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The City of Toronto has had a change of heart and decided to permit topless rallies in city parks.

Last year, Toronto’s Parks department refused to issue GoTopless, a U.S. organization made up of adherents of the Raelian faith, a permit to hold their event in Kew Park.

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The department said the womens’ state of undress would violate Parks bylaw 608, which spells out “appropriate bathing attire.” This year, Toronto Parks has decided that, if asked, it will issue the permit.

Mark Lawson, manager of customer service for Toronto Parks, said the city did not want to face a court challenge from the group.

“I think the change is quite simple,” said Mark Lawson, manager of customer service at Toronto Parks.

“We had a quick discussion amongst the directors within the division and…it was felt that…the decision not to allow them to have a permit may be seen as discriminatory based on gender.”

This decision was news to Sylvie Chabot, the head of GoTopless Canada. “If it’s true, then I would be more than happy because that’s the purpose of our march — to fix the law and make women [feel]

comfortable.”