Guide Note

In late March, 2008, as a result of pressure from the Danish protest group Topless Front, Copenhagen's City and Leisure Committee voted to allow women to swim and sunbathe topless at the Danish capital's public pools.

Fast Facts

1. Campaign led by 20-year-old Astrid Vang
2. Organized topless protests at public pools in Copenhagen
3. Preceded by a similarly successful campaign in Stockholm by the Swedish group Just Breasts
4. The city of Vancouver, Canada has allowed women to bathe topless at public pools for years¹
5. Vancouver lifeguards reportedly raised the only objection because they didn't know "what to hold when rescuing swimmers in difficulties"¹
6. Rulings may inspire identical campaigns in other European countries¹
7. Movement began in Sweden when women bathing topless were asked to cover breasts
8. Movement asks that breasts not be considered genitalia, and that the female body not be sexualized all the time
9. The Topfree Equal Rights Association (TERA) aims for public topless rights for women in North America