This past Sunday, I found myself in Times Square following a crowd of mostly men, some with cowbells, chanting “Free your breasts, free your mind!” It took quite a few minutes for me to see any boobs, as the small group of protesters was flanked on all sides by eager onlookers. 

National Go-Topless Day, is a yearly protest by the GoTopless organization, which was founded in 2007 by a slightly off-center fella named Rael, who also happens to be the spiritual leader of the Raelian Movement. Here is some info from the literature I snagged:

“The Raelian philosophy explains that life on Earth was created by advanced extraterrestrial female and male scientists, who used their mastery of genetic engineering to create humans in their own image (breasts included!). If the human body is their masterpiece, how can there be a taboo about nudity?”

Silly humans, boobs are for everyone!

By the way, the photo below is Rael, who describes himself on his website as “a singer/songwriter, racing-car driver, and messenger of Elohim.”

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Not the type of dude you’d look at and think “genius” but he gets our vote.

The real star of the show was Holly Van Voast, one of my favorite New York characters who I had really hoped would make an appearance.

Holly Van Voast
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Holly is a fake-mustache-wearing topless advocate who has been arrested almost a dozen times for baring her breasts in high-traffic areas such as Grand Central Station, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and even a Jennifer Anniston movie premiere.

Holly trailed slightly behind the group shouting “This group is a cult! I’ve been doing this for years! They are a cult, read their literature!” She occasionally stopped to pose for a picture with wide-eyed New York tourists. I may have been the only person listening to her, and I was definitely the only woman with a shirt on.

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Is that a man or woman in the photo above? You decide. Hopefully in time. Here are some other gents enjoying the event.

In the end, I saw some boobs, got some crazy cult literature, talked to some really excited dudes, and met my topless New York hero.

All in all, a great Sunday. This guy sums it up quite nicely.

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