The Political Naturist

Taking the Wrong Approach on Parental Rights of Naturists

2012-01-17T15:30:00.001-08:00

Michael Beals of the American Naturist Families Association (ANFA) has posted an article on The Bare Times entitled "The Legal Sexualization of our Daughters". There is no doubt that the sexualization of people of all ages is a problem in our society, with the media promoting unrealistic body images that are causing unhealthy self-image.

But Mr. Beals in his zealousness on the issue has chosen to attack child beauty pageants as "shocking" events which only serve to destroy self-worth, cause relationship problems, and ultimately groom some of the young girls for "preteen and teenage prostitution".

The problem here is that Mr. Beals has a website promoting an enterprise called "Bare Scouts", a program for "naturist and non-naturist kids ages 8-17". Aside from the possible trademark difficulties with the name, especially when the Bare Scouts are openly compared to the Boy and Girl Scouts, there is the issue of hypocrisy in operating a naturist program for children which is subject to the same faux moral outrage from society at large as Mr. Beals directs towards child beauty pageants.

I'm not a fan of child beauty pageants, but the last time I checked they were legal, and there is even a reality television series "Toddlers and Tiaras" on TLC which has been on the air since 2009. In addition, there is no definitive study that any children are being harmed from their participation in these pageants, just some opinions here and there on both sides of the issue which are inconclusive.

Mr. Beals cites the case of Jon Benet Ramsey, who was murdered in her home, as an example of what can befall a child who participates in pageants, yet there is no evidence whatsoever that Miss Ramsey's beauty experiences had anything to do with her death. He also notes that some pedophiles are found with child pageant materials in their possession, but fails to note that these same pedophiles are also found with naturist photos and videos.

In an article which I wrote for Bare Times entitled "The War Against Youth Camps", I detail the various ways government officials in Florida, Virginia, Texas and Arizona worked to draft legislation to ban naturist youth camps, going as far as to try and ban children from naturist activities in general. There was no evidence that any children were in any danger emotionally, mentally or physically, but the arguments against the camps were very similar to the ones Mr. Beals now makes about child beauty pageants: that children were being exploited, and that they were magnets for pedophiles.

Mr. Beals then goes way over the top in his closing argument:

Ask yourself before you send your daughter to a school beauty pageant or county fair or organized pageant….”Who is in the audience?” And “Do I want MY little girl to be the next victim of rape?”

This is reckless hyperbole, and does nothing to further the cause of family naturism.

During the youth camp crisis of 2003-2005, one of the most positive government statements came from then Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who said “The rights of parents to impart their values in their children and raise their children as they see fit are sacred.”

Children are an essential part of the naturist philosophy, and have been for over 100 years of the modern movement. The societal hysteria over protecting children from just about anything and everything that even has a slight perception of potential harm is endangering their participation.

It is destructive for any nudist or naturist to express moral indignation over how other people choose to raise their children, unless there is clear and irrefutable evidence that there is real danger. An attack on the parental rights of others is an attack on the right to raise your own children in the manner you see fit.

Mr. Beals finishes by warning those who do not heed his message: "I pray that your child will be protected by God, because you obviously aren’t doing your part to stop the exploitation.". More irresponsible fear-mongering.

I have no reason to believe that Mr. Beals has anything but the best of intentions. His organization is non-profit and he works to support several charitable enterprises. What I do object to is his method of tearing down the free expression of others as a means of supporting his own. We don't need naturists acting like "Focus on the Family" which wants to impose its "Christian" viewpoint on the public airwaves, in movies, and in our bedrooms. These are the very people who potentially threaten nudism and naturism, who would equate it with strip clubs and pornography, and tell parents how to raise their own children.

There are many things in a free society which are distasteful to others. Everything is offensive to somebody. Family naturism must be promoted on its own merits, not by contrasting with something else that is controversial. Mr. Beals has made a mistake with his article, as well-intentioned as it is, and it only adds to the already widespread and over-hyped fear of "stranger danger".

Morley Schloss, who operates a successful naturist youth camp at Sunsport Gardens in Florida, strikes the right tone when he says: "Let’s be proactive. In words and photos, we must portray children and their families having fun at naturist resorts and naturist youth camps."

It's important to recognize the challenges faced by family naturism today, but it's equally important to remain positive and work to show society how safe and beneficial it can be for all ages. We cannot be "proactive" when we try and tear down the freedoms and parental rights of others.

NAC Blasts AANR Over San Onofre

2011-05-08T04:08:00.001-07:00

Any regular reader of this blog knows that I have repeatedly supported the Naturist Action Committee and their efforts to save the clothing-optional status of San Onofre State Beach in California, while at the same time being aghast at AANR's appeasement of the California Parks and Recreation and refusal to join in on the NAC lawsuit.

In the latest issue of the NAC newsletter, edited by Bob Morton, an article proclaims that a total of ten dismissals and no convictions for defendants cited for nudity have been achieved with the help of defense attorney and NAC Board member Allen Baylis, who has insisted on jury trials for his clients. In each case, the San Diego County District has been unwilling to proceed to trial.

The NAC is to be commended for standing up for naturists at San Onofre, thus showing that they truly represent nude rights and are not merely presenting meaningless words on paper.

In the same article, AANR comes under fire.

NAC invited AANR to sign the petition for designation, but AANR refused. Forgetting AANR's own history of litigation on behalf of nudists, and overlooking the fact that AANR-West had donated thousands of dollars to support NAC's lawsuit, former AANR Executive Director Erich Schuttauf declared publicly that he didn't wish to be seen as "signing on to a petition presented by an organization associated with legal confrontation."

The California Department of Parks and Recreation desperately needs a nudist organization to endorse its fraudulent crime statistics and accept the shameful fact that nudists and naturists at San Onofre State Beach have been thrown under the bus. AANR is positioning itself to be the nudist partner that unquestioningly endorses the Department's manufactured crime statistics, while it quite noticeably turns its back on the naturists and nudists at San Onofre.

Meanwhile, the Naturist Action Committee is defending those who have been cited for nudity at San Onofre - and is winning those cases. Proactively, NAC is pursuing a petition that would result in statewide designation of clothing-optional areas in California state parks.

AANR's Government Affairs Chair Dave Graber wrote recently: "The Naturist Society and the Naturist Action Committee have a different philosophy than AANR and its Government Affairs Team."

That much is obviously true.

I've said many times that naturists at San Onofre have been "thrown under the bus" by AANR, but it's still a bit surprising to hear naturist leaders using the same language.

This does illustrate quite pointedly the deepening rift between the two major American nudist/naturist organizations, and the lessening likelihood that they will ever see eye to eye on major issues like that at San Onofre.

The Nude and Natural Newsletter May 2011 pdf

Naturist Society Owner Denies WSJ Quote

2011-05-04T08:45:00.001-07:00

Nicky Hoffman Lee, co-owner of The Naturist Society, denies that she made comments attributed to her by a Wall Street Journal article.

"I NEVER said "The whole lifestyle will just disappear unless we attract a younger crowd. NEVER!!!! I did say that most resorts are not geared towards younger people, because they aren't I DID NOT say they've become like retirement homes; they've sort of calcified. I don't believe I have ever used the word calcified in my life...The people who know me, know that I would never had made the above statements."

Hopefully Nicky will sue and get the WSJ to print a retraction. I have offered Nicky a chance to rebut the article on this blog, so we will see what happens.

Naturist Society Head Likens Nudist Resorts to "Calcified Retirement Homes"

2011-05-03T13:58:00.001-07:00

Nudists/naturists are notoriously inept at public relations.

In an article published in the Wall Street Journal, Nicky Hoffman Lee, co-owner of The Naturist Society, made the following comments about the state of organized nudism today:

"The whole lifestyle will just disappear unless we attract a younger crowd," said Nicky Hoffman, head of the Naturist Society, one of the two big organizations of U.S. nudists. "The problem is, most of these resorts aren't geared to young people. They've become like retirement homes; they've sort of calcified."

Nicky, Nicky, what on earth were you thinking? Your ill-advised comments are now the centerpiece of an article which skewers nudists and naturists, painting them as basically dirty old men that are best to be avoided.

John Whitehead, 22, visited the Sunsport Gardens resort for the first time last year. He enjoyed being naked until he spotted a man his father's age he knew from work, then spent the day avoiding him."It's not that I have anything against old people," Mr. Whitehead said. "I just don't really want to hang out with them at the pool."

The article is a disaster, outlining the history of nudism as a series of arrests and beatings, and defining nude recreation as "undressing in front of strangers". Even worse, the Spring Break Bash at Sunsport Gardens organized by Florida Young Naturists is painted as a segregated event to avoid turning the younger people into "eye candy" for older people.

This story has gone viral and has appeared on many prominent blogs and does real damage to the image of naturists and nudists everywhere. From Jezebel:

If people of all ages can't come together to enjoy the freedom of standing around and feeling cold and slightly awkward, perhaps it's time to accept that the younger generation's interest in public nudity is mostly limited to occasional bouts of drunken toplessness.

The Village Voice even proclaims that "people should just wear clothes."

The Miami New Times reports:

That Spring Break Bash, held at a resort on the edge of the Everglades, only attracted 55 people, and the group's Facebook page keeps getting shut down because it's tricky to run a group with both "young" and "nude" in the title.

But if you really want to lose your lunch, read the comments section of the Wall Street Journal article, where Robbe White of the Florida Young Naturists adds his two cents:

Great article. Thank You WSJ and Doug Belkin for shedding some light on the nudist/naturist community. Check out our website: http://www.FYNude.org

Great article? Really? Just because you got your name in print?

John Whitehead claims that his comments were twisted out of context, which is not a surprise considering the state of journalism today.

I am the John Whitehead mentioned in the article of all the things I said, they mention me seeing a guy from my work who I avoided the first time because he knows my dad. They seemed to leave out that I talked with him about it later on and then he said "Don't worry I won't say anything". Not only that but my second quote was explaining why I never went prior to the FYN event and I was saying I was glad about FYN because I could be around people my own age. I think they made me sound like kind of a jerk...I talked to the journalist for around 30 minutes. I said all kinds of things. Why of all things things that I said would you mention that I saw a guy from work. I casually mentioned that. I mostly talked about how great the event was and how I met a bunch or friendly and interesting people. Why couldn't you mention that WSJ?

The comments are filled with loathing for nudists in general, and Susan Weaver, President of The American Association for Nude Recreation, is smart enough to realize the negativity of the article.

It is unfortunate that this article makes a generalized statement about nudist clubs, campgrounds and resorts. Among the 267 that are affiliated with AANR, there is tremendous diversity. I have found them to be enormously relaxing and fun, and there has never been any criticism of my own body jewelry. The people I have met at AANR clubs are interesting people, much traveled, with fascinating hobbies and histories. The aanr.com website is much visited by people of all ages looking to discover where there is a club nearby to visit.

AANR has worked for 80 years to promote and protect nude recreation, and will continue to advocate for the rights of nudists for as many years as it takes to assure public awareness and acceptance of social family nude recreation as a joyful life experience.

Thank you, Susan, for showing some class in the middle of a disaster. There's not too much to salvage from this train wreck of epic proportions.

UPDATE: Time Magazine agrees with me that Nicky's comments were a total gaffe.

"The whole lifestyle will just disappear unless we attract a younger crowd," Nicky Hoffman, head of the Naturist Society, recently told the Wall Street Journal. "The problem is, most of these resorts aren't geared to young people. They've become like retirement homes; they've sort of calcified."'

With statements like that, we can see why young, vibrant Americans aren't clamoring to join ranks and take their clothes off.

Nicky needs to apologize for her disparaging remarks, or at the very least, she should explain that she was misquoted, or taken out of context.

Radio Interview With Jo Anne Roessler of Cedar Trails Nudist Retreat

2011-04-22T12:14:00.001-07:00

Great interview today from WLW Radio 700 in Cincinnati, where talk show host Bill "Willie" Cunningham spoke with Jo Anne Roessler of Cedar Trails Nudist Retreat in Peebles, Ohio. Cunningham conducted the interview with respect and sincere interest, even pointing out that he had been to a couple of nudist resorts himself in the past so he was pretty familiar with nudism.

If you missed it, the interview should be available now or very soon here. Look for the link which is marked "Bill Cunningham FRI 4/22/11 Hour 3".

BDSM Group Leader Speaks Up About Lupin Lodge

2011-04-01T07:02:00.000-07:00

(Let me just state that this is NOT an April Fools joke. It never even occurred to me that today was April 1 until someone emailed me. This is a 100% serious post.)

"smashwolf", the organizer of the "Human Fox Hunt" event at Lupin Lodge, has spoken up through his Twitter account, admitting that Lupin and AANR are keeping the event quiet because "it makes sense not to flaunt our sort of event in the faces of naturists worldwide", and because on "the national level, Lupin values it's standing in the naturist community".

Admitting that there is a deliberate cover-up, smashwolf goes on to accuse me of being a troll and of being "so midwest" in my personal values, and that people in California simply have "different sensitivities".

In another tweet, smashwolf says, "There is a time and place for everything. and this activity requires a controlled, private, and discrete location". He justifies the linking of his fetish group with a naturist venue by stating that "Walls are walls, naturist, or a kinkster. The same forces that oppose nudity, oppose sexuality, and self expression."

And to further emphasize the fact that Lupin Lodge knows exactly what is happening, smashwolf states that "hosting the event there actually meshes well with the existing community. There seems to be a lot of mutual respect."

OK, let's get one thing straight - I have no personal opposition to people who wish to engage in a BDSM or other erotic lifestyle. I've known people all my life with different sexual needs, and when consenting adults decide to play together, it's fine with me. We need more people comfortable with their own sexual expression, not less.

And it has nothing to do with "midwest values". That's a crock. Where I live in Columbus, Ohio, there is a thriving BDSM community, all you have to do is do a little Google searching. This is a desperate argument. People can justify *anything* if they lie to themselves enough.

Not to mention that Columbus Ohio is one of the few places in the country where women can walk about topfree legally.

No, this is about naturist values. This is about the stated principles of naturism and nudism as have been understood and passed down for a century. What is central to the movement is that people of all ages can gather together to socialize and recreate in the nude without overt sexual activity.

Nudism is not anti-sexuality. In the Naturist Society document "205 Arguments and Observations in Support of Naturism", the words "sex" and "sexuality" and variations thereof appear 152 times. Naturists argue clearly and rationally that nudity is healthy for mind, body, and sexual development.

Naturists and nudists believe that clothing actually sexualizes the body by emphasizing certain parts, that the wearing of textiles creates a false image of who we really are, and that what we wear actually divides people socially. By being nude with each other, as we all are when we enter the world, there can be no pretense, no hiding, and no shame.

On the Lupin Lodge website, overt sexual activity is strictly forbidden.

Public eroticism and sexual exploitation are not acceptable at Lupin. We have found that an absence of sexual pressure fosters uniquely open communications across differences of gender, generation, and genealogy and allows everyone to just relax and enjoy Lupin as the special resort it is. Guests and visitors who accept the mutual agreements under which the club operates are welcome to share Lupin's unique ambience.

Lupin Lodge is affiliated with both the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) and The Naturist Society (TNS). From the TNS website:

Is naturism appropriate for families?

Absolutely! Naturism is about body acceptance and body awareness, which makes it appropriate for everyone. Therefore, families with children are welcome at naturist venues and events. Any venue or event that purports to be "naturist" but excludes children should be viewed with skepticism. Such exclusions are appropriate in some cases. A grueling nude hike or a late evening dance at a club or resort come to mind. But the exclusion of children is sometimes used as a signal that an event is sexual in nature. The Naturist Society has no interest in passing judgment on sexual activities among consenting adults; however, TNS adamantly rejects the use of the term "naturism" as a cover for sexual activity. Naturists do not deny the sexual nature of human beings, but they reject the all too prevalent view in our society that nudity and sex are synonymous, and that children should be "protected" from nudity regardless of context. To repeat: nude is not lewd.

