Should It Be Legal for Women to Go Topless in Minnesota?

If one Minnesota lawmaker has her way, women in the North Star State can go topless in public without fear of breaking the law.

Representative Samantha Sencer-Mura of Minneapolis is proposing an amendment to existing state law that would eliminate exposed breasts from being considered indecent exposure.

Spencer-Mura tells the Star Tribune that she was inspired to seek a change in the law after reading about a Rochester woman who was sentenced to 90 days in jail for going topless in public in 2021. That conviction was later upheld by the Minnesota Court of Appeals, with two male judges voting in favor and a female judge voting to overturn.

READ MORE: Huh? Women Can Actually Sunbathe Topless in South Dakota!

Minnesota law currently defines indecent exposure as 'willfully and lewdly exposing the person's body or the private parts thereof.' It offers no further definition but does provide an exception for breastfeeding mothers.

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Sencer-Mura calls the law 'very antiquated' but isn't optimistic about getting a hearing on the matter during this legislative session.

Instead, she hopes her proposal will start a conversation about gender identity and how it is shifting in today's society.

READ MORE: It’s Illegal To Sleep Naked In Minnesota, So Do It In South Dakota!