A conservative activist in Ohio is attempting to ban female toplessness including breastfeeding, because it promotes “gay pride”.

Patrick Johnson, director of anti-abortion group Personhood Ohio, is urging for people to contact state lawmakers to call for a blanket ban on female nudity.

His church group, which frequently protests against strip clubs, was recently subjected to a counter-protest in favour of the clubs.

He told ABC: “I think when we allow women to flaunt their sexuality to the public, flaunt their nudity to the public, it’s harmful to marriage.

“I am sick that women can legally bare their breasts to children and to married men against their will in Ohio.

“What they did was an offense to God, was an offense to the public morality, and the legislature should act to criminalize what they did.”

He added on Facebook: “The gay pride parade in Columbus is 500,000 strong – why? Because the women go topless. This is the only one where I’ve seen this level of nudity.

“[In] San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, D.C, I have never seen the kind of public lewdness I have seen in Columbus, Ohio.”

“Please call or Email your state senator and state reps to urge them to ban public nudity.

The Aiken Area Progressive blog warns: “This is a no-exceptions ban that if enacted, will drop the number of states to 49 in which breastfeeding is legal, and, if enacted, this definitely will violate numerous Constitutional amendments.”