And from AANR "Nudist Family Values":

Whatever the level of amenities offered, all clubs are expected to adhere to AANR’s principles and standards, honed from 79 years of experience. Our clubs foster a wholesome, nurturing environment for members and their families.

Where are the nudist and naturist leaders on this issue? Where are Susan Weaver, Anita Panganiban, James Lane and the heads of the other regional AANR offices? Where is Nicky Hoffman-Lee, and why is the Naturist Society holding its Western Gathering at Lupin Lodge this year in light of the marketing to groups which are the antithesis of what naturism is all about? And where are Bob Morton, Mark Storey and other leaders in TNS and the Naturist Action Committee? And where is the outrage from Robbe White of the Florida Young Naturists, who recently mounted a merciless campaign against Young Naturists America for issues which pale in comparison to what is happening at Lupin Lodge?

The Naturist Action Committee works tirelessly on the behalf of naturists in fighting unjust anti-nudity laws and preserving the few clothing-optional beaches in America. AANR has its Government Affairs Team which is currently trying to negotiate for public lands to be set aside for nude recreation in California, and in a recent letter to Chief of the California Department of Parks and Recreation Tony Perez, declared that "any step towards creating areas set apart for nudity would usher in an entirely new level of sharing and cooperation."

The primary reason that the California DPR ended nudity at San Onofre Beach was because of complaints of sexual activity. How on earth can either AANR or TNS claim any moral high ground when negotiating with government officials when one of their premier nudist venues is hosting erotic fetish groups?

John Dean once warned President Nixon that there was a "cancer" on the Presidency. Well, there is a cancer on organized nudism.

When confronted with the Lupin Lodge situation back in May of 2010, AANR issued the following statement:

I was made aware of these various groups just this week, I did look at their websites and found the content very disturbing. The most disturbing was that these groups had planned on “ambushing” Lupin Lodge and AANR.

I immediately called the club and spoke with the owners, I also sent them any information I was able to find. Of course they were shocked and very annoyed that this was about to befall them, they are very proud of their family-friendly, non-sexual resort.

They thanked the AANR office for catching this, and assured us that there would be extra security at the gate and in the resort. These groups will be turned away and or ejected, and will never be welcome at Lupin Lodge.

Thank you once again for your email and for confirming the intent of these groups.

Sincerely,
Terry Justice
Club/Member Liaison

Disturbing. Ambushing. Shocked. Annoyed. Extra security. Turned away. Ejected. NEVER be welcome. This was a Shermanesque statement if there ever was one. AANR is either completely naive, or they are deliberately covering-up the truth. I understand that AANR and TNS are between a rock and a hard place on this issue. Lupin Lodge has been a respected naturist venue for 75 years and was the cover story of a recent Naturist Society magazine.

But AANR took swift action with Caliente, Paradise Lakes and Seminole in Florida when those clubs began to openly market to swingers, and holding sex-themed parties.

The national organizations are now confronted with a decisive moment, to either continue covering up and accepting erotic lifestyle groups at nudist resorts, or begin telling the truth about what is happening and let the chips fall where they may. Lies, deceptions and feigning ignorance can no longer stand.

Contact Information

AANR
Tel: 800-TRY-NUDE
407-933-2064
Fax: 407-933-7577
Email: try-nude@aanr.com
Email: susanweaver@aanr.com

THE NATURIST SOCIETY
Tel: 800-886-7230
Fax: 920-426-5184
Email: nickyh@naturistsociety.com

smashwolf's Twitter avatar

Some of the tweets from smashwolf's Twitter account:

More Proof of BDSM Event at Lupin Lodge

2011-03-31T19:21:00.001-07:00

Just follow the Twitter account of smashwolf here.

Rancid Meat

2011-03-31T17:31:00.001-07:00

In 1987, Lee Baxandall penned a letter to Ed Lange, taking him to task for continuing to distribute a magazine entitled "Young and Naked", a "nudist" magazine featuring photos of pre-pubescent children, calling it "rancid meat" and asserting that the appeal of such material could only be to pedophiles.

I don't want to belong to a movement that sells its product chiefly to non-nudists who will never participate because they really want crude lewdness or child pornography, and who will make do with "nudist" literature rather than settle for the Sears catalog.

Such child exploitation has not been eradicated from the naturist world. Back in 2009 I wrote about russianbare.com/enature.net, saying that children in those photos and videos are being "used as props and products to appeal to the lowest common denominator", and such material only "encourages pedophiles to feel welcome in the naturist world."

And in late 2009, I called out the Federation of Canadian Naturists for accepting advertising from enature.net in their "Going Natural" publication. I'm pleased to say that finally, with the Winter 2010-11 issue, the "rancid meat" is gone.The FCN board of directors voted to remove the adverting for enature.net and related businesses.

The question is: what took them so long?

It's an example of naturists simply thinking things through a bit too much. All the usual arguments surely were debated, such as pointing out that there is no real pornography in the children videos, no proof that the materials are being purchased by actual pedophiles (or actual naturists, for that matter), that banning such videos is an admission that there is something wrong with children in nudism, selling such materials is perfectly legal, and finally wondering where and when one can draw the line on this issue.

It's simply not that complicated. There is no redeeming value in peddling videos and photographs of nude pre-pubescent children. These images are not the fine art of Jock Sturges, Bill Henson, or Nan Goldin. These enature.net videos have no artistic merit, no interest to true naturists, and serve no practical purpose in furthering the cause of nude recreation to non-naturists.

These videos exist for the sole purpose of appealing to pedophiles.

Which brings us to the case of convicted Canadian sex offender Eric Wanamaker, who is currently awaiting the judge's decision on his latest case, where he is accused of accessing and possessing child pornography. And just what is the nature of the materials authorities found in his possession?

More than 30,000 photos and 72 movies of children in various states of dress were found on the convicted pedophile's computer and on burned CDs, which Crown prosecutor Judy Rees argued were for a sexual purpose and therefore constituted child pornography.

Defence lawyer Patrick Flynn argued that Wanamaker is a naturist and the images and videos were simply a reflection of his interest in nudism and art.

While none of the material presented showed children in explicit sexual acts, the images depict preteen children in poses similar to those seen in adult magazines while wearing revealing clothing, including panties and bikinis.

Exactly the same types of materials which used to be advertised in the FCN magazine.

In this particular case, both the prosecution and the defense are correct. The materials are not child pornography, and Wanamaker is not a naturist. But to Wanamaker, who has a 30 year history of sexual offenses, these images of nude children are pornography in his eyes.

In case you were wondering, here is the U.S. code on child pornography. Here is the Canadian definition.

The mere fact that Wanamaker apparently feels sexually aroused by the photos does not make them pornographic. Human beings are complex sexually, with people being turned-on by bare feet, by fur, by wearing diapers, and so on. We cannot as a society begin to see everything through the eyes of someone who might be sexually aroused by what is ordinary to most people. As Lee Baxandall pointed out, pedophiles can find sexual pleasure by looking through the Sears catalog.

We cannot continue to see children through the eyes of a pedophile. To do so is to deny youngsters the innocence of childhood. On the other hand, we cannot view such obviously exploitative materials such as those sold at enature.net through the eyes of a naturist. We cannot let our respect for the human body cloud our vision for what is absolutely disrespectful.

A decision in the Wanamaker case is scheduled for April 20.

Defence lawyer Patrick Flynn argued the issue of whether material can be labelled child pornography, or not, depends largely on community standards.

“We live in a modern world, your honour,” he said.

“That needs to be considered when we consider the reasonable person test,” he said, of the standard Hunt McDonald must look at.

“What’s a reasonable person in today’s society viewing those photos (going to think).”

I think a reasonable person would not consider the images to be child pornography, but a reasonable person is also going to feel uncomfortable looking at nude children frolicking about for the camera so that some company can sell their photos over the Internet.

FCN did the reasonable thing in discontinuing the ads for enature and russianbare. In the case of Erik Wanamaker, it's far more difficult to remain reasonable in light of his very troubled past. Whatever the decision of Justice Hunt McDonald, the fact that naturism is a part of this case is disturbing, and graphic evidence as to why organizations like FCN, AANR and TNS must completely disassociate themselves from the exploitation of images of nude children for profit.

UPDATE: Erotic Fetish Event Still Scheduled at AANR Resort

2011-03-28T15:15:00.001-07:00

Despite a declaration that erotic fetish groups would "never be welcome" at Lupin Lodge, the "Northern California Human Fox Hunt" is scheduled to take place on the grounds of the Los Gatos nudist resort May 6-8, 2011.

All animal role players will be welcome to explore their inner animal in a beautiful, outdoor natural setting. Our clothing optional venue provides a safe, sane, and consensual environment for you to romp about as you please. ALL ANIMAL role players are welcomed: puppies, ponies, foxes, furries, and mythical beasts! And, of course, their human trainers and friends.

There will be outdoor space for lunge, cart pulling, an indoor BDSM play space, and a large forested area for the hunt. This year, all hunters are encouraged to participate in the Hunt Tea following the rigors of the hunt. Hunters can enjoy tea service on the veranda, with their pups at their feet and their ponies on their leads. Commemorative awards will be provided.

This is how a "Human Fox Hunt" is described:

The Human Fox Hunt is a live-action role playing game of whit and prowess where a human fox attempts to outwhit teams of human hunting dogs, ponies, hunters, handlers, and trainers in an outdoor setting. The hunt takes on a kinky bent where the team that captures the fox gets to negotiate a BDSM scene to simulate the ritualized dismemberment of the fox in the spirit of the bloodsport of fox hunting.

Lupin Lodge professes on its web site that "nudity and sex are different human experiences", and parents "can relax knowing that the others in our family environment share their concern for the inviolability of all children".

Not only is Lupin Lodge allowing BDSM groups onto the grounds to practice their sexual fetishes out in the open, they are offering special rates for admission, lodging, camping and food.

Susan Weaver, President of the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR), is well aware of the openly sexual activities taking place at Lupin Lodge, and AANR-West was designated to investigate. Weaver responded by stating that their are procedures in place for dealing with such issues, and that no "recommendation has yet been received from the region".

The self-styled "credible" voice for nude recreation was informed of the fetish groups at Lupin in May of 2010, and such a slow response begs the question as to whether of not the national organization has the backbone to actually stand up to one of nudism's most storied resorts.

Nicky Hoffman-Lee, co-owner of The Naturist Society, has declined to comment on this situation at Lupin Lodge, which is the announced site of the 2011 TNS Western Gathering on August 11-14. The venue was also featured as the cover story in the Winter 2010 issue of the TNS publication "Nude and Natural" commemorating the venue's 75th anniversary, so any public acknowledgement of the sexual events taking place at Lupin Lodge would be a huge embarrassment to the organization.

The people at AANR and TNS are not stupid. They know full well that Lupin Lodge is marketing to BDSM groups, but they are hoping that members either don't know about these fetish events, or that they simply don't care.

Both AANR and TNS advertise their affiliated resorts as being true to the definitions of nudism and naturism, free from having sexually-charged atmospheres. No doubt that Lee Baxandall is rolling over in his grave when one of the premier naturist resorts in the United States is hosting "puppies, ponies, foxes, furries, and mythical beasts", with people getting their sexual kinks on by wearing leather and pulling carts around the grounds, where "hunters" can enjoy "tea service on the veranda, with their pups at their feet and their ponies on their leads", and a "Fur Ball" is taking place in the main restaurant where "local furries and kinksters are welcome to mix and kick it up".

AANR and TNS have to speak the truth on this issue which is central to the state of nudism today, and has a direct affect on the future. Either this sort of fetish marketing needs to stop, or the organizations need to re-define what is acceptable at their affiliated clubs and breathe a little honesty into the discussion. Merely trying to keep a lid on this, or pretend it is not actually happening, is unacceptable.

I strongly urge nudists and naturist everywhere to let their voices be heard. Either you support the presence of BDSM, swinger and other erotic lifestyle groups at traditional nudist venues, or you don't. Either nudism and naturism must be defended for what it has been over the past century, or it must evolve and merge with a rapidly growing adult erotic segment of society which represents open sexuality and a kink lifestyle.

It's time for nudist and naturist organizations to stop the deception and speak the truth. Oscar Wilde once said that truth is "rarely pure and never simple". Certainly AANR and TNS are struggling internally with the Lupin situation, and understandably so. But enough is enough. Time to stand up for the truth and let the chips fall where they may.

Screenshots of the Human Fox Hunt, as well as AANR and TNS contact information appear below.

AANR
Tel: 800-TRY-NUDE
407-933-2064
Fax: 407-933-7577
Email: try-nude@aanr.com
Email: susanweaver@aanr.com

THE NATURIST SOCIETY
Tel: 800-886-7230
Fax: 920-426-5184
Email: nickyh@naturistsociety.com

AANR to Sponsor Guinness Hula-Hoop World Record Attempt

2011-03-15T09:19:00.000-07:00

American Association for Nude Recreation President Susan Weaver has announced this year's event for Nude Recreation Week.

We all had a great deal of fun the past two years setting and beating our own world record for simultaneous skinny-dipping. However, there is a great deal of paperwork involved and several event coordinators begged for at least a year of respite.

As it turns out, challenging an existing record is somewhat simpler than establishing a new one, and our PR Team has identified an existing record they think it will be fun to try and break -- simultaneous hula hooping. So this July 9th, clubs and locales that want to register as part of this event will simultaneously set those hoops a-spinning to set a new world record.

As background, hula hooping dates back to 1957 when Richard Knerr and Arthur "Spud" Melin started promoting Australian exercise hoops. From July to November 1958, 24 million hula hoops had been made; by 1960, over 100 million hula hoops had been sold. The craze was on.

Like most fads, hula hooping comes in and out of fashion. It seems to be extremely popular with a diverse population right now, so AANR will be coordinating events at a number of localities on July 9, 2011 and reaching to beat the current record of 4,700 people hula hooping at once.

Skinny-dip Bear has already started practicing, as you can see from his picture on the AANR Facebook site.

We hope lots of folks will enjoy turning out for this fun event.

The "Nudists' Bill of Rights"

2011-03-10T19:16:00.001-08:00

The American Association of Nude Recreation is urging people to sign its "Nudists' Bill of Rights" which is online here.

There are 10 stated rights. Not sure why there have to be ten, but Moses and David Letterman have set a precedent for these type of lists, so there you are.

Among the "rights" are "the right to assemble in the nude within appropriate settings" and "the right to responsibly enjoy being nude within appropriate locations on public lands". Each "right" has the word "nudists" as first.

Unbelievably, AANR's initial wording on the list made it appear to be for AANR members only, but they quickly came to their senses and changed it to read "including many members" of the organization.

Reaction to the list has been mixed. On the ClothesFree.com forum, member Stu2630 noted the following:

I think there are too many vagaries in this and AANR should be clearer. For instance, "to responsibly enjoy nudity within their homes and on private property" - what EXACTLY does that mean? When is it responsible, and when is it not? Similarly, "Nudists have the right to assemble in the nude within appropriate settings" - who decides what are "appropriate settings"? The same applies to "Nudists have the right to responsibly enjoy being nude within appropriate locations on public lands."...this wording appears to suggest that nudists are the ones who should decide for themselves what is and is not responsible or appropriate. No politician is going to subscribe to that as it is, so it needs a re-think in my view if it is to be taken seriously.

