A proposed rewrite of Jersey City's 40-year-old obscenity law won initial approval from the City Council on Wednesday, though it's not clear whether enough council members will support adopting it next month.

The measure is facing strong opposition from at least three men on the nine-member council who object to its lifting of the ban on women appearing topless in public. Three other council members told The Jersey Journal they aren't ready to commit to the measure, leaving just three likely yes votes.

Critics say allowing women to bare their breasts in public is a step too far, with one raising the specter of 1970s-era Times Square sleaze. Supporters see the move as an issue of gender equality.

"If you ask one person to define what a breast is or define how a female's breasts should be covered, then you have to have the equivalent for men. because from an anatomical perspective, they're the same parts," said Ward B Councilwoman Mira Prinz-Arey.

Ward E Councilman James Solomon led the push to rewrite the 1982 law after a local burlesque dancer who canceled a performance when the city said it might be considered obscene. The ordinance up for council approval would eliminate all references to sex toys (the old law capped possession of them at five per person), cites a 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that is considered the authority on how to identify obscenity and would eliminate "female breasts" from the definition of naked.

That last item appears to be causing the most consternation among council members — four of them cited it to The Jersey Journal when they said they either oppose or remain undecided on the ordinance.

"They want topless women walking down the avenue, their breasts exposed," said Ward D Councilman Michael Yun.

Yun and Ward C Councilman Rich Boggiano voted no when the council on Wednesday night introduced the ordinance 7-2 (it must win approval a second time to become law). Boggiano said before voting no on the measure that "part of it is a disgrace."

Mayor Steve Fulop supports the measure, calling the current law "antiquated."

Prinz-Arey hails from the San Francisco Bay Area, where it's not uncommon to see topless women in public. She disagrees with Yun that lifting Jersey City's ban will lead to a sudden rush of women walking around city sidewalks with their breasts exposed.

"What I found in California is that when it is no longer a radical statement to take your top off, people aren't interested in taking their tops off," she said.

Yun faced criticism after Monday's council caucus, when during a discussion of the measure he refused to use the word "breasts" and said "those things" instead. Asked about that on Friday, Yun laughed.

"It's like a culture shock," said Yun, a Korean native. "Even though I live here 40 years, sometimes I hesitate to use those kinds of words."

Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.