alarmed and unhappy with the females showing their breasts," Police Chief Keith Banks said. "The lifeguard responded and saw that they were males."
What about old men or really fat guys with man boobs? Rodney Harrington in his classic ode to female breasts "show them to me" also requests that men bare their chests "If you're a big fat man, I'm a titty fan so show them to me" (If you watch the video on YouTube, they do?)
Banks said police were called because the men originally refused to put their tops back on, but had consented before police arrived. Officers made sure the situation was under control, and no citations were issued.He said it could have been difficult to issue a citation because Rehoboth law defines indecent exposure two ways: "A male is guilty of indecent exposure if he exposes his genitals or buttocks under circumstances which he knows his conduct is likely to cause affront or alarm to another person.
"A female is guilty of indecent exposure if she exposes her genitals, breasts or buttocks under circumstances which she knows her conduct is likely to cause affront or alarm to another person." (So what happens if an attractive woman flashes and all of the guys like it, it doesn't sound like she violated the law) So the men's behavior may have been upsetting, but it was not illegal.
"It is important to say that under Rehoboth law this was not against the law," Banks said. "In this case, they had male genitalia; therefore, they are not guilty of a crime."Banks said police only enforce the laws and want to make sure that people who visit the beach are comfortable. Police have not had previous problems with this kind of behavior, and there is no need for a specific law to address it, Banks said.
Steve Elkins, executive director of CAMP Rehoboth, stated "Whoever called and initially complained about a woman having her top off, are now trying to make something about the fact that they were also men,(You just can't make some people happy!) they are trying to have it both ways. You can't have it both ways." (Oh yeah, talk to some of my friends from Hollywood!)
So right now as long as you have male genitalia, it doesn't matter how big your boobs are, whether natural or surgically enhanced, you may bare them with impunity. I know beachgoers all over the country (or at least Rehoboth Beach) can breathe a sigh of relief. Who wudda thunk that we would be addressing this issue. It's been a long hot summer, I think this story is a cool breeze of relief. Till next time