Member Agde added the following:

I doubt the "Nudists' Bill of Rights" was vetted by a lawyer, let alone an editor. "Rights" are not given to specific groups in this way. Things like "the rights of children" or "women's rights" are a clarification or elaboration of general "rights". Conditionality in "rights" is always problematic, even more so if blurring adjectives like "appropriate" get appended. Trying to edit the "nudist rights" into actual rights -- eg. "3. All citizens have the right to be nude within their homes or on their own property... 7. All citizens have the right to be nude on public lands... -- quickly makes it obvious that this "Nudists' Bill of Rights" needs to be re-thought and rewritten from scratch. Try replacing "nudist" with your favourite religious group or political party to see what I mean.

From member Kouak:

I really don't know what is the purpose of the Bill Of Rights. It seems from the preamble that it is just listing what "rights" the laws and courts have given nudists. But it does not even list rights that have been given that are nudist-related. For example, nudity is legal in Oregon in public. It is legal in other places for women to be top-free.

Not one member on this particular forum thread made any successful rebuttal to any of these points. The basic argument for signing the "Nudists' Bill of Rights" was that it "couldn't hurt", or it's the "right thing to do".

AANR does not state the purpose for drafting this list, but a trusted source in AANR told me that the organization is hoping for "well over 100,000 signatures so we can show our strength to US and Canadian Governments".

I just don't see any politician or governing body taking such a list seriously, especially since the "signatures" are all done online and can be easily faked. There is an email verification process to validate the signature, but again, anyone can get an email address, and most people seem to have several these days.

As of this writing AANR has 879 signatures. Charlie Sheen has 2 1/2 million followers on Twitter. Do the math.

I'm sure it's well-intentioned, but the list merely states the obvious and does not further the cause of nudists and naturists in society. To me is seems to be a "feel good" laundry list, a declaration of pride for living a clothes-free life, and there's nothing inherently wrong with that. Nudists need to feel better about themselves and not feel isolated from the rest of the general textile-wearing public.

As Stuart Smalley once said, "it's easier to put on slippers than to carpet the entire world."

I'll say now that I went ahead and signed the "Bill". I question the substance, but sometimes ya just gotta go with the flow.

But I do want to take issue with some of the wording.

First, even though I call this blog "'Diary of a Nudist", the word "nudist" is way overused in this "Bill". Substitute the word "people" instead. Insisting on "rights" for one social subset without applying them to society at large is a mistake, and exclusionary.

And when you do substitute the word "people", some of the "rights" read rather nonsensically, such as "~~Nudists~~ People have the right to hold their values and beliefs".

And by continually referring to "nudists", the list further marginalizes anyone living the clothes-free lifestyle from everyone else. Why are nudists so different that they deserve these 10 rights over anyone else? Don't non-nudists have these rights, too?

One of the basic tenets of nudism is that the people you meet are equalized by the lack of clothing. One cannot tell a corporate executive from a janitor (well, you can if you check out their RV). No, the repetition of the word "nudists" is divisive, it is the written equivalent of the privacy fences which surround nudist campgrounds and resorts.

Then we come to the word "appropriate" which appears two times in the list, referring to "settings" and "locations on public lands". Just who decides where appropriate settings are? Was San Onofre beach an inappropriate setting? After all, AANR did not fight for that clothing-optional piece of public land, preferring instead to "negotiate" with the California Department of Parks and Recreation while the Naturist Action Committee took the case to court.

How has all of that negotiation worked out? Any progress on finding any public lands that the DPR is willing to designate as "appropriate" for nude recreation?

I didn't think so.

So what is appropriate? Are nude beaches appropriate? How about remote hiking trails? Hot springs? Old swimming holes? The streets of San Francisco? The picture window in your living room? The back yard of your condo? Who makes this decision? If governments make nudity illegal in all areas, is there no longer an appropriate place for nude recreation?

Way too vague.

The only "right" with any teeth is number eight, which states that "Nudists have the right to be free from adverse actions by their employers as a result of their lawful enjoyment of nudity when away from work."

But let's make it simpler. "People should not be discriminated against by any employer due to lifestyle, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation". There are many people who are discriminated against, not just nudists.

You want to really make a difference? Work to get nudists/naturists to be recognized as a minority group, to be protected against discrimination due to prejudice against the lifestyle and beliefs. Truly, achieving this would be the only "right" necessary, making the "Nudists' Bill of Rights" null and void. It's already moot anyway because most of the "rights" in the declaration are granted by the Constitution of the United States anyway to all law-abiding citizens.

But ten is such a nice, neat number.

But go ahead and sign the "Nudists Bill of Rights". It's fraught with both vagaries and obviousness, and is not likely to make a whit of difference to any government or politician. But you might feel a little better standing up for yourself as a nudist or naturist.

It can't hurt.

The Century Project Weathers a Storm

2011-03-10T08:05:00.001-08:00

Dr. Paul Rapoport chronicles the obsession of Oklahoma State University professer John Foubert with Frank Cordelle's "The Century Project".

Although images of nudity may occasionally surprise, confuse, or bother some people, and individuals may misuse some, naturists need to oppose the claim that the existence or viewing of such images causes or increases sexual violence or crime. Countering it may be a tough task. But the mythology and censorship surrounding nudity, especially the non-sexualized variety in naturism, are large and hysterical, and as disturbing as John Foubert’s fabrications and bullying.

You can read Dr. Rapoport's full article here, published in the latest issue of "Nude and Natural" magazine.

AANR, Caliente Caribe, Part Ways

2011-02-28T06:10:00.001-08:00

The American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) will announce this week that Caliente Caribe clothing-optional resort is no longer in the association's network of clubs. The statement, provided to me by a trusted AANR source, will be as follows: "Caliente Caribe, a participating business, not chartered club of AANR has not renewed their contract."

At this point it is not clear whether AANR or Caliente Caribe initiated the split, or what were the reasons, but it's clear from Caliente's recent activities that the Dominican Republic resort was no longer following the guidelines set forth by the nudist organization for non-sexual activities and atmosphere.

AANR has already removed Caliente Caribe from its website.

There is still no word from AANR on the status of Lupin Lodge in Los Gatos, California, which has also been embroiled in controversy over erotic lifestyles groups using the venue for their meetings and sexual activities.

Local Residents Complain of Noise from Lupin Lodge

2011-02-21T18:36:00.000-08:00

Lupin Lodge in Los Gatos, California, is the subject of complaints from local residents of excessive noise coming from the clothing-optional resort well past the 11:00 PM self-imposed curfew.

Residents in the Chemeketa area of the Santa Cruz Mountains have been noticing an increase in noise late at night. The noise has been traced to the Lupin Lodge, a clothing optional resort located in Aldercroft Heights about ten minutes outside of downtown Los Gatos.

The Lupin Lodge website says that their events end at 11:00 pm, but residents are hearing noise coming from the area much later into the night.

A group called Anti-Lupin Raves has been started due to people being "bothered by the loud music (played into the wee hours) and the traffic at the parties given at Lupin Lodge", posing a "noise nuisance and potential fire hazard".

One resident says that flyers will be distributed informing neighbors with website and telephone information, and options are being discussed to solve the ongoing problem. Group member Karla said, "I am not looking forward to the upcoming week end, I fear it will be a repeat of the last one."

Lupin Lodge is a member club of both the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) and The Naturist Society (TNS). Susan Weaver, President of AANR, recently commented about allegations that Lupin management is allowing BDSM and erotic lifestyle groups onto the property, against the organization's guidelines which prohibit overt sexual activity: "The Lupin situation has been brought to the attention of the AANR-West Region and it is my understanding that an investigation is taking place."

Another AANR Resort Hosts Erotic Fetish Events

2011-02-16T05:12:00.000-08:00

In the wake of the recent controversy at Lupin Lodge, the American Association for Nude Recreation has another affiliated club openly marketing to swingers and erotic lifestyles groups.

Caliente Caribe in the Dominican Republic is openly advertising "Naughty Kinky Dominican Domination Group Trip" from March 26 through April 2, 2011, "March Madness Erotica Group Week" for the same time period, "Caliente Spring Swing Erotic Resort Takeover" for April 16 through 23, 2011, "Fetish Fest 2 Paradise Bound Resort Takeover" for June 18-25, 2011, and several other sexually charged events.

Caliente Caribe is listed as an AANR club on the organization's website. The Nudist group bills itself as "the credible voice of reason for nude recreation since 1931" and promises a non-sexual environment whenever a member visits an affiliated club.

Plan to Go Nude! Although some clubs allow visitors to remain clothed while touring the club as a first timer, most clubs expect guests to be "clothed when practical, nude when appropriate." Visitors, as well as members, are required to conduct themselves in a manner that would be considered acceptable at any other public social gathering. There will be people of all ages and backgrounds - families, couples, children, young and old - and they will all have one thing in common…they decided to participate in nude recreation.

As a first timer, please make this important observation, even though you might anticipate it, a nude environment does not have any special sexual connotation.

On a page entitled "Why Your Membership Matters", AANR boasts of its efforts to "advocate for nude recreation with regular visits to the U.S. Congress and state legislatures to educate lawmakers and staff about nudist concerns", and it works to "protect traditional skinny-dipping spots and nude beaches."

AANR requires its affiliated clubs to adhere to its principles and standards.

The atmosphere of an AANR club is wholesome and friendly. People who enjoy nude recreation distinguish between nudity and sex and keep the two in their proper perspectives. Clubs are careful about who enters their facility and if anyone seems to be there for the wrong reason, they will be asked to leave.

In recent years several affiliated clubs have surrendered their charters so that they could openly market to swingers and other erotic lifestyle groups, which fall outside the traditional definitions of nudism and naturism. Since last May, the California club Lupin Lodge, which has been in existence since 1936, has been involved with a controversy over BDSM groups using its facilities for meetings and "play areas". As of this writing, neither AANR nor The Naturist Society have made any official statements on the status of Lupin as one of their affiliated clubs.

Below are some screen captures of the Caliente Caribe website and some of the groups scheduled to visit this year.

http://calienteresorts.com/caribe/destination.html
http://www.dommetrips.com/
http://x-clusiveplaymates.com/dominican-republic-2011/
http://www.kinkevents.com/cff/cff-caliente.html

Pansexual BDSM Group Meets at Lupin Lodge

2011-02-14T12:29:00.000-08:00

Masters and Slaves Together Santa Clara County (MAsTSCC) openly advertises their monthly meetings at Lupin Lodge, contrary to public statements by The American Association for Nude Recreation that such sexual fetish groups would "never" be welcome at that clothing-optional venue.

Although the blog itself has scrubbed any references to Lupin Lodge, the event calendar is quite clear and specific about the venue. On March 6, 2011, there is a scheduled 7 PM meeting.

Masters and slaves Together of Santa Clara County wants to make YOU HAPPY.
Want to come to a meeting on a SUNDAY? Want to come and have an early dinner at the on site restaurant?? Want to come and have a late HOT TUB dip? Want to come to the meeting and go swimming FIRST?
Want to come to the meeting, enjoy the company of other Masters, slaves, and power exchange couples and then PLAY????
Come join MAsT SCC at our NEW HOME at Lupin Lodge in the hills 11 min. outside Los Gatos.

There is a warning for all MAsT members to hide their "toys" because children could be around, as well as the following statement:

Lupin is open and aware of our group, has all their permits and has been around 78 years- we are welcomed with open arms, and hope that your time with us will be a warm, loving environment with leather folk and M/s friends.

MAsTSCC also describes their facilities at Lupin Lodge.

Drawback? It is nestled next to the permanent residents yurts so play noise has to be zero after the meeting (or we can walk down to play at our old larger spot). But this is t he HUGE WIN happy spot for me. It's like meeting in a very warm round living room instead of a huge round dance hall. The intimacy level is about 4X what it was, and we can enjoy the floor space.

AANR Club/Member Liaison Terry Justice made the following statement last May when allegations against Lupin first emerged.

I immediately called the club and spoke with the owners, I also sent them any information I was able to find. Of course they were shocked and very annoyed that this was about to befall them, they are very proud of their family-friendly, non-sexual resort.

They thanked the AANR office for catching this, and assured us that there would be extra security at the gate and in the resort. These groups will be turned away and or ejected, and will never be welcome at Lupin Lodge.

AANR proclaims on their website:

The atmosphere of an AANR club is wholesome and friendly. People who enjoy nude recreation distinguish between nudity and sex and keep the two in their proper perspectives. Clubs are careful about who enters their facility and if anyone seems to be there for the wrong reason, they will be asked to leave.

AANR President Susan Weaver announced on February 11 that Internal Administration is looking into "several" matters that will be "dealt with in a just and appropriate manner."

Lupin Lodge is affiliated with AANR and The Naturist Society (TNS). As of this writing, neither organization has said whether or not Lupin specifically is the subject of any investigations.

Following are some screen captures of the BDSM website.

AANR Currently Investigating "Several" Matters

2011-02-12T04:47:00.000-08:00

In an announcement yesterday, AANR President Susan Weaver said that "several" matters were currently being handled by Internal Investigations:

Vice President Mark Hammond, who also serves as AANR's Internal Administration Chair, has been working on several IA matters. While it is never pleasant to receive complaints about clubs, the IA process is in place so that the regions can carry out initial investigations and report their findings to AANR, so they can be dealt with in a just and appropriate manner. As a club owner himself, Mark sets high value on the AANR brand and will work to see that it is upheld.

All nudists and naturists should contact AANR and TNS and let them know that they also want traditional family values upheld at affiliated clubs, especially regarding the current situation at Lupin Lodge. Don't be part of the silent majority, speak up!

AANR
Tel: 800-TRY-NUDE
407-933-2064
Fax: 407-933-7577
Email: try-nude@aanr.com
Email: susanweaver@aanr.com

THE NATURIST SOCIETY
Tel: 800-886-7230
Fax: 920-426-5184
Email: nickyh@naturistsociety.com

Erich Schuttauf Resigns from AANR

2011-02-10T15:43:00.001-08:00

Citing a "a new set of financial needs for me and my family", Erich Schuttauf has stepped down as Executive Director of the American Association of Nude Recreation in order to "return to the legal and business community." Susan Weaver, President of AANR, calls Schuttauf a "dedicated servant to nude recreation", and noted that he will be missed very much. Schuttauf says that his 13 years with AANR are among his "life's greatest joys", and he plans to remain as a consultant to the organization.

http://www.nudistclubhouse.com/group_topic.php?topic=2795

AANR to Skip the Skinny Dip in 2011

2011-02-10T11:34:00.001-08:00

The American Association of Nude Recreation is taking a hiatus from its two-year old Guinness World Record Skinny-Dip event. Susan Weaver, President of the organization, explains:

Planning these events takes enormous coordination and effort. Guinness has stringent certification and verification procedures required to establish and beat world records. Every location hosting an event had to meet the Guinness standards. Some of the location coordinators wanted a rest for a year from the many, many hours of work that went into planning the events and providing official records for Guinness.

I feel certain that AANR will be back in the future seeking to beat the 2010 record.

With 14,110 people participating last year alone, it seems that the event would have been profitable, but apparently the time spent on organization and record-keeping wiped out any benefit to many of the clubs. It was a public relations coup, and a brilliant idea, but perhaps it would have been better had other organizations like The Naturist Society had gotten involved. Now the future of the event is up in the air.

At least three AANR resorts already have the skinny-dip on their calendars for July 9,2011 (here, here and here), so hopefully someone will let them know soon so they can schedule other events.

The Crisis in Nudism and Naturism, and What YOU Can Do

2011-02-10T03:55:00.001-08:00

The silence is deafening from AANR and TNS since the recent allegations that Lupin Lodge is hosting BDSM erotic lifestyle groups on its grounds. Both organizations should have been well prepared for this moment, given that the reports of fetish groups infiltrating Lupin surfaced last May.

