4/03

Based on a previous report on this website, we went and tried the Fort Lauderdale Beach. Upon arrival, we didn't see any other women topfree so we chose the south end of the beach near the Yankee Clipper (that's a hotel with chairs and umbrellas for their guests.) The previous report suggesting going south where there weren't any lifeguards, but James actually felt uncomfortable doing that, so he went to ask the southernmost lifeguard if he had a problem with me laying out without a top on. The lifeguard told us he had no problem with it at all. James asked, "Anywhere on the beach?" He said, "Anywhere. If somebody really complains, I may come let you know, but don't worry about it. Nobody ever complains."

So I did it. We put our towels literally in the shade of the lifeguard tower and I removed my top and laid on my stomach (in my thong) to let people get used to the idea, then I turned over. It was hilarious. There were a couple of college aged girls (but local, we asked) sitting near us and when I turned over one gasped and whispered to her friend, "She's topless!" to which the other responded, oh-so-cool, "So? Everybody does it." Even funnier is that they turned onto their stomachs and undid their tops. They never turned over, but hey. Others on the beach included a mother and her son. The mother actually put her towel near ours, after I was already laying out on my back. The kid never reacted at all. This made James laugh, because the kid was more mature than some of the college kids walking by, who never said anything, but would elbow each other and giggle. It didn't bother me. The women paid more attention to what I was doing, glancing, watching me. So I decided to be as much of an example as I could. I sat up, talked to people, said hi, stood to get dressed. I even asked the lifeguard directions to someplace in Fort Lauderdale. You know... because everybody does it!

--Katherine, Princess Anne, Maryland

6/00

I live in Fort Lauderdale near the beach. In theory it is against the law to go topless. That said, it is not uncommon for women to go topless on the beach. Last week I had a girlfriend visiting from England. She went topless every day at every opportunity. The large number of European tourists and flight attendants are slowly changing attitudes.

We have never seen the police or life guards ask some one to cover up unless some one first complained to them. If you are a little discreet and don't parade along the sidewalk you will probably have no problems. Most times topless women are more common in the mornings, before the beach gets crowded. On the average morning maybe half a dozen women will be topless on the two miles of main beach.

If asked, cover up and you will have no problems. What you put on can often be almost as revealing as nothing at all. Micro G-strings and tiny tops are in abundance. This is especially true on weekends and the summer time when the locals come to the beach.

Here are three areas that are laid back and where a request to cover up is less likely.
1) South of the "Yankee Clipper" there are no life guards and no one cares what you wear.
2) North of the Hobby Cat Rental and South of Las Olas Blvd. (across from the "swimming hall of fame") you will find locals who are generally a cool crowd.
3) Across the "Bonnet House" (Just south of Sunrise Blvd) there are no guards and no hassles.

½ mile north of Sunrise the guard stations stop. You would think that was good for being topless. Unfortunately the beach here is a little narrow and close to the road. You may get honked at or someone may shout at you from a passing car.

The local girls also know that the life guard's only start between 9:30 and 10, quitting at 5. As one topless friend pointed out, before and after the guards, there is no one to ask them to cover up even if some one is offended.

Everywhere on the beach it is OK for a women or men in thong or g-string. Women without tops are technically illegal but becoming more common. Toplessness is socially accepted on Fort Lauderdale beaches but women tend to avoid parading it to avoid being asked to cover up.

To sum up:
Stay cool, sit nearer the water than the road and act as if it were totally normal. The life guards will turn a blind eye. Swim topless but cover up if you want to go for a walk or take a shower at the showers by the road. Stay on the friendlier stretches of beach.

If you parading along the beach or sidewalk, you will attract the wrong kind of attention and possibly a ticket.

-- James, Fort Lauderdale, Florida