Ocean City, MD – In a statement that may draw some criticism, Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh said Thursday, June 15 that Ocean City officials would not be in violation of the U.S. Constitution if they enacted an ordinance prohibiting women to be topless on the resort town’s beach. The issue developed earlier this month when the head of the Ocean City Beach Patrol announced that lifeguards would no longer chide female swimmers not wearing bathing suit tops. Town officials reacted to the declaration by passing an ordinance banning topless women. The constitutionality of the ban was questioned since men are allowed to go shirtless on the beach.
According to several news reports, many town officials were concerned about Ocean City’s family friendly image prompting passage of the ordinance.
“I say this what’s good for goose is good for gander if it’s nudity for woman to be topless then its nudity for a man to be topless,” stated one male poster on the Ocean City.com Facebook page. “So if a woman has to wear a top so does the man in [a] non-family beach town. I swear if OC is a family beach town I’m the pope.”
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