The loss of Lupin Lodge, a cornerstone of the nudist and naturist movement since 1936, would be devastating. Both AANR and TNS are in negotiations with the California Department of Parks and Recreation for the restoration of clothing-optional status to San Onofre Beach, and for more public lands to be set aside for nude recreation, claiming that nudism and naturism are family friendly and not magnets for overt sexual activity.

How can either group expect to maintain the moral high ground in discussions and legal actions when one of its affiliated clubs in California is hosting sexual fetish events?

AANR has drawn a sharp line in the sand, proclaiming that these "groups will be turned away and or ejected, and will never be welcome at Lupin Lodge."

NEVER.

The Naturist Society is also clear in its stand on sexual activity.

TNS adamantly rejects the use of the term "naturism" as a cover for sexual activity. Naturists do not deny the sexual nature of human beings, but they reject the all too prevalent view in our society that nudity and sex are synonymous, and that children should be "protected" from nudity regardless of context. To repeat: nude is not lewd.

ADAMANTLY REJECTS.

The time is now to let YOUR voice be heard on this issue. Either the national organizations live up to their standards and philosophies, or they turn a blind eye to a situation which threatens the very existence of family nudism.

The discussion about the future of nudism needs to be had. Are the occasional adult events such as the "human fox hunt" or "Nudes-a-Poppin" acceptable at AANR and TNS affiliated clubs as long as they otherwise maintain a family-friendly atmosphere, or are these adult-oriented events grounds for club suspension or expulsion? As of today, the latter is still official policy.

Until that discussion takes place, it appears that AANR and TNS have no choice but to sanction clubs which hold overt sexual events. In the case of Lupin Lodge, it is alleged by the "human fox hunt" people that employees at the venue not only gave complete approval to the fetish events, they worked knowingly to cover it up.

If such an event is acceptable, then why is it not listed on Lupin's calendar, and why did the fox hunt folks remove all references to Lupin from their web site to prevent search engines from finding the information?

Inaction on this issue is a tacit admission that family naturism is a fraud.

It is time for all nudists and naturists to get involved. Contact the leaders of AANR and TNS and let them know how you feel. If you think that such adult activities are unacceptable, then tell them. If you think that adult activities are sometimes acceptable, then tell them. Just don't sit by the sidelines and watch as yet another club falls to the lifestyle crowds.

AANR
Tel: 800-TRY-NUDE
407-933-2064
Fax: 407-933-7577
Email: try-nude@aanr.com

THE NATURIST SOCIETY
Tel: 800-886-7230
Fax: 920-426-5184
Email: nickyh@naturistsociety.com

The Most Popular Nudist and Naturist Sites on the Internet 2/8/11

2011-02-08T10:59:00.001-08:00

Time to update the statistics for popular nudist and naturist websites. All data can be easily obtained on Alexa. Statistics valid as of 2/8/11 only.

Please note that I have filtered out all the web sites out there which call themselves "nudist" but are actually picture peddlers, many selling images of nude children. These parasitic sites contain no useful nudist information, in my opinion. The only pay site that I decided to include in my list is Clothes Free International, because although they charge for access to photos and videos, their forum is free and is about the best one on the Internet, and the folks there present what I consider to be a positive image of nudism.

Most websites outside North America are also excluded since no US ranking is available from Alexa.

I have also decided to include some social networking sites, even though they are not necessarily family-friendly and present somewhat of a meat-market image. While not ideal, a lot of AANR and TNS members have profiles on those sites and exchange useful information.

A few high-ranking resorts are also on my list, including a couple which recently lost their AANR charters, just to show how well they do compared to traditional nudist venues.

Gone from my previous list is Skinbook (out of business), Black's Beach Bares (no longer online), International Nudist (no longer online), The Naturist Journal (not updated for over two years), and Cheef's (no longer online). New additions include Lake Como, Young Naturists and Nudists America, and i-naked.info. Even though i-naked.info is based in the UK, it has a relatively high US rank.

So where do people get nudist information on the Internet? In the following list, the first number is Alexa's rank for traffic in the United States, and the up and down percentages reflect a three month trend for the number of pageviews.

True Nudists - 51,679, pageviews Down 6%, previous rank 4
Clothes Free International - 56,135, pageviews Up 91%, previous rank 1
Diary of a Nudist - 78,824, pageviews Down 2%, previous rank 6
NudistFriends.com - 92,778, pageviews Up 9%, previous rank 5
AANR - 137,978, pageviews Down 37%, previous rank 12
Nudist Clubhouse - 170,062, pageviews Up 23%, previous rank 3
Young Naturists & Nudists America - 189,975, pageviews Up 130%, previous rank N/A
Caliente Resorts - 191,254, pageviews Up 37%, previous rank 10
Net Nude - 238,617, pageviews Down 5%, previous rank 7
The Naturist Society - 248,250, Up 30%, previous rank 17
Nudist-Resorts.org - 260,891, pageviews Down 44%, previous rank 2
Sunsport Gardens - 267,573, pageviews Up 10%, previous rank 9
The Terra Cotta Inn - 335,092, pageviews data N/A, previous rank 13
World Naked Bike Ride - 347,362, pageviews Down 25%, previous rank 8
i-naked.info - 357,708, pageviews data N/A, previous rank N/A
Lake Como - 444,289, pageviews data N/A, previous rank N/A
All Nudist - 447,261, pageviews data N/A, previous rank 19
Paradise Lakes Resort - 467,424, pageviews data N/A, previous rank 18
The Academic Naturist - 474,157, pageviews data N/A, previous rank 32
South Florida Free Beaches - 501,343, Down 7%, previous rank 27
Body Freedom Collaborative - 602,511, pageviews data N/A, previous rank 22
Naturist Action Committee - 621,761, pageviews data N/A, previous rank 28
Topfree Equal Rights Association - 620,541, pageviews data N/A, previous rank 14
Terra Cotta Inn Blog - 704,475, pageviews data N/A, previous rank 26
Cypress Cove Nudist Resort - US Rank N/A, previous rank 15
Nudist Explorer - US Rank N/A, previous rank 20
Naturist Christians - US Rank N/A, previous rank 21
Nudist Day - US Rank N/A, previous rank 24
USA Nudist - US Rank N/A, previous rank 25
Nude Hiking and Soaking in the Pacific Northwest - US Rank N/A, previous rank 31
West Penn Naturist - US Rank N/A, previous rank 33

Some sites have such low traffic that they are not listed, such as Florida Young Naturists, Bare Oaks Blog, Lupin Lodge, MojoNude, and Heroic Nudist. Other sites such as Living Nude on Tiger Mountain and Sunny Day are incorporated into larger websites, so traffic stats are not available.

The last seven listed are essentially tied since they do not register a US ranking on Alexa. It's surprising that they have weakened so much in the last year in terms of traffic. Another point of interest is the strength of #1 True Nudists, which has apparently benefited from the demise of Skinbook.

Please let me know if you think that any sites were overlooked and I will consider adding them to the list.

What's Really Going On at Lupin Lodge?

2011-02-07T18:04:00.001-08:00

According to their website, a California "Human Fox Hunt" erotic lifestyles group has booked May 6 through 8 at Lupin Lodge Clothing-Optional Resort for one of their fetish events (please note registration is required on their website to get access for specifics on the event). Another ponyplay fetish site, The Stampede, describes the event as follows:

The original human fox hunt team and The Stampede is gearing up for our second event in our new venue! All animal role players are welcome to explore their inner animal in a natural setting. Our clothing optional venue provides a safe, sane, and consensual environment to romp in as you please. ALL ANIMAL role players welcomed, Puppies, ponies, foxes, furries, and mythical beasts! There will be outdoor space for lunge, ad cart pulling, and indoor BDSM play space, and a large forested area for the hunt.

Lupin Lodge in Los Gatos, California, is affiliated with the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) and The Naturist Society (TNS). Both organizations support nude recreation in a non-sexual environment. In the past few years, at least three AANR affiliated resorts have withdrawn from the organization due to overtly sexual activities and marketing to swinger lifestyle groups: Caliente, Paradise Lakes and Seminole.

Lupin also disassociates itself from sexual activity, declaring that anyone visiting the resort agrees to "avoid behavior which is aggressive, harassing, embarrassing, overtly sexual, or otherwise inappropriate to Lupin's family environment" (rules). Minor children are welcome and are admitted free as long as they are accompanied by their parents. On a page entitled "Lupin, Nudity and Sexuality" it is stated emphatically that "Public eroticism and sexual exploitation are not acceptable at Lupin."

The controversy over the erotic lifestyle groups is not new and was previously reported here. AANR was notified at the time and Terry Justice, Club/Member Liason, gave the following response:

I immediately called the club and spoke with the owners, I also sent them any information I was able to find. Of course they were shocked and very annoyed that this was about to befall them, they are very proud of their family-friendly, non-sexual resort. They thanked the AANR office for catching this, and assured us that there would be extra security at the gate and in the resort. These groups will be turned away and or ejected, and will never be welcome at Lupin Lodge.

Information on the Fox Hunt website contradicts AANR, and openly describes an event held at Lupin last September:

The new venue was perfect for this event, and the feedback from both the venue, other guests, and guests of the fox hunt has been exceptionally positive! We will be doing this again, and there is even consideration to doing this twice a year, since our ideal weather, and time of year is on the edges of the venue's busy season, and into their down season.

Upon registering and logging into the Fox Hunt site, one can read a message from Fox Hunt member "Smash" describing the problems encountered with Lupin and AANR:

This controversy appears to date back to mid-May, 2010. This was the day that Smash, the event organizer, met with Lupin Lodge representative, Cindy Gregory, and the date for this event was confirmed. Shortly thereafter, a preliminary announcement was posted onto The Stampede Talk and copied to the Equus Eroticus events listing. While only members of Stampede Talk can read Stampede posts and these posts can not be found through Google, the EE posting was publicly viewable.

The conservative watchdogs have Lupin Lodge, and the Lodge's website, in their searches. They have made an issue out of the Fox Hunt to the AANR. AANR has politely asked the Fox Hunt Organizers to remove all references to Lupin Lodge and any Lupin URLs.

The Fox Hunt organizers have combed this site and removed all references to "Lupin", or "Lupin Lodge" and now merely refer to it as "The Venue". All references and links to Lupin Lodge in the articles can now only be seen by registered users.

AANR has denied any knowledge of these events at Lupin, yet "Smash", the event organizer, claims that AANR requested that the Fox Hunt site remove all references to Lupin.

Lupin Lodge, AANR and TNS have all been asked to comment on this situation, and as of this writing there has been some communication but no official statement.

Screen shots of the Fox Hunt websites are below in case pressure is put on them to change or remove their information about Lupin.

AANR bills itself as "the credible voice of reason for nude recreation Since 1931" and fields a Government Affairs Team to liaison with public officials over legal and public lands issues. Currently AANR is in communications with the California Parks and Recreation Department over setting aside some public lands for nude recreation.

Lupin Lodge was founded in 1936 and the history of their first 50 years can be found here. The Naturist Society has scheduled its annual Western Gathering at Lupin for August 11-14, 2011.

http://foxhunt.lycanthrope.net/
http://the-stampede.org/events.html

Disappointing Response from AANR

2010-12-20T10:10:00.001-08:00

In response to my original story "Young Nudists Challenge AANR", the national nude recreation organization has vigorously defended its record on reaching out to young people, while at the same time attacking Young Naturists and Nudists America co-founder Felicity.

According to comments made by Felicity, co-founder of the group, in the December 18 edition of The Political Naturist, AANR doesn’t “represent, create, they don’t get involved.” While a great way to garner headlines for an upstart nudist group, is that statement, and others like it, the truth? Or even more alarming, really necessary?

The title of the AANR blog post is "Can't All Nudist Groups Just Get Along?", but they basically attack Felicity as being a liar, an alarmist, and her opinion unnecessary.

Is Felicity wrong? Perhaps, but in the original story Erich Schuttauf, Executive Director of AANR, gave a measured and thoughtful response to her comments, defending AANR's record without resorting to attacking Felicity or her organization. In fact, he praises them by saying, "I think it is GREAT that a growing group of young people want to take clothes-free recreation to the next level and would welcome an opportunity to talk to their leadership!"

AANR's blog post goes on to say, "Why should any nudist group try to claim advantage over another? Aren’t we all working toward the same goals?" One would think, but AANR's decision to sit out the NAC lawsuit over San Onofre Beach, their refusal to sign a petition on the issue, and subsequent statements basically blaming NAC for the loss of San Onofre, don't exactly exhibit a spirit of cooperation.

Has AANR reached out to YNNA personally? After all, they are supposed to be the "adults" of the national nudist family, and it's their responsibility to bring people together, not to tear them apart.

AANR has every right to defend its record, but it's unwise and destructive to try and tear down others who happen to possess different opinions and ideas.

I sincerely hope that AANR and YNNA find some way to work together, such as co-sponsoring an event, or gathering in person to share ideas, and leaving the egos at home.

RAW FOOTAGE #7: from "Man Behind The Farm" - Talkin' Nudism

2010-12-19T12:40:00.001-08:00

Vlog - Online Photography & Nudism

2010-12-19T12:40:00.000-08:00

nudism, nudist, nudists, nude, nudity, naturism, naturist, naturists, naked, clothes-free

Young Nudists Challenge AANR

2010-12-18T14:40:00.000-08:00

"They don't represent, create, they don't get involved."

Felicity, who along with Jordan Blum founded Young Naturists and Nudists America in New York City, is talking about the American Association for Nude Recreation. "And they just don't seem to get it anymore."

Arriving with an Internet spash, including a press release, a Facebook page with about 800 friends, a Facebook group with about 500 members, a Twitter account with about 200 followers, and a website which reportedly already has more visitors than AANR.com, Young Naturists and Nudists America (YNNA) is directly challenging the established national organization by appealing to a "younger tech savvy community".

Felicity says that AANR fails "because they just don't understand the younger generation, and the AANR isn't proactive when it comes to younger people With us, we're young and putting our heart and souls into making something we hope others will appreciate."

So who exactly are Felicity and Jordan, and what prompted them to found a new nudist organization?

"I lived in a nudist club when I was very little with my family, and then we moved into an outside house while keeping a cabin there", says Felicity. "From then on I was there naked every summer." She later met Jordan at a nudist resort, and they both came to the conclusion that there was a better way for nudism to appeal to younger people. She explains, "The whole thing about body acceptance angered Jordan. He read about tattoos, piercings, transgender and things of that nature and the AANR didn't support what Jordan thought was the essence of the naturist movement..accepting people for who they are rather than what they look like."

Erich Schuttauf, Executive Director of AANR, disagrees, noting that "the American Association for Nude Recreation is working to introduce nudism to a new generation of college students and 30-somethings."

"Perhaps the best example I can think of for AANR’s efforts in 2010 came last July when over 13,000 people turned out to set a Guiness World Record for simultaneous skinny dipping. Many of these were “first timers” and a large contingent of them were college students. My family and I personally met a lot of these at Haulover Beach in Miami, Florida where we helped set the record."

"Regarding body jewelry, the Association recognizes that the adornment one chooses is a very personal matter. Within letters to the editor of The Bulletin, our monthly members’ newspapers, people have expressed a variety of “animated” positions on how they feel about the topic. For its part, the Association does not take a position---one way or another---on what jewelry should and should not be worn within our 200+ clubs. Instead, we leave it to those clubs to set policies that work for them."

Despite the perceived differences, YNNA is moving forward with nude social events much in the spirit of AANR, looking to make the parties a "fun positive experience" with security and a zero tolerance for sexual activity. Registration for the upcoming Nude Year's Eve party is open until December 22, a deadline which was extended in order to achieve a "better mix of ages and males/females."

