On Sunday afternoon, about 50 people gathered in front of a gas station on the corner of Market and Castro Streets.

They wore skimpy silver outfits, stuffed boa constrictors, schoolgirl outfits and shirts that advertised the reason for the rally and, in a nutshell, said “Free Britney”.

The #FreeBritney movement has gained momentum in recent years as the public has increasingly protested against pop star Britney Spears’ conservatories. In 2008, Spears’ father, Jamie Spears, was named her conservator after she was hospitalized twice for involuntary psychiatric exams and enduring a series of visible fights that raised concerns for her physical and mental well-being.

Spears, 39, wants the conservatories to end immediately, according to confidential court records in the New York Times, which made a documentary about the #FreeBritney movement that received international attention.

Jamie Legasa, center, meets fellow Britney Spears fans for a Free Britney rally on Market and Castro streets in San Francisco on July 25, 2021. The Free Britney Movement seeks to end Britney Spears Conservatories and raise awareness of Conservatory abuse.

Douglas Zimmerman / SFGATE

In June, Spears made a rare public comment about the conservatories in a 24-minute statement before a private judge in Los Angeles. Your comments were shocking.

“I’m traumatized,” she said during the livestream hearing. “I just want my life back.” She called for an end to the “abusive” conservatories. She spoke so quickly and urgently that the judge told her to slow down.

In the statement, Spears said she was forced to continue performing despite the desire. She said she cannot remove her IUD even though she wants to have more children.

“I deserve to have a life,” she said. “I’ve worked all my life.”

Spears rose to pop superstar in 1998 with the release of her album “… Baby One More Time”. Since then she has released seven more albums, the last of which was released in 2016.

Jamie Legasa holds up a Britney Spears doll with a sign with the hashtag #FreeBritney. Free Britney supporters held a rally on Market and Castro streets in San Francisco on July 25, 2021. The Free Britney Movement seeks to end Britney Spears Conservatories and raise awareness of Conservatory abuse.

Douglas Zimmerman / SFGATE

Since beginning her conservatory in 2008, Spears has toured several times, held a Las Vegas residency, served as a judge on “The X Factor,” and released four albums.

“I’ve been a huge Britney fan since 1998 and I just sympathize with her,” said Lynda Conlan, who took part in the Sunday rally, dressed in a Britney shirt and leggings. She was accompanied by her two sons 7 and 10 and emphasized the importance of exposure to the #FreeBritney movement.

“You listened to them when they were in my stomach!” She said. “She was a big part of my life and you know it. … I want to teach my children to just love everything, whether it’s music for boys or girls or whatever. ”

The boys also proudly wore Britney shirts. At one point someone held a sign that said “Fk Jaime Spears”.

Tom Hood holds up a sign at a Free Britney rally on Market and Castro Streets in San Francisco on July 25, 2021. The Free Britney Movement seeks to end Britney Spears Conservatories and raise awareness of Conservatory abuse.

Douglas Zimmerman / SFGATE

Kristin Turner, a political activist and executive director of Pro Life SF, was also in attendance on Sunday. She said the #FreeBritney movement is about more than a person’s life, but about issues with monument laws in general.

“A lot of my work is for people who have no voice or freedom of choice in their lives,” she said. “I just want everyone to know that no one should be able to unduly control your body and that you should be able to live your life to the fullest.”

Sterling Wolper, a dance teacher in San Francisco, is the woman behind the #FreeBritney rally in San Francisco.

She said she was inspired to host her own meeting after seeing an online rally in Los Angeles.

Drag performer Iman, Center, performs at a Free Britney rally on Market and Castro streets in San Francisco on July 25, 2021. The Free Britney Movement seeks to end Britney Spears Conservatories and raise awareness of Conservatory abuse.

Douglas Zimmerman / SFGATE

“I saw nothing happening in San Francisco, so I started an Instagram page to see if anyone was ready to show up,” she said. They are. The site has more than 590 followers today.

A longtime Spears fan, Wolper, who wore a silver “Oops! … I Did It Again” -inspired outfit and performed “(You Drive Me) Crazy”, has organized dance evenings and Miss Pacifica pageants, but nothing like rallies .

She emphasized, like many of those present, that the rally was about much more than Spears.

“That’s a bigger problem,” said Wolper. “Millions of Americans are abused by conservatories. It’s a women’s rights issue, a human rights issue, the list goes on. ”

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