Photo: Westend61
A bylaw amendment to make all beaches on Nantucket topless has been approved by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey.
"In order to promote equality for all persons, any person shall be allowed to go topless on any public or private beach within the Town of Nantucket," the determination, which is addressed to Town Clerk Nancy Holmes, stats via the Office of the Attorney General.
The ruling amends Nantucket's prior Coastal Areas and Open Spaces bylaws, which allowed only men to be shirtless in public, while women faced up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $300 if they went topless in public.
In May, Nantucket residents voted 327-242 on the "Gender Equality on Beaches" measure Tuesday (May 4) night, WPRI reported at the time.
“Being topless is not being nude, this bylaw would not make beaches nude beaches," said Dorothy Stover, who drafted the measure, which she called "top freedom" for all genders, via WPRI at the time. "This bylaw would allow tops to be optional for anyone that chooses to be topless."
The bylaw was introduced during the second day of Nantucket's annual town meeting and led to a 30-minute response from voters in attendance.
Nantucket did already have certain beaches known to the public as clothing-optional. prior to the recent law change.