Despite the name of the organization, Felicity says that they "don't have any age limit, we just take the list of registered guests and try to make it as diverse as possible."

When warmer weather arrives, Felicity says that YNNA is hopeful about organizing club visits to nude beaches and resorts "as long as we don't run out of money by then...but we have big dreams." When asked if she had any contact with AANR, she said "we were sending them emails, but no one was really responding."

Erich Schuttauf suggests that his organization might have dropped the ball. "I have to confess that I am not personally aware of efforts that were made to reach out to work with AANR and me. But I will admit that we make mistakes and are not always perfect at responding to those who contact our office at 1-800-TRY-NUDE. I think it is GREAT that a growing group of young people want to take clothes-free recreation to the next level and would welcome an opportunity to talk to their leadership!"

So what is AANR doing to reach out to younger people? Schuttauf explains, "We recognize that the forms of communication that speak to various ages changes over time. Where traditional print, radio, and television have evolved into the internet and social media including Facebook, AANR has kept pace. WWW.AANR.COM has a generous portion of space dedicated to messaging that serves twenty and thirty somethings. YouTube videos about the Guiness World Skinny Dip, Poolside with the (AANR) President, and even Government Affairs have generated views in the tens of thousands. What’s more, Vita Nuda, a partnership between a dynamic group of young professionals and AANR has garnered YouTube views in the millions...Vita Nuda has held events (e.g. a 5K race and get-together weekends) in multiple clubs drawing a college aged crowd up to those in their early 30’s. Vita Nuda receives funding and resource support from AANR. Some of its key leadership have worked on the staff at AANR where they have brought ideas to work."

Whatever the differences between the two groups, there certainly appear to be more similarities in philosophy and intent, and the possibility for some sort of future collaboration might exist. The positive for nudists and naturists everywhere is that there are young people like Felicity and Jordan willing to spend much time and money on promoting nude recreation, exhibiting knowledge and enthusiam which is much needed.

Ultimately, though, Felicity says that YNNA is not about AANR, Vita Nuda or anyone else. "We're doing our own thing, not trying to take away from anybody else."

Stopping Exploitation Begins at Home, Mr. Deschênes

2010-12-10T15:11:00.001-08:00

Stéphane Deschênes of Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park and the Federation of Canadian Naturists, has released his latest web podcast entitled "Exploitation", which condemns the people who have exploited nudism and naturism, those who would "objectify our bodies and sexualize our activities." He rails against profiteers who "pander to deviants", selling photos and videos of children engaging in nude recreation, which have no interest to actual naturists, but only to those with "prurient intents." Deschênes uses strong words like "infect" and "victimize" when referring to people who "twist the definition of naturism to suit their purposes."

I wholeheartedly agree, and I will have a lot more to say about this subject, which is extremely important and should be of great concern to nudists and naturists worldwide.

But Mr. Deschênes is on the Board of Directors for "Going Natural", the official publication of FCN, which accepts advertising from "Nudism Lifestyles" (see page 39 Summer 2010 issue), which sells DVDs for $45 and up which include "mothers and daughters enjoy a morning of lively water exercises", "dozens of guys spend the day at the gym", "Ms. Nude Texas", "1999 Junior Miss Pageant", and other similar exploitative materials.

And on page 52 of the same issue is an ad which features a nude child with the words "RUSSIANBARE.COM" painted on her back, used as a human billboard to sell exactly the types of exploitative materials so condemned by Mr. Deschênes on his podcast.

So I urge everyone to let Mr. Deschênes (stephane@fcn.ca) know that he needs to start looking in his own back yard when it comes to rooting out those who "conceal themselves beneath the cloak of legitimacy that naturism provides."

True Nudists Suspended?

2010-11-26T14:48:00.001-08:00

As of Friday November 26 at 5:45 PM ET, truenudists.com has been suspended. Anyone know if this is temporary or permanent?

UPDATE: It's back online now. Maybe they forgot to pay the electric bill.

Video: Naturists Visit a Dutch Museum

2010-11-26T07:19:00.000-08:00

A group of naturists visit the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam. Video here.

Thankful

2010-11-25T07:52:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is the one day each year when Americans set aside negativity and focus on all the wonderful things life has to offer, giving thanks to the the people, places and things which enrich our all-too-brief existences on this planet.

So, here is a list of just a few of the things I am grateful for this year:

My wonderful wife of 30 years, who has given me wealth beyond measure. This past summer has been one of the happiest and healthiest of our lives.
Our daughter, who makes our lives meaningful every day.
Fred and Jo Anne at Cedar Trails Nudist Retreat, who have worked so hard to make their campground the friendliest resort in Ohio.
The Naturist Action Committee, for their hard work and diligence in protecting naturist rights, and the resurrection of their newsletter.
The Naturist Society, for keeping the message of naturism alive and vital in an increasingly complex and difficult society.
AANR, for promoting nude recreation with their annual Skinny-Dip and their efforts to bring younger people into the nudist experience.
Dr. Paul Rapoport, for his continuing efforts with TERA to support women in the topfree equal rights movement.
Stephane Deschanes, for his wonderful Naturist Living Show podcast which is always timely, interesting, and a must listen for anyone interested in nudism and naturism.
To dedicated bloggers The Academic Naturist, MojoNude, Tom Mulhall, Andre at i-Naked.info, Nude Hiking and Soaking in the Pacific Northwest, KenFreehiker, Lady God1va and Cynde Moya for their tenacity and dedication to spreading the nudist/naturist message, when so many others have faded into cyberspace.
And, or course, all of you who stop by here on a daily basis and help make this blog a labor of love.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

School Principal Defends Naked Student Farm Video

2010-11-22T10:08:00.001-08:00

A group of high school students made a video for a "cabaret night" featuring "two bound and gagged naked women, a nude woman lying bareback on a horse and a half-naked man in a pig pen."

The school principal defended the video, saying "There's nothing wrong with being naked. That's still allowed... These nights are a way for the students to poke fun at themselves and be creative. I think the film is rather nice, actually. No-one is drunk; there is no alcohol, no drugs. It's just a bunch of naked kids having fun."

Now you would think that this story was some sort of satirical spoof, that no high school principal would dare to defend such student nudity. It's no joke, but it didn't happen in the United States, it happened in Sweden.

Had this happened in the United States, the students would have been suspended or even expelled, been subject to arrest for producing pornography, and perhaps even be put on a sex offender list. Outraged parents would be calling for the dismissal of the principal as well as other teachers who were involved in the scandal. No doubt the 24 hour news cycle would be all over the story, and Dr. Phil would be knocking on all of their doors.

I think it's a much happier world when society is more accepting of "a bunch of naked kids having fun."

Canadian Freehiker Beats Indecency Charge

2010-11-20T04:23:00.001-08:00

The law did everything in its power to prevent a man from hiking nude in Orillia, Ontario, Canada, but this week indecency charges were dropped, thus potentially making this a landmark case for nudists and naturists in the Great White North.

Gleb Bazov, a Toronto-based lawyer who represents the man, believes the decision sets an important precedent.

"It is a landmark case in the sense that the law has been applied to nudists and naturists. Now there is a clear pronouncement that a naturist is not engaging in an indecent act."

The reason for the dismissal was due to the fact that the man's naturist activity was determined to be of no harm to the public.

Reactions from residents are typical, ranging from expressions of personal offense to allegations of harm to children for seeing a nude man, but these are fears and misconceptions based upon centuries of societal restrictions and religious dogma, and have nothing to do with reality.

Congratulations to this unnamed man who has been freehiking in Canada for years, and who can now practice his naturist activities without fear of further harassment from the police. It might take time for the general public to become accepting of freehikers, and hopefully many others will exercise their freedom and experience nature without the unnecessary restrictions of clothing.

UPDATE: Another story on the dismissal is here.

Stephane Deschenes, director of the Federation of Canadian Naturists, says naturists are just embracing their “natural self” and shouldn't "have to fear being out in the public.

"We, as a society, have a real phobia about our own body. We are so incredibly uncomfortable that we find our own image embarrassing, shameful and offensive."

This story was covered by us previously here.

To Scan, or Not to Scan

2010-11-18T12:16:00.001-08:00

It's typical in today's divisive political climate to find opposing points of view within clear-cut social groups, where once there would have been unanimity.

On the issue of airport full-body scanners, polls indicate that 81% of the American people support their use, while the remaining 19% are opposed and quite passionate in their condemnation of the government's invasion of privacy in the name of security.

Set aside all the arguments, such as the fact that the radiation emitted by these machines could be dangerous, or whether or not these scanners are actually effective or not, and let's look at how nudists are reacting.

Erich Schuttauf, AANR's executive director, in support of the Transportation Safety Administration's use of the scanners, put out a statement saying "A trained TSA or security professional in a remote monitoring station takes a few seconds discreetly screening passengers to be sure they're only bringing what nature gave them aboard."

OK, seems reasonable that a nudist would have no problem with someone else seeing them naked. But the owner of Palm Springs largest nudist resort feels differently.

“It's an invasion of privacy,” Michael Patrick Williams, general manager of The Desert Sun Resort, told City News Service. “Naturists aren't really different from anyone else.”

Williams goes on to point out that nudists are very interested in privacy even though they socialize in the nude. At nudist resorts, cameras and cell phones are generally forbidden, and clubs and resorts do everything they can to keep out strangers who might just want to gawk at all the naked people.

The Desert Sun Resort is affiliated with AANR, so this is a clear break with the organization's official stance on this issue. So who is right?

Williams is, by a long shot. Freedom is fleeting, something which literally millions have died for in human history. All wars waged by the United States, including the bloody Civil War, have been fought in the name of freedom. For this single reason above all others, all freedom-loving Americans need to oppose these new TSA security measures, which effectively treat ALL airline passengers as criminals, mandating a full body scan or physical pat-down as a condition for boarding a public conveyance.

It's not a nudist issue, it's an American issue. For Erich Schuttauf to support the erosion of Constitutional rights in America, when he represents a group of people who are looking to expand freedoms, is completely absurd. This has nothing to do with shame, or body parts, or anything else other than the fact that our government is engaging in virtual strip-searches of innocent people, and patting them down as if they were sitting down for a meeting with Don Corleone.

I don't know if AANR is just trying to generate some cheap publicity, or if the organization really believes that the way to achieve more body freedom in America is to actually sacrifice body freedom. Either way, AANR is being irresponsible and failing to serve the interest of its members.

And congrats to Michael Patrick Williams for standing up to AANR and its inexplicable stance on body scanners. More AANR members need to speak out and demand that Schuttauf reverse his statement and stand on the side of freedom in America.

Photography and Nudism

2010-11-16T06:59:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Don Kiester of Nature's Hideaway Nudist Resort in Osage, Oklahoma, emailed me with the following:

Just to let you know we have been enjoying your blog. We are a nudist resort near Tulsa, OK, and we're AANR members. We have been on a campaign to try to get more young people interested in nudism, and we believe that nudist photography is the best way to tell/sell the nudist idea. As I keep trying to convince the AANR, more photography showing young people participating in and enjoying nudism is a must to carry nudism forward. Do you agree?

Yes, I do agree! Don offered to let me reprint something he wrote a while ago for the AANR Bulletin, plus he added a few vintage photos taken at his resort. Thanks, Don!

I first learned of nudism in the 1950’s when, as a teenager; I found some nudist magazines in a local drugstore...yes, believe it or not they were openly sold at our small-town drugstore. When I first saw those wonderful pictures of men, women and children gleefully playing outdoors completely nude, I was hooked. They all looked so happy with their nudity, and they seemed to be without a single thought of shame. Immediately my interest in those photographs of nude people took on a completely new meaning for me, and I decided that I would live my life as a nudist.

Those beautiful nudist photographs confirmed the idea of nudism within me for the rest of my life. A photograph conveys in a way no words can, a sense of the mystery and beauty of life and nature. A nude photograph isolates the truth, exposing to us the realities of our total being. An expressive face, a graceful body, a fleeting moment in nature, a human shape within the landscape, a mother and child with a loving smile…these are the fundamental stories told by nudist photographs that inspires me. We seldom realize the extent to which photography has influenced our culture, and nudist photography has contributed more than almost anything else towards educating people about the acceptance of their own bodies. Nudism embraces being human without shame. After all, a Supreme Power created us without shame; why then should we be shameful?

I have noticed lately that there seems to be a trend in main-stream family-oriented nudist organizations toward being almost apologetic about nudist photography; and less emphasis is being placed on the quality and clarity of the photographs that nudist publications present. Some nudist publications are presenting almost as many photographs of clothed people as nude ones. It is my opinion that unapologetic and beautifully presented photographs of nudist families enjoying their freedom to be nude is one of the best ways to express the nudist idea. Our nudist community must become more forthright with their non-nudist friends by telling them of their involvement and enjoyment of nudism. Nudist photographs depicting family nudist activities will help them tell the vastly misunderstood nudist story. And if nudist organizations wish to attract more young people to nudism, then photographs of young nudists should be shown enjoying youthful nude activities. Let’s share the nudist story by presenting interesting and compelling nudist photography and see our nudist organizations grow.

Don Kiester

Nature’s Hideaway

www.natures-hideaway.com

Free Nude Swims for First Timers in Columbus Ohio

2010-11-10T13:19:00.001-08:00

The Buckeye Naturists in concert with Have Sun Will Travel are offering an online coupon good for free admission to one of their winter swims for first timers, which has been posted on the Columbus Ohio Nudists Yahoo group. If you need more information, visit The Buckeye Naturists web site here, or the Have Sun Will Travel web site here.

Freehiking Barefoot, Part Two

2010-09-26T18:49:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed my barefoot hike so much on Thursday that I decided to try it again on Saturday. It was a chilly morning in the high fifties, but after a few minutes I was feeling pretty comfortable as I started the climb up the trails.

When I got to the horse meadow I again took off my shoes, and probably did about a mile barefoot, around the horse meadow and the overlook trail. It had rained the night before, so the ground was cold and damp, with squishy leaves. It was completely exhilarating. Feeling all the sensations of nature through the soles of your feet adds more than merely another dimension to the hiking experience, it transforms it.

And after the second barefoot hike, my feet once again showed no signs of abrasion, and were not tender. Maybe I'm already toughening them up.

This morning about 8 AM I decided to go for another hike, but the temperature was only about 50 degrees, probably colder in the woods. I went for it anyway. Initially I was pretty chilly being completely nude except for hiking sandals and a fanny pack, but as I began the climb up the trails, I began to warm up, and jogged part of the way to fire up the furnace.

I went about three miles, and when I got back, only my hands were a bit chilly. Again, completely exhilarating.

Next year I will be helping with the maintenance of the paths at Cedar Trails and will keep barefooting in mind for anyone who wants to try it. Again, be careful before you try something like this, because injury is a real possibility, especially on public paths.

Freehiking Barefoot

2010-09-23T20:31:00.000-07:00

It's something I've long wanted to try. While walking the wooded paths of Cedar Trails in Ohio, I've often been struck with the thought of removing my shoes and hiking barefoot, but one look at the many twigs, leaves, dirt, plants and who knows what else, the thought soon passed.

Not today. The trail was very dry from extreme lack of rain, and I was by myself for a little afternoon exercise. With temperatures soaring to the mid-nineties, I was very appreciative of being able to be nude and let what little breeze there was keep me somewhat cool.

Now the paths here at Cedar Trails are very clear, wide and well maintained. The trailmaster, who unfortunately recently had to relinquish his membership for personal reasons earlier in the season, had the goal of making the couple of miles of paths suitable for barefoot hiking. His efforts are clear to see, but the dry weather has caused the trees to shed many branches and leaves, making it very noisy underfoot.

So when the barefoot idea struck me at the very beginning of the walk up the perimeter path to the meteor crater overlook and the horse meadow, I decided to carry my shoes along with my small fanny pack in case my feet could not withstand the path surface.

