When first reading the headline ?Boobs on Bikes,? I assumed that New Zealand was in a panty-twist over the much-celebrated Dykes on Bikes portion of any good Pride Parade. It?s easy to realize how I may have been mistaken: the bare breasts were there, as were the motorcycles, and flash of leather and snug-fitting chaps, and even the drag queens; but this parade was of a rather different ilk. This year?s Pride season has come and gone, but the boobs continue to roar on.From news.com.au:

OFFICES in New Zealand's largest city emptied and an estimated 100,000 workers lined Auckland's main street today to enjoy the annual "Boobs on Bikes" parade.Around one hundred porn stars and drag queens cruised through the bustling business district on motorbikes, while the male-dominated crowd jostled to get photographs.Bureaucrats in Auckland had tried to ban the parade, which went ahead at the eleventh hour after a female judge ruled it was not legally offensive?

On the flip side, it looks as if the revelry did have its opposition:

Around 50 women led a protest march against pornography in front of the parade but did little to dampen the crowd's spirits?

And, lo, the festivities were damped just a mite. Over on the other side of the globe, we US folk are well acquainted with the presence of anti-porn feminists; and it seems as if they?re just as present amongst our friends down under. Lest you should fret, a wise (female) judge didn?t cave and let the parade continue:

Judge Nicola Mathers of the Auckland District Court said Tuesday the bylaw the council introduced to stop the parade was questionable."It is not offensive per se for women to be topless. It may be distasteful to some, but in my view the council reference to offensive cannot reasonably apply in these circumstances," she said.

Hear hear! As a woman who is body-, sex-, and sex-worker positive, I couldn?t agree with the judge?s verdict more. Let's hope that Boobs on Bikes continues unfettered for future jiggles down Auckland's streets.Photo credit: news.com.au