Boobs on Bikes

This weekend is Erotica Expo 2006 in Auckland. As part of the advance advertising of the Expo, the Boobs on Bikes parade was held on Queen Street in downtown Auckland yesterday. There has been much hubbub in the media this week regarding whether such an event should be allowed.

In my opinion, the proponents of the Parade have taken the wrong position on why the parade should be allowed. They have been on TV and radio talking about how natural the female breast is (though not necessarily in their case); how its a women's rights issue (though pornography is not necessarily good for women); and how its a free speech issue (though, ironically, these proponents are not the most articulate speakers generally).


On the morning program yesterday, a very buxom nimphette (the one in the photo above) tried to explain how the Boobs on Bikes Parade is empowering for women and it is a women's rights issue. The interviewer smartly asked the porn star what women's rights activism she is involved in other than that related to her job as a porn star. After much stuttering and backtracking, the silicon sex kitten gave some kind of indecipherable answer about helping women in Africa. I bet she couldn't even point to Africa on a map.

The fact of the matter is that the parade is being held because it is fun and because it is good for business -- and what is good for business is good for the Auckland economy. The parade was not organized for women's rights or for free speech. To claim that it was cheapens free speech and gives undeserved credibility to this silly event. Free speech may be why the City Council can't stop the parade, but it is not why it is being held.

I am actually in favor of Boobs on Bikes -- because I like looking at boobs, because it is fun, because it is silly, because it is an interesting study in human behavior, and for other reasons -- but not because it is good for women or for freedom of speech.

News today said that the crowd yesterday was larger than for the annual Santa Parade.


Today's media coverage:

Wide-Eyed at Topless Parade

Fronting Up on Boob Street

And in pure genius -- Union Rally Meets Boobs on Bikes