Campaigners march to Free the Nipple in Brighton

Campaigners aiming to “smash the stigma surrounding gendered nipples” gathered in the Old Steine gardens, Brighton, at about 2pm today.

As the support gathered, the semi-naked crowd set off at about 3pm, walking past Brighton Palace Pier and along the seafront towards the British Airways i360 where they settled outside for a picnic.

Bee Nicholls, from Brighton, who has been organising the march for the last three years said: “We are all here for the same message, and that is we want to dismantle the dictatorship of the male gaze.

“At the moment some bodies are seen as pornographic, and others not what they ‘should look like’ and we want to confront these issues. It’s all about bashing away those stereotypes, labels and constrictions. This event is always really well attended and a great success.”

The 28-year-old who works in the Chamber of Commerce said the nipple march welcomes all genders and ages every year.

India Emery-Ollier, 20, was taking part in the march for the first time.

The student vet nurse was visiting Brighton for the event and said: “I have never done this before but I just think it’s a really positive idea and really important for pushing for equality. I support this idea of people being free with their bodies and being able to express themselves and feel comfortable in their own skin no matter what.

“I feel so much sexier when I am just confident in my own skin. It’s not about being skinny or having a certain body type, its just about feeling good in your own body. It’s so much more sexy when someone is just comfy.”

Joseph Hatch, 27, wasn’t exposing his own nipples but showed up to support his friend at the march.

He said: “It’s really encouraging to see people come down here like this, and for those watching to just not really care. Yes people are looking, but it’s good to see many people looking and not caring, which is what is so great about Brighton and great about this march."