Md. Attorney General Asked For Opinion On Legality Of Topless Women In Public

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- After a woman who advocates for ladies being allowed to go topless in public contacted the Worcester County State's Attorney's office about the legality of bare-chested females, Beau Oglesby has run the matter up the flagpole, requesting an opinion from Attorney General Brian E. Frosh.

Oglesby's e-mail request, addressed to Adam D. Snyder, chief counsel in the Attorney General's Division of Opinions and Advice, reads:

Dear Mr. Snyder:

Thank you for taking the time to speak to me regarding the above subject matter.

As I explained, Chelsea Covington is a female living in a neighboring county who advocates for the ability of females to go topless in public. She has written to this Office as well as the Ocean City Police Department asking for our opinion on the legality of this behavior. Her argument is essentially: If men can go shirtless, Equal Protection requires that women be allowed to go topless too.

I have examined the Annotated Code of Maryland, Criminal Law Article, Section 11-107 Indecent Exposure, Section 10-201 Disturbing the public peace and disorderly conduct, the Commissioner's charging language (and Notes) and relevant case law. I desire the guidance of your Office and therefore am formally requesting that you opine on the issue. During our recent conversation you indicated that an opinion letter would take approximately three months to complete.

I appreciate your consideration and thank you in advance for the time and effort that you and your associates will invest in this issue.

If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Worcester County is home to the popular vacation destination of Ocean City.

The AG's office tells WJZ that an opinion does indeed take several months to generate after a formal request is made.

Follow @CBSBaltimore on Twitter and like WJZ-TV | CBS Baltimore on Facebook