Now I'm not necessarily recommending this to anyone, but I was somewhat surprised and pleased that my feet held up quite well. I made it all the way up to the horse meadow, whereby I decided to leave my shoes and fanny pack at the side of the trail and proceed without them. I was naked as the day I was born.

The perimeter path at Cedar Trails, meteor crater to the left.

It was a glorious feeling, being completely nude in nature, and all alone. My pace was somewhat slower than usual due the fact that I kept my eyes downward to avoid any obvious obstacles. I was pretty certain that I would not escape without some cut or abrasion.

I think we don't give enough credit to our feet, which are quite capable of functioning on nearly every type of surface. The sensation of being able to feel each and every leaf, twig and texture of dirt was remarkable and added immensely to the hiking experience.

Now I thought I was pretty special with my barefoot hike, but it turns out that it's really quite popular, as evidenced by a New York Times article here.

The hikers of the barefoot world tramp not only through mud and dust, but also over rocks, tree roots and the frosty ground of autumn (though they usually draw the line at snow). Yet although they may bring to mind tales of fakirs or extreme-sports enthusiasts, barefoot hikers are neither ascetics nor thrill seekers. Almost universally, they say they go shoeless for a sense of communion with the earth and for the sheer pleasure of feeling more of the world with their feet.

I completely agree. The barefoot hike will now become part of my regular routines here at Cedar Trails.

I made it all the way back to the bottom of the trail, still barefoot. I examined the soles of each foot, and other than a little dirt, there was no damage. A little tender, perhaps, but hours later writing this post I don't feel any the worse for wear.
Still, there is some caution to take if the urge to hike barefoot strikes you. At Cedar Trails, which is all private property, the chances of finding a nail or broken glass on the trail are slim to none, but on public trails it can be hazardous. Even so, I'm hooked, and cannot wait to experience hiking shoe-free once again.

Legislating the Human Body

2010-09-18T15:12:00.001-07:00

Just when you thought the culture wars were over, the sexually-repressed among us rear their ugly heads with more ridiculous attempts to further control the human body, and, in the process, actually widen the spectrum of human skin areas which are defined as being sexualized.

In Federal Way, Washington, officials are considering changes to the public morals code in order to stop the spread of "bikini baristas", women who serve espresso while scantily clad.

If approved, the amendment will classify indecent exposure as a misdemeanor offense. It will prohibit a person from intentionally exposing any part of the genitals or pubic area, parts of the buttocks, the areola, nipple, or more than half of the breast area located below the top of the areola in public. Streets, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, automobiles (whether moving or not) and businesses open to the public, including those containing a drive-through window, are considered public places.

The amendment would address risque attire, such as pasties, associated with bikini baristas. Body paint or dye, tattoos, latex, tape or similar substances applied to the skin to mask any of the above anatomical areas will not be permitted in public. Substances that can be washed off the skin and those designed to stimulate the regions would be banned as well.

I guess police will now have to carry around human anatomy charts and tape measures to determine whether or not a plunging neckline or hot pants make the wearer a dangerous criminal.

I have news for you. The entire human body is covered with skin, which has many erogenous zones. Have you ever kissed someone on the neck, or nibbled on the ear? What about a foot massage, or a caress behind the knee? And is their really anything more arousing than a full mouth-to-mouth kiss, with tongues playing tonsil hockey?

No, this sort of legislative mapping of the human body, with the intent of making criminals out of anyone who dares to expose certain parts of anatomy, is way beyond reasonable government activity. This is legislators gone wild, so intent on protecting "public morals" that they are willing not only to trample on basic human rights, but directly violate the 14th Amendment of the U. S. Constitution by discriminating against women.

And not only are these people trying to make the sight of a female breast illegal, they want to lock up "any person who touches, caresses or fondles the genitals or female breast, whether clothed or not..." So, will it now be illegal for a woman to adjust her bra in public, or scratch an itch, and will high school boys now have to grin and bear it when the urge to adjust their jock straps strikes in the middle of a game? And what about pinning on that corsage for the senior prom?

And is there an age restriction to this proposed amendment? Will 2 year-old girls be forced to wear tops while running through the backyard sprinkler? And what about women who have small breasts, or men who have large ones? Would a woman with a double mastectomy be allowed to be topfree? What about a man in the process of transgendering, who has both a penis and an ample chest? What if a man walked down the street wearing only pasties or tassels above the waist? Would that be worse than being totally topfree?

And how will areola size and location come into play? Any nudist knows that breasts, both male and female, come in all shapes and sizes. Who will be appointed nipple and breast judge in Federal Way?

And they won't even allow the sight of a breast which has been painted and taped over the "offensive" areas? Who is going to determine what these "similar substances" are? And what about see-through materials? Will it be OK for a woman to be completely covered in flimsy gauze, or clear plastic, even though the skin underneath is visible?

The arguments against this amendment are seemingly endless. It's simply stupid legislation, a knee-jerk reaction to what is perceived as a problem, but is really just overreaction to harmless human activity. By specifically targeting women, the proposed law is clearly unconstitutional, and will undoubtedly be challenged in court if it manages to pass.

All this coming on the heels of a ruling by the Indiana state appeals court which ignored the 14th Amendment and decided that banning the baring of female breasts in public is not discriminatory.

In the appeals court decision, Judge Cale Bradford wrote, "In the end, (the girl) would have us declare by judicial fiat that the public display of fully-uncovered female breasts is no different than the public display of male breasts, when the citizens of Indiana, speaking through their elected representatives, say otherwise. This we will not do.

"We conclude that Indiana's public nudity statute furthers the goal of protecting the moral sensibilities of that substantial portion of Hoosiers who do not wish to be exposed to erogenous zones in public."

I guess that the good folks of Indiana will not have to start covering up a lot more than their genitals and nipples. According to Discovery Health:

Other erogenous zones include the eyelids, the ears, and the shoulders. Many people also find that having their feet stroked is arousing. Stroking, caressing and massaging of erogenous zones can be titillating forms of sensual pleasure in and of themselves, or they can be invitations to further sexual activity.

The mouth, including the lips and tongue, for most people, is an area of high erotic potential. Kissing is one act that uses the sensitivity of this region in a sexually stimulating way.

France just banned the burqa, but Indiana is now apparently embracing it.

These attempts at controlling what people can or cannot wear are examples of the power of the state over what are generally understood as being freedoms of expression and speech, and in the case of the burqa, freedom of religion. We have plenty of things to be really worried about on this planet, such as nuclear war, climate change, AIDS, poverty, hunger, disasters, etc., but somehow in our feeble attempts to control the uncontrollable, we settle for regulating things that make us "feel" safer, or better, but in reality we are merely fooling ourselves.

Locking up women for showing a breast in public is not going to solve any of society's problems. Defining the parts of human anatomy which are unacceptable for public viewing is not going to stop the spread of sexually-transmitted diseases, halt teenage pregnancies, or lower the divorce rate. It's just more examples of impotent government unable to solve real problems, running around shooting straw men and flailing at windmills in order to present to an uninformed and fearful public an illusion of competence.

The rise of a dangerous politician like Christine O'Donnell who wants to abolish masturbation and lust, yet hasn't a clue about fiscal responsibility or actual governance, is an example of a frightened and frustrated public, looking to people who preach about angels and demons instead of policies and decisions. Perhaps emboldened by this new breed of morality warriors which are capturing the hearts of the fringe right-wing, the Montana GOP is actually discussing once again making homosexuality a crime.

And does anybody think that 17 state attorneys general putting pressure on Craigslist to censor its adult section is going to have any affect on prostitution or sex trafficking? Of course not, but it makes headlines and people think that these elected officials are actually doing something to "protect" society from demons.

Take a look at this chart. The government's expensive and foolish war on drugs has resulted in nearly triple the number of arrests for marijuana since 1990, while the number of pot smokers has not gone down, and might have actually increased a little. But somehow ruining the lives of nearly one million people in this country is justification for what is, in truth, abject failure to actually solve the problem.

It seems to be the fate of all big governments, from the ruling emperors of ancient Rome to the juggernaut which is our own Federal system, that in order to protect the people from themselves, a few heads must roll, and it's always the heads of the weak which are the first to fall under the knife. In dealing with the bikini barista "problem", the authorities in Federal Way haven't a clue about what to do, so they take out their frustrations on the women, who have no money to defend themselves, and are merely trying to earn a living. Whether or not this is exploitation is beside the point, because everyone is exploited to some degree in society. The issue here is equal treatment under the law, and this amendment specifically targeting women is government by men at its worst: sexist, cruel, discriminatory, and oppressive.

This is precisely why I get so angry at our nudist organizations, AANR and TNS, when they let their egos get in the way of the common good for nudism and naturism. If you think that nudist resorts and clubs are exempt from this sort of government overreach, then think again. All it takes is one emboldened, crusading moralist in a position of authority to start railing about the evils of nudists and the danger they pose to the general public, and specifically to children. It will matter not if there is any truth to the demonizing, or any shred of evidence - what will matter will be the public reaction and the ensuing actions of the legislators and judges, who have shown at least in the Indiana case of the topless girl, that the 14th Amendment does not matter when the "moral sensibilities" of the people are at risk.

Our government has shown that it is willing to ignore our Constitution when votes are on the line. On one hand laws and ordinances are enacted and clarified to prevent any display of public nudity, but on the other hand, in the interest of "national security", all airline passengers are going to be stripped naked electronically to be examined by security personnel. Our bodies no longer belong to us.

So I hope these bikini baristas in Washington state stand up for their rights, and in Indiana, the case of the topless woman should be appealed to the state supreme court. Moral "sensibilities", crusading politicians, the "will" of the people, and cultural norms should not be the basis for ignoring the 14th Amendment, which is clear as an azure sky in its simplicity: "... nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

Equal protection to any person, man, woman, child, black, white, Hispanic, Muslim, Jew, Catholic, gay, lesbian, and so on. There is no way anyone who believes in the Constitution of the United States can argue that the Federal Way amendment, and the decision of the Indiana appeals court, are in harmony with the basic law of the land. If a man can walk topfree in public, then a woman is guaranteed equal protection, and damned be those who would seek to legislate the human body and subvert the Constitution merely to curry favor with voters and protect his or her phony-baloney job.

So when you hear talk about repealing the 14th Amendment, be very, very afraid. These people not only want to control your body, but your heart and mind as well.

Better Off Dead

2010-09-12T06:08:00.001-07:00

The Skinbook experiment seems to have come to a bitter end. All the tell-tale signs predicting doom were there all along, from the ill-conceived (and probably illegal) "Name and Shame" blog, to their infantile response, and not to mention their warped intentions for founding the site in the first place. When the Ning network pulled the plug on any nudity throughout their network, the Skinbook admins tried to start something from scratch, but apparently their egos clashed, as evidenced by this statement released yesterday:

A message to all members of www.theskinbook.net/h3

It is with much regret that I have come to the decision to bring Skinbook to an end.

Afterall the effort (and money) we have put into saving the Skinbook network; the complaining, negativity, abuse and general lack of support we have recieved from our users has been quite frankly, disgusting... I am no longer prepared to provide the Skinbook network to any members past or present.

As much as we have attempted over the past couple of years to bring together the naturist community and give the naturist lifestyle a positive public image, the treatment of my team here at Skinbook has finally made it clear (to myself at least) why this lifestyle is both fragmented from within and ostracized from without.

What you take this to mean is up to you to speculate individually. For me this revelation doesn`t require an explination, it requires merely a reaction; my reaction being that from now on I see fit only to completely distance myself from this lifestyle (from both a philosophical and physical stand point) and most certainly from ANY medium which serves to promote it.

Good luck in your quests to find unity within your chosen lifestyle... you need it!

Karl Maddocks

For the purpose of legal matters we would like to make clear that we retain all rights to the Skinbook name, logo and any other associated media.

Anyone with an ounce of intelligence can see the hypocrisy in this statement. As a network set up to be apart from the existing naturist and nudist organizations, Skinbook BY DESIGN was divisive. In a Time Magazine article, which claimed that Skinbook was the "only genuine" nudist social network, Maddocks is quoted as being repulsed by "single elderly guys in sandals and socks", clearly drawing some sort of line in the sand between young and old, labeling existing nudist resorts as being "cultish and weird".

In addition, Skinbook only accepted 10% of its applicants, certainly rejecting a lot of real nudists. One has to speculate whether or not their membership, which they claimed averaged between 35 and 40 years of age, was deliberately skewed by the administrators.

In the case of Skinbook, I'm don't mind saying "I told you so." Maddocks' bitter and vitriolic diatribe, blaming his failure on the nudist community, is despicable. People by nature are divided, it takes leadership to bring them together. What Maddocks and his buddies did was further fragment people who practice the nudist lifestyle, and present to the public a false image of what being nude in social situations is all about.

Just go back to why Skinbook was created in the first place, and you will see why it was doomed to failure. Maddocks explained, "We couldn't communicate on MySpace and Facebook about nudism since we were all kind of embarrassed. So we said, 'Let's start our own forum and call it Skinbook.' The rest is history." People who are embarrassed by their own lifestyles have no business trying to become leaders.

So, good luck to YOU, Karl Maddocks. The nudist community is a lot better off without you now that you have decided to completely distance yourself from the lifetsyle. You were never a nudist, only an opportunist looking to exploit a sincere lifestyle for your own self-promotion.

Nude Limerick for a Sweltering Day

2010-08-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

There was once a young woman named Rose
Who enjoyed taking off all her clothes.
On her bike she would ride
Not ashamed of her hide
From her nose to her cute little toes.

It was summertime sweltering heat
Which made Rose expose more than her feet.
"Why, I haven't a care
Wearing only the air!"
She exclaimed as she rode down the street.

All the townspeople gathered to stare
Such a sight was incredibly rare.
'Cause this ample young girl
On her head had no curl
A Godiva with very short hair.

Soon the story spread out far and wide
Many others joined in for the ride
"Unless you are a prude
Being nude is not rude"
Rose explained with a heart full of pride.

copyright 2010 nudiarist

(note: this is a revised version to correct the meter)

AANR Refuses to Sign San Onofre Nude Beach Petition

2010-08-10T06:08:00.001-07:00

Continuing its bizarre anti-nudity stance, the American Association for Nude Recreation refused to sign a petition initiated by the Naturist Action Committee which asks the California Department of Parks and Recreation to set aside public lands for nude recreation.

AANR continues its unilateral approach of appeasement with the DPR with the following statement:

AANR chooses to work to continue to build a working relationship with the State and not to jeopardize a positive relationship it has taken years to build by signing on to a petition presented by an organization associated with legal confrontation.

Never mind that 16 nudist and naturist groups have signed onto the petition, leaving AANR and AANR-West as the only notable invitees who refused to support the cause. It's truly extraordinary that a national nudist organization would refuse to side with so many nudists and naturists on such an important issue, whatever the reason.

The petition and links to supporting information about the fight at San Onofre can be found here.

I am asking all my readers to support this petition and to closely follow the NAC instructions about how you can help.

I am also asking everyone to let AANR know exactly how you feel about this issue. You can join in on AANR's online discussion group here, or you can contact them directly here.

The End of Skinbook??

2010-07-21T05:18:00.001-07:00

Yesterday the administrators at NING dropped a bombshell by banning "nudity of any kind" in order to create a "clean" environment, thus effectively neutering Skinbook and other social networks for nudists and naturists founded on the NING platform.

Was it the worldwide publicity for Skinbook recently which prompted this radical censorship? While I am not a fan of Skinbook for various reasons, this vague and Puritanical ban on nudity is disturbing. Who is going to decide what is appropriate of not? How will this "nudity of any kind" be defined? Will male nipples be allowed? What about buttocks, or buttock cleavage? How much of the female breast is acceptable to expose? And what about bare feet? Isn't that "nudity" of a sort?

