Pro-Bikini Rally Taking Place For 'Freedom Of Peach' After Call Made To Ban Thongs In Australian City
There's a battle brewing Down Under over thong bikinis. A call to ban them in one Australian city has sparked a "freedom of peach" rally that is promising to be a very loud response.
Gold Coast businessman Ian Grace wrote a letter to the city's mayor, Tom Tate, calling for thong bikini bottoms to be banned. He's since doubled down on the call, appearing on TV to try and explain himself.
Woman with a sun hat looking at the view during a summer day. (Image Credit: Getty)
Grace admitted that he doesn't mind the view created by thongs being worn. His issue with seeing thongs out in the wild is that it makes him uncomfortable.
The owner of a swimwear company isn't taking the call for a ban on thongs sitting down.
Rebecca Pask, the founder of Barr Body and Swim, is putting on her thong, organizing a rally, and hitting the beach - with anyone willing to join her - to show her support for thongs.
The rally is being held early Friday morning at Kurrawa Beach. The purpose is to take a stand for the Gold Coast's "sun's out buns out culture."
This is an event that Mr. Grace is probably going to want to avoid at all costs. Pask said of the rally, "It's a peaceful walk to focus on the the Gold Coast and what we represent and to ditch the archaic thinking of men like Ian."
Pask isn't an out of touch business owner looking at a ban on thongs strictly as something that would be harmful to her business. She's embraced the sun's out buns out culture by hitting the beach in thongs herself.
Some Causes Are Worth Fighting For, Freedom Of Peach Is One Such Cause
Talk about walking the walk. Pask is leading this effort from the front. She's not sitting on the sidelines directing the action. No matter what side you fall on in this debate, that's a move you can respect.
"How in 2024 are we still having these conversations and blanketing judgment over any woman that dares to bare a bit of cheek," she wrote.
"Ladies, bare your cheeks, wear what you want and stand proud in knowing it’s the woman that you are, not the clothing that you wear is important."
According to Pask, the "freedom of peach peace rally" has been well-received. She's expecting a who's who to show up in support of thongs, including a rumored appearance by the mayor.
Speaking of the Gold Coast mayor, he said he would not be considering any such ban. Tate said of the businessman calling for the ban,"Ian is a brave man messing with women's fashion."
"One thing I've learnt about fashion over the years is that if you try to ban something, or restrict it, that's a certain recipe to see it double in popularity."
Spoken like a true politician. That doesn't mean there shouldn't be a "freedom of peach" rally. You have to let these politicians know exactly where the people stand.
They can be persuaded to change their mind with a strong enough wind. This event is an important stand, so the mayor doesn't get any sneaky ideas about going against the sun's out buns out culture of the Gold Coast.