Protests demand equal topless rights

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LAS VEGAS, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- The Raelian Movement, which teaches that life on Earth was created by aliens, had its fourth-annual "GoTopless Day" protests in several U.S. cities.

GoTopless.org, founded by the movement's spiritual leader, Rael, organized protests Sunday in locations including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago. Women participating in the protests were urged to go topless while men were encouraged to cover their chests to illustrate the slogan, "Topless equal rights for all or none."

"It's no more ridiculous than women having to wear tops at all times in this double-standard topless battle that's being waged in public and in the courts," said Nadine Gary, a Raelian priestess and president of GoTopless.org based in Las Vegas.

"After four years, our national protests are starting to bear fruit, for a growing number of women across the country are reaching out to us. They're beginning to feel empowered by our demonstrations and the constitutional message we bring."

Gary said the cause is backed up by Raelian philosophy, which holds humanity was created scientifically by an advanced race of extraterrestrials.

"They created us in their image very scientifically, through genetic engineering," Gary said. "So how can the human body, a masterpiece, be perceived with shame?"