So thousands of online nudists who are on NING social networks are scrambling around trying to deal with this situation. This chaotic situation clearly opens a door for AANR to establish its own online social network for its members.

This is what happens when the national organizations abdicate their online responsibilities to third parties like Skinbook, which exist merely as a result of the void left by AANR, TNS, and others who have failed to establish an effective online presence for their members. Well, that void is wide open again. Time will tell who will fill it this time.

Lupin Lodge in Erotic Lifestyles Controversy, Part Two

2010-07-10T05:20:00.001-07:00

Back in May I posted about Lupin Lodge in California playing host to erotic lifestyle groups MAsTSCC and Equus Eroticus. AANR denied the allegations and said that such groups would be turned away at the gate.

Further evidence reveals that Lupin is indeed hosting these groups. Above are two screen shots of the MAsTSCC web site, the first one from today, July 10, 2010, and the second as it appeared on May 21, 2010. After my first story appeared, the group took their blog out of public view and removed the text referencing Lupin. For the event which took place on June 27, the venue was not identified on the blog, but the description fits Lupin.

The "pony play" group Equus Eroticus is still advertising it's "hunt" event at Lupin Lodge in September on their web site.

I would appreciate it if anyone having further information on Lupin allegedly hosting these groups to contact me at nudiarist@gmail.com

Asbury Park Nixes Topless Beach

2010-07-07T17:46:00.000-07:00

As I predicted, the Asbury Park City Council killed any idea for a "topless" beach after a city attorney reported that two city ordinances currently prohibit women from baring their breasts, and for anyone to be nude in public. The council expressed no intention to make any changes to existing laws.

Naturally, the proposal was defeated for all the wrong reasons, with people worried that exposed female breasts would scare away families and be somehow dangerous to children. Indeed, the beach idea was ill-conceived out of a twisted intention of promoting women's rights by forcing them to practice their "equality" on a segregated stretch of beach.

For AANR to have associated itself and its membership to this fiasco is an embarrassment, showing not only a lack of common sense, but a dearth of integrity as well.

Lacking a true grassroots movement to further topfree equality in Asbury Park, the proposal was doomed from the start. Topfreedom will only come when enough women decide that they really want the same rights already extended to men, who are free to remove their shirts virtually anywhere in public, and certainly at any beach or pool.

Sadly, the quick dispatch of this "topless" beach idea is likely to quash any enthusiasm for more clothing-optional beaches in New Jersey for the foreseeable future, and is a clear setback to topfree equality in the Garden State.

Why I Oppose the Asbury Park Topless Beach Proposal

2010-07-06T13:10:00.000-07:00

It seems at first contradictory that a nudist would have a problem with a legal topless beach.

But the proposed topless section at a beach in Asbury Park, New Jersey, is on the table for all the wrong reasons.

First, the idea is from a local woman named Reggie Flimlin who owns Yoga Basin, and is quoted as making this astounding statement: "I just thought it would be appropriate for Asbury Park, given how open and accepting we are, to celebrate women's rights in a particular area on the beach." She also stated that "currently men are topless and women should have the same right."

That would be like leaders of the Civil Rights movement in the sixties advocating "coloreds only" bathrooms and drinking fountains. One cannot "celebrate" any right by advocating segregation. Either the right exists, or it doesn't.

Secondly, the topless beach is heralded as being a boost to tourism. This I simply do not understand. Are they proposing to use exposed female breasts as an attraction, like they do at the topless pools in Las Vegas? Are they hoping to draw in more women who want to sunbathe topless, or more men who want to look at them?

Third, this effort totally undermines the women's topfree movement, which advocates equality between the sexes when it comes to taking off one's shirt in public. By creating a "topless" zone on a beach through legislation, this takes away a woman's right to be topfree anywhere except the designated area, sort of like an outdoor strip club. While topfree activists like Andrea Simoneau and so many others are trying hard to take back their female breasts from male ownership and sexualization, a topless beach only serves to further perpetuate the myth that a woman's body from the waist up is somehow lewd and a danger to children and society in general.

Dr. Paul Rapoport of TERA has posted the following statement: "A specific area set aside by any government where women may be topfree is just another means to control them and deny them equality with men. There must be no legislated topfree beach in New Jersey. If women decide to congregate topfree voluntarily in one or more places, that's another matter. They must be lawfully free to be topfree just about anywhere, not in some legislated ghetto --- beach or other."

I was stunned when AANR decided to jump on the Asbury Park bandwagon by offering support for this ill-conceived topless beach proposal.

On Tuesday, the American Association for Nude Recreation sent a detailed letter of support backed by statistics and information in credible publications such Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today to the city of Asbury Park, New Jersey. The city is considering designating a portion of the Asbury Park beachfront as “topless optional.” The package sent by AANR showed the benefits of European-style sunbathing in regard to tourism dollars and community acceptance and was sent by e-mail, fax and Federal Express.

AANR also included a small donation to the city’s Parks and Recreation summer project fund. City officials will meet on July 7 to further discuss the top-free proposal.

This is not a nude beach proposal. This is a proposal to treat women as second-class citizens simply because of the physical makeup of their bodies. AANR should immediately withdraw its support of this topless beach and advocate a woman's right to be topfree anywhere men enjoy the same right.

It has taken years for most states to recognize a woman's right to breastfeed a child in public, and it will take more time to decriminalize women's breasts for other non-sexual activities, such as sunbathing, or merely trying to keep cool on a hot day.

As far as I can determine, while there are legal nude beaches in America, there are no legal "topless" beaches such as the one being proposed. South Beach in Miami has long been unofficially topfree, but this has happened over time due to many less-inhibited European tourists frequenting the area.

Those who view this Asbury Park proposal as a "stepping stone" to a nude beach are pretty naive. Unlike Florida, which has the most nudists per capita in the United States and has 1800 miles of coastline, New Jersey already has Gunnison Beach and only 127 miles of coastline. Other than Friends of Gunnison Beach, I am not aware of any active movements in New Jersey to create a new nude beach. I am also unaware of any groups actively pushing for a "topless beach". This Asbury Park proposal does not come from any grassroots efforts, but from an idea of one businessperson looking to boost tourism.

And unlike Gunnison, which is a half-mile walk from the nearest parking lot and pretty remote, the Asbury Park beach will be overlooked by a high rise for senior citizens.

The city council will take up the matter on Wednesday, July 7. It is likely that there will be some heated discussion, especially from people who oppose the beach idea. One thing politicians don't like is controversy, so unless there is overwhelming support for this idea, the project will likely never get off the ground. It could be that AANR is banking on the beach's failure, using this news story merely as a means to achieve some cheap publicity.

Finding a silver lining in this whole mess is difficult, but one could say that the proposal for the topless beach. albeit ill-conceived and flawed, is a further indication that society is softening on nudity.

But the bottom line is that when it comes to freedom, men and women must be treated equally. Organizations like AANR who stray from this basic idea in the interest of sensationalist publicity should know better than to support regressive legislation.

I urge all readers to write to AANR and let them know how you feel about this issue. The future of nudism and naturism is in YOUR hands.

Dr. Paul Rapoport Steps Down as "Going Natural" Editor

2010-06-13T17:50:00.001-07:00

Statement released today:

For nearly 13 years, I've edited Going Natural magazine for the Federation of Canadian Naturists, the last five years with an excellent Francophone co-editor. The summer 2010 issue, which just came out, is my last as Editor. I hope to assist whoever takes over with whatever the magazine becomes.

My work in naturism may involve more research and writing but less editing and managing. I have non-naturist projects to carry out also.

The FCN is in the process of deciding how to continue the magazine. It will probably involve both print and digital media, as it does now. Neither the FCN nor the magazine is going away!

With kind regards,

Paul Rapoport

--

Dr. Paul Rapoport
Co-Editor, Going Natural / Au naturel
Federation of Canadian Naturists
Box 81128 FGPO
Ancaster ON L9G 4X1
Canada
editor@fcn.ca

Another AANR Resort Markets to Swingers

2010-06-03T03:34:00.001-07:00

In the wake of swinger lifestyle groups taking over Caliente and Paradise Lakes in Florida, and the recent controversy with Lupin Lodge, Seminole Nudist Resort in Davie, Florida, is offering special rates to Swinglifestyle members on Saturday, June 26th.

It is reported that Seminole is also including free alcohol and a private bartender to the group, and activities include body painting, a slumber party boutique with lingerie, lotions, potions and adult toys, and a fashion show. There will also be an "ice-breaker" game called "Nuts & Bolts" to match up males with females.

Is this another "ambush" at an AANR nudist resort, as was claimed at Lupin Lodge, or is this another example of nudist resorts caving in to social and economic pressures?

UPDATE: Erich Schuttauf informs me today that Seminole has not been affiliated with AANR for "several months", even though the resort still claims AANR status on their website.

What Has Skinbook Done for You Lately?

2010-05-30T08:30:00.001-07:00

The answer is probably absolutely nothing. Skinbook is free to join, and the old adage "you get what you pay for" is apropos.

With no publication, no paid membership, no government liasons, no clubs or venues, and no real philosophy or statement of purpose, Skinbook seems to represent only itself, making a profit from advertising on the site, and selling t-shirts and other paraphernalia in their shop. Have you seen their Twitter feed? It's basically just an advertising vehicle for the Terra Cotta Inn.

You are probably already aware of the poorly researched Time Magazine article on Skinbook, which repeats the website's slogan of being the Internet's "only genuine nudist social network", completely bypassing other established organizations like AANR, TNS, Nudist Clubhouse and ClothesFree.com.

Skinbook fills a void which was allowed to grow due to the fact that AANR and TNS have long ignored the Internet as a means of social networking, preferring instead to organize real face-to-face conventions, gatherings and events. Ironically, Skinbook is now attempting to do the same, claiming that an estimated 800 "Skinbookers" will be getting together at the British resort of Brighton in July. Can the young founders of Skinbook really pull off such a large nude event with no technical, legal, organizational or criminal entanglements? Time will tell.

The problem with Skinbook is that it was founded upon shame, by people who admit to being embarrassed by their nude lifestyles and were uncomfortable on Facebook. 25 year-old co-founder Karl Maddocks also expresses some disgust for "elderly guys in sandals" at a nudist "colony". Such age discrimination is not only troubling, it's contrary to all accepted nudist and naturist philosophies. Maddocks also inferred that nudity should be primarily for the young and fit, admitting in a Times interview that "he works out regularly and that part of the joy of stripping off in his twenties is “we’re all going to look crap naked one day”.

In contrast, AANR and TNS profess that all bodies are good, all ages are welcome, and that nudists and naturists should be proud of their lifestyles.

There is also no way to know if the people you are communicating with on Skinbook are actually who they profess to be. The screening process, which appears to be completely arbitrary based upon the whims of the founders, rejects 90% of all applicants. This has to raise a red flag about the sort of people the site is attracting in the first place, but it also raises the question about how many real nudists are being shut out. A thread late last year on the ClothesFree.com forum alleges that some nudists were banned from the site, and those that managed to get an account found the site to be nothing more than a "meat market."

On another nudist forum under a subject called "Banned from Skinbook", one member alleges that Skinbook "was a much better place before all the pervs showed up." Yet another nudist forum is filled with people claiming to have been banned from Skinbook for no reason.

It is also reported that Cheri Alexander, founder of the Travelites non-landed group in South Carolina, has been banned from Skinbook. Cheri issued the following statement: “Skinbook is no longer going to be as genuine. The Admins are only now allowed to moderate photos. We can no longer moderate posts, blogs, members, nor can we remove members who are not acting appropriately."

Facebook has been struggling with privacy issues since its inception, so you can imagine the potential for misuse of personal photos and information on an amateurish site like Skinbook. Witness the very real attempt by Skinbook's administrators last year to establish a "Name and Shame" blog, exposing real people attempting to open a Skinbook account who did not meet the approval of screeners, and blackmailing them for a public apology. "Skinbook also encourages female members to “name and shame” any lecherous men."

Do you really want to place your personal photos and information in the hands of such reckless amateurs? If they simply don't like you, or disapprove of something you said or did, they can ban you, suspend you, and even expose you.

Established nudist and naturist organizations, who continually fight for nude rights, have solid network affiliations with respected nudist venues, and represent established nudist principles and philosophies, need to establish their own social networking online for members. AANR and TNS are both on Facebook but with marginal success, at best. Allowing sites like Skinbook and True Nudists to assume the mantle of representing nudism is a failure of organizational leadership, and a lack of foresight and imagination.

Instead of creating a "meat market" for those who are "nude curious", AANR and TNS could start their own joint NING account for card-carrying members only, establishing an online means where members could make new friends and promote their groups and venues to each other. More unification, less division.

I once thought that Skinbook was part of nudism's future. I now believe that such rogue nude networking sites only serve to further isolate people from engaging in real social nudism, allowing them to live as "fantasy nudists". There is no way to effectively measure just how many of Skinbook's members are only these fantasy nudists, and how many are out practicing social nudism in the real world.

Nudists and naturists deserve a real, safe online social networking site with clear and established guidelines. It's a shame that when so many people and organizations are working so hard to make nudism and naturism more acceptable in society, Skinbook gets written up in Time magazine merely because it's trendy. Nudists and naturists deserve far better than this superficial, self-serving marketing ploy known as Skinbook.

Lupin Lodge in Erotic Lifestyles Controversy

2010-05-22T05:04:00.001-07:00

In the last week there has been a buzz on some Internet discussion groups about Lupin Lodge in Los Gatos, California, and the fact that two erotic lifestyle groups were planning on holding their meetings at the clothing-optional club.

Equus Eroticus, a pony play fetish group, posted on their website plans for a "hunt" based at Lupin for September 17-19, 2010.

We will have a large indoor heated play space, outdoor play space, camp space, including cabin and yurt rentals, two hot tubs, a pool, showers, flush toilets, plenty of paved parking, RV hookups, the works. The hunt will happen on top of a wooded hill behind the camp. There are graded paths that should not be too steep for cart pulling, and cars can drive up to the hunt site and park.

Equus Eroticus also claims that all lodging and food costs would be handled by Lupin, and that they might also handle the erotic party registration fees. Their website lists all of Lupin's rates as well as a link to the resort's website.

Another erotic lifestyle group, Masters and Slaves Together Santa Clara County (MAsTSCC), announced that Lupin is their new "home" and were planning their first get-together at the venue for May 23, 2010.

Lupin has graciously offered free entry from 5pm to 12 on site for anyone attending this meeting. Come up early, enjoy the pool, walk in the hills, have dinner at the restaurant (opens at 5 pm), maybe a swim and then attend the 7-9 pm meeting before either pulling out the toys in our yurt or heading over to the hot tubs to enjoy the open sky...Lupin is open and aware of our group, has all their permits and has been around 78 years- we are welcomed with open arms, and hope that your time with us will be a warm, loving environment with leather folk and M/s friends.

There is no mention of these activities on Lupin's website, and they have not responded to my emails seeking further information and clarification. MAsTSCC has also failed to return my messages. Lupin also carries The Naturist Society logo on their home page, and TNS has also failed to respond.

AANR had the following official comment:

I was made aware of these various groups just this week, I did look at their websites and found the content very disturbing. The most disturbing was that these groups had planned on “ambushing” Lupin Lodge and AANR.

I immediately called the club and spoke with the owners, I also sent them any information I was able to find. Of course they were shocked and very annoyed that this was about to befall them, they are very proud of their family-friendly, non-sexual resort.

They thanked the AANR office for catching this, and assured us that there would be extra security at the gate and in the resort. These groups will be turned away and or ejected, and will never be welcome at Lupin Lodge.

