About 100 Bald New Yorkers Gather in Washington Square Park to Challenge Shame
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 28
About 100 Bald New Yorkers Gather in Washington Square Park to Challenge Shame
2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 28
Summary
Around 100 bald people gathered Saturday in Manhattan's Washington Square Park for a "Bald Meet-Up" aimed at turning hair loss into a point of pride rather than embarrassment.
Rain fell as attendees who often wear hats left them at home, while the crowd chanted "Bald is beautiful!" and "Bald! Bald! Bald!" in a show of collective confidence.
Organizer Justin Bradford, a 31-year-old freelance video producer, sold "I Love New York" shirts with the heart replaced by a bald head and said bald people are sometimes seen as unfortunate.
For many participants, the event offered a public rebuttal to years of trying to hide baldness, framing the gathering as a small but visible statement that "hair is just hair."