TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Students at Sage College participated in a “topless protest” on Wednesday to bring attention to a social issue.

Troy police said the protest stems from an alleged incident on Sunday. Police said a school security guard approached a sunbathing student and asked if the student was a boy or a girl.

“The first thing out of his mouth was, ‘Are you a guy or a girl?’” student Cedar Brock said.

Brock was reading outside topless when the officer said to put a shirt on. As an androgynous, Brock refused.

“I’m not doing anything wrong. I’m not breaking any laws,” Brock said. “I’m not being disorderly. I’m being peaceful. I’m just reading.”

“I had the New York State law on my side, I felt,” Brock continued. “The People v. Santorelli case in 1992 that allowed people who do not identify as male to walk around topless where men are allowed to do that.”

So on Wednesday, back with a vengeance, Brock was joined by peaceful and topless protestors using the hashtag #IStandWithCedar. They wanted to send a message that made some unsuspecting people in downtown Troy a little uncomfortable and a lot curious.

“Even though I don’t feel comfortable taking off my own bras and shorts, I think really something to watch how society is changing,” student Kylee Muller said.

But that’s what protestors were hoping for: a shock value to bring attention to bigger social issues.

“To destroy the social stigmas on the bodies of anyone who’s not a cisgender male,” organized protestor Kelly Shanahan said.

And Brock is hoping that what started as a clash of ideas will end with acceptance.

“It took me a while to understand it and understand myself,” Brock said. “If people are willing to take a moment, take a breath and listen, all we need is them to listen.”

The school dean, Deborah Lawrence, supports the protest.

“It’s an opportunity for all of us to be better educated about gender non-conforming individuals, and I mean all of us,” she said. “Not just public safety. Faculty, staff, other students. Everybody.”

Lawrence said an investigation is underway but no disciplinary action has been handed down.

The college president also posted the following letter on Facebook noting they are available to talk with students about social issues: