School aide transferred for 'Free the Nipple' speaks out

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Greenburgh Central school administrators say they pulled a teacher's aide who appeared topless in a feminist film from the classroom to keep her away from students.

Victoria Bolton was reassigned last month from Woodlands High School, where she worked as a computer aide, to the Greenburgh Central administration building following complaints about her role in Free the Nipple, which follows a group of women who want to desexualize the female breast and give women the same right as men to go topless in public.

Interim schools Superintendent Tahira DuPree Chase, in a prepared statement, said Bolton was reassigned "in the best interests of our students and staff members."

Wrote Chase: "Greenburgh Central School District's fundamental belief is that school district employees are a special breed of people trusted to protect the customers they serve — our students, their families, and the community. When children and a school are drawn into topics that have not been first assessed by their parents, that trust is violated. For that reason, the district took appropriate action in transferring Ms. Bolton."

Chase said the district supported Bolton's advocacy and her career as an actress. While Bolton remained in "good standing" with the district, Chase said the district needed to take action.

"The fact is that Ms. Bolton is a paid employee for the Greenburgh Central School District and has worked full time with students under the age of 17," wrote Chase.

Bolton said she finds it ironic that her outside acting role has caused such a stir because it has been legal for New York women to shed their shirts in public since 1992.

"Imagine what it's like in a state where it is not," she said.

She said the reaction to her appearance in the movie — and her topless appearance at its premiere in December at the IFC Center in Manhattan — was a way to shame her for baring her breasts.

"People are trained to slut-shame, even if you aren't doing something wrong," she said.

A Journal News poll found that readers supported Bolton by a 2-to-1 margin. But some of those in minority said that Bolton had crossed the line.

In a Facebook comment, Greenburgh parent Tracy Mairs said, "Yes, she has all the right in the world to do what she would like with her body. However, as a teacher, you must be mindful of how this may negatively affect the children you serve and distract those children from learning."

On his WABC radio talk show, civil rights attorney Ron Kuby said the actions taken against Bolton could violate the the U.S. Constitution's right to free speech, as well as elements of the state constitution.

"The First Amendment and New York state's equal protection clause are applicable in Greenburgh," said Kuby. "What is that school district teaching about the Constitution? You would think the school would use it as a teaching moment to talk about these constitutional protections instead of violating them."

Since the mid-1990s, Kuby has represented several New York women cited for appearing topless in public.

"It sounds like an Ebola-style quarantine, to keep Ms. Bolton separated, lest the students catch something," said Kuby. "In an era of disturbingly available Internet pornography, which is pretty much accessed by every middle school boy, they are fussing about a film that shows boobs in a non-sexual context. It's dumb, silly and antediluvian."