Thank you once again for your email and for confirming the intent of these groups.

Sincerely,

Terry Justice
Club/Member Liaison

While the lifestyle groups claim that Lupin is welcoming to their members, AANR is claiming that the owners of Lupin are "shocked and very annoyed" and will turn these groups away. Without further information it's unclear if these visits were arranged with the approval of someone at Lupin, or if it truly was an "ambush" as AANR claims. When asked if MAsTSCC was "lying" when they claimed they were welcome with "open arms" at Lupin, Terry Justice did not respond.

Lupin has a very clear statement about overt sexuality at their resort:

Parents can relax knowing that the others in our family environment share their concern for the inviolability of all children. Harassment of any form is prohibited by club agreements. And no one is likely to witness a discomforting situation, for we share a common ethic that the joy of sex remain a private matter between consenting adults. Public eroticism and sexual exploitation are not acceptable at Lupin.

If anyone has further information about these planned activities at Lupin, please email me at nudiarist@gmail.com.

Pasco Attorney Warns Caliente About Sex Parties

2010-05-14T18:30:00.000-07:00

Breaking story. I can now confirm that on April 29, 2010, Caliente Tampa clothing optional resort received a "cease and desist" letter from Debra M. Zampetti, Zoning/Code Compliance Administrator for Pasco County, warning about allegations of offering "performances" which "feature sexual activity and/or the anatomical areas" in return for a fee. When contacted today by email, Ms. Zampetti confirmed the letter, and added, "A few months ago we had a meeting with several folks that lived in Caliente, and there was discussion about some of the conduct that was taking place that could be regarded as violations of the SOB (Sexually Oriented Business) ordinance."

In the letter, which Caliente is to consider a formal warning, Zampetti stated that if Pasco is "provided evidence of such violation in the future, the county will seek an injunction to stop further violations of the zoning code, issue a citation and fine, or make use of other available legal remedies."

I am seeking further information on this situation and hopefully will have more to report soon. Anyone reading this who has knowledge of this letter is encouraged to email me as soon as possible.

Stephane Deschenes Responds to Toronto Police Report

2010-05-13T12:52:00.001-07:00

Following the arrest of an elderly man accused of sex crimes against children, the Toronto Police stated that he "gained access to children through his affiliation with various nudist organizations around the world".

In a swift response, the Director of the Federation of Canadian Naturists, Stephane Deschanes, took exception to the insinuation that nudist and naturist groups were providing access to pedophiles. Here is the entire press release:

The Federation of Canadian Naturists, like everyone else, is committed to stopping sex offenders and to helping their victims. However, we take exception to the Toronto Police Service Sex Crime Unit's (New Release May 13, 2010, 10h56) characterization that the accused "gained access to children through his affiliation with various nudist organizations around the world".

Unlike organized sports, religious institutions and other activities coordinated by civic organizations, children in naturism are not left in the care of a person in authority. Naturism is based on family participation and children are usually in the care of their parents. As such, being affiliated with a naturist/nudist organization would not provide any more access than joining any other group. In fact, children in naturism may be less vulnerable because naturist environments tend to have a stronger sense of community than the general society. People in naturist clubs look out for each other and are very aware of what is happening in their environment. Individuals with nefarious intent are often easier to identify if they are in a naturist environment.

A multitude of scholarly research studies on this topic in psychology and sociology have shown that children reared in an atmosphere containing casual family social nudity benefit from the practice. Children raised in naturism learn to accept the human body and recognize that everyone is unique. Comfort with nudity combined with naturist values lead to a healthy self-image and strong self-esteem. Although good parenting is by far the most important factor in raising children, naturism helps to promote their confidence and understanding about their bodies.

It is clear that being dressed has not kept children safe. Those who prey on children are attracted to any place where children can be found. It is a sad reality that predators have been found as priests, teachers, scout leaders, hockey coaches, etc... It is therefore unrealistic to suggest that we should avoid any place that might attract them since we would rob our children of all of those institutions that are so important to their upbringing.

The best thing we can do is to teach our children the confidence to speak up when people do things that make them uncomfortable. If they are not ashamed of their bodies, they are much more likely to tell their parents when someone does things to them that they don't like. If we are informed, we can help them. Whether nude or clothed, children should know that being touched in certain ways is wrong and they should have the assertiveness to speak up.

For further information: Stephane Deschenes, Director, Federation of Canadian Naturists (FCN), stephane@FCN.ca, Cell: (416) 219-5856, www.FCN.ca

Family Nudism Controversy in Arizona

2010-05-08T04:42:00.001-07:00

Prosecutors have declined to press any charges against an Arizona mother and stepfather for practicing nudism in front of their two adolescent boys. When the 13 year-old complained to his father that the nudity made him "uncomfortable", police were called in and recommended that the couple be charged with a crime.

"You do not know how familiar this story is," said Bob Morton, executive director of the Naturist Action Committee, a non-profit that advocates for nudist legal issues.

He said battling ex-spouses and family members often try to use one parent's decision to practice nudism as an issue in custody cases.

Parents have a right to decide what goes on inside their homes unless there's criminal conduct, Morton said.

Former sex crimes prosecutor Robert J. Campos said that he was "skeptical" of the entire investigation and that the criminal case was a "real stretch."

But more government regulations for parents would be considered controversial in a nation that prides itself on myriad freedoms, said Campos, the former prosecutor.

"Part of being free means accepting the possible harm that comes with it," he said. "You just can't legislate the harm out of the world."

AANR takes a much more conservative stand on the issue.

"We do believe that respecting boundaries and communicating is critical to a successful nude-recreation experience," said Erich Schuttauf, executive director of the American Association for Nude Recreation.

He said parents who decide to try out naturist activities or to visit a resort should talk to their children first. If a child seems uncomfortable, parents should let the child's views dictate their plans.

That could mean enjoying a nudist vacation without the child or stripping down only when the child isn't around, Schuttauf said.

"Parents should let the child's view dictate their plans." As any parent knows, letting the child make the call on family decisions is just plain stupid, otherwise all meals would consist of cake and ice cream, and all vacations would be at Disney World. Children are "uncomfortable" in church, at the dentist, at summer camp, in school, in gym class, etc. It's up to the parent to make the best possible decision for the welfare of the child. With all the benefits of nudism, from improved body image to healthier minds and bodies, nude recreation is good for people of all ages.

This does not mean that parents should drag their kids kicking and screaming to nudist resorts. Common sense needs to prevail, but it should be up to the parents to make the common sense decisions, not the children.

By suggesting that family nudism should be the sole decision of the child, Schuttauf infers that parental nudism in the home, and at nudist resorts, without the full support of the child, is tantamount to abuse, and that police and child protection agencies have the right to step in.

I'm not surprised that AANR would take the "appeasement" route, especially since it abandoned San Onofre Beach, and virtually convicted the "naked coffee guy" in Virginia before the full facts of the case were known. And don't forget that Schuttauf also raised questions about the other Arizona couple who had their children temporarily removed over some nude family photos, and astoundingly endorsed full body scanners at airports.

Nudists and naturists need to advocate clearly for the nude lifestyle and not take these "politically correct" stances which only serve to further stigmatize nudity. Kudos to Bob Morton of the NAC for properly analyzing this particular situation, and boos to AANR for once again failing to recognize the right of nudity in the home.

Naturist Action Committee Newsletter for May 2010 Now Online

2010-05-06T13:27:00.001-07:00

May 2010 Contents

• Manitoba: Beaconia Beach Hangs in the Balance - by Judy Williams. Activists in Manitoba fight to save a traditional clothing-optional beach from a naked land grab.
• Maine: Topfree in Maine. Bare female breasts are legal in the state. Are high profile public topfree walks creating greater acceptance?
• The "proper" setting for TNS events. Before you show up, a great deal of thoughtful consideration is put into choosing a venue.

View pdf file here.

Of particular note is the NAC declaration of support for topfreedom:

For many, topfreedom is about women’s rights; for naturists it can also be an incremental march towards full body freedom. Both goals merit our support and applause.

Breast Cancer Survivor Berates Topfree Marchers

2010-05-04T04:34:00.000-07:00

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell, a breast cancer survivor, minces no words in her column today when it comes to women actually showing their breasts.

I'm the last person in the world to criticize someone's body.

But if you were going to join a topless protest, and be photographed from the rear, wouldn't you want your back to look like you've done more than sit on your butt all winter?

The photograph of the young woman with the words: "Sexuality is what you make it!" scrawled on her fat back was enough to convince me America's not ready for topless.

The blatant insult of these women's bodies is particularly troubling, especially after making the statement that she would never criticize someone's body. Hypocrisy reigns supreme.

Mitchell then goes on to say other ridiculous things such as "gender equality always sounds great, but what's good for the goose isn't always good for the gander", and "there's probably not a woman left on the planet who does not know about Spanx."

Perhaps her most offensive and sexist comment is "if men didn't look, they just wouldn't be men."

And all of this from a breast cancer survivor. It's apparently OK to write columns about your breasts, Ms. Mitchell, but God forbid that anyone should actually see them, or anyone else's. But if a man did see them, it would be OK for him to ogle, because, after all, he's a man.

Tell that to poor schmuck state Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, who was caught yesterday on the Florida Senate floor looking at a photo of topless women, and has become a media laughing stock.

The same media which cannot get enough of nude PETA protests. Spencer Tunick shoots, naked Hollywood starlets, nipple slips and see-through gowns, now is shocked, completely outraged, that someone is actually looking at what they disseminate.

But, as Ms. Mitchell points out so deftly, after all, he's just a man, and women's breasts are there simply for ogling pleasure.

It is this sort of Philistine attitude which is the motivation for the women's topfreedom movement, to push back against the dumbing down of America and the objectification of women's bodies.

Mary Mitchell is dead wrong when she so casually accepts male sexism. Of all people she should know that the fact that she can write so openly about her own fight against breast cancer is due to the fact that women had to overcome vast cultural taboos. Nobody ever talked about breast cancer until First Lady Betty Ford underwent a mastectomy and opened up the national dialogue, which is manifested today in pink ribbons on everything from autos to athletes.

These brave women in Maine are marching against male ownership of their bodies, and it's people like Mary Mitchell who simply cannot see the forest for the trees. Instead of seeing the problem, she is part of the problem.

New Video From Topfree Equality March in Maine

2010-05-01T10:59:00.000-07:00

More Stupidity on Topfreedom

2010-04-30T13:32:00.001-07:00

It truly is amazing how idiotic and irrational people can be when it comes to matters of nudity and the human body. While seemingly supporting women's topfreedom, an editorial today in the Bangor Daily News veers off in an asinine direction.

In some cultures, bare-breasted women would not garner a second glance from a man. But here in the U.S., they get second, third and fourth glances. Unless someone can show that bare-chested women would not cause the sort of distractions that result in car crashes, twisted ankles and slaps from spouses, the women’s point is lost.

Before they organize the next parade, they should consider what happened when gun owners hosted a barbecue recently in Portland with side arms strapped to their waists to assert their gun ownership rights. The demonstration spurred some to call for stricter gun controls. Bare-breasted parades are an assertion of legal rights, but they ultimately empower those who would want to change the law.

Slaps from spouses? Talk about losing a point! Show me exactly who, what, when, where and why the sight of a woman's breast caused any car crash. If automobile accidents are going to be touted as a reason to prohibit the public display of female breasts, then let's ban cell phones in cars altogether because anytime I see someone driving dangerously they always seem to be laughing and talking with their phone pressed to their ear.

No, the point of women's topfreedom is simply equality. Men can take their shirts off just about anywhere in public, and women simply want the same right as protected under the Constitution of the United States. It's not about distractions, or leering, or gun rights, it's about women's rights.

And it's not like women everywhere are suddenly going to start taking their tops off. Men have the right, and certainly not all of them take their shirts off. What's the percentage of shirtless men on any given summer day walking down the main street of town? The point is that nobody cares about how many men take their shirts off because it's simply legal and accepted that they can.

And let those who want to change the law give it their best shot. It's high time this issue is tested in the courts. When the laws were tested in Columbus, Ohio, and in New York State, the right for women to be topfree was upheld. Either women have to be accepted as having the same right as men to be shirtless, or the law needs to be changed to force men to wear bikinis at the beach, and t-shirts when playing basketball on public courts. And you know that ain't gonna happen.

People get all worked up, calling the baring of breasts immoral, or dangerous for the children, or a manifestation of the homosexual agenda, or any other irrational reason they can pull out from their confused minds. The bottom line is that it's simply no big deal, they are just breasts, and they do no harm to anybody. If someone does not want to see a topfree woman, there is a wonderful part of the human anatomy called the neck which allows the head to turn and look the other way.

Television Interview With Andrea Simoneau

2010-04-30T12:40:00.000-07:00

This Is Why They Are Marching

2010-04-30T12:36:00.001-07:00

BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY KEVIN BENNETT

The only way to end the discrimination against (and sexualization of) the female in American society is to let people see what a normal human body looks like, and demonstrate that the exposure of the female breast in public, by women exercising the same rights extended to men, is not the end of civilization, but rather an expression of a higher consciousness and another sign of the true equality women have been fighting for over the centuries. The lesson to be learned from this photograph is that more women need to join the fight for topfreedom, otherwise their bodies will be continued to be gawked at like the freaks in a circus sideshow. It's time for America to get over this notion that the female breast is something to be marketed for profit and sexual gratification, and to stop criminalizing women simply for their bodies.

The Face of Women's Topfreedom

2010-04-30T12:35:00.001-07:00

BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY KEVIN BENNETT

Andrea Simoneau points out the route for a march for women's topfree equality today in Farmington, Maine. Story here.

The Stupidist Thing Anyone Has Ever Said About Women's Topfreedom

2010-04-30T12:15:00.001-07:00

Maine Republican legislator Lance Harvell doesn't want women baring their breasts in public, but the reason he hesitates to enact legislation against bare chests against it is because "none of us wants to see a teenaged boy playing basketball outside get arrested". So, if not for the Constitution of the United States, which requires that laws must treat men and women equally, this jerk would love to lock up any woman for exposing a nipple in public.

South Florida Free Beaches Newsletter May 2010

2010-04-30T03:52:00.000-07:00

E-NEWSLETTER

May 2010

Greetings!

In this issue:

Florida Young Naturists Naked Spring Bash
SFFB Naked City at Florida Preheat
First nudity arrest at California's San Onofre beach
Upcoming events
Guidebook to the Naturist Beach
SFFB nudist resort policy statement
Anti-nudity crusaders

Please note at the foot of this email are links enabling you to unsubscribe, to change you email address or profile, or to forward this newsletter.

Florida Young Naturists NAKED SPRING BASH

The cover article in an April South Florida City Link offered advance publicity of the Florida Young Naturists Naked Spring Bash.

Read the article online

THE APRIL 2010 NAKED SPRING BASH

drew a crowd of 153 to Sunsport Gardens Resort in Loxahatchee. SFFB sponsored the music stage at the event.

Naked Spring Bash Photos

Check out Florida Young Naturists

A TNS Special Interest Group for ages 18 to 30.

SFFB at Florida Preheat "Regional Burn"

SFFB and The Naturist Society hosted the Naked City theme camp at the April Florida Preheat Regional Burn at the Maddox family ranch in Lakeland, Florida. The event was sold out at the capped 600 maximum "Burners".

This clothing-optional event is an opportunity to educate the public on the naturist philosophy of body acceptance. Through body painting and other activities we encourage people to experience the freedom of naturism. Many did and found they liked it!

Preheat photos

If you missed the Preheat, an Afterburn festival will be held at the same location in Fall 2010. We'll keep you informed...

Check out Florida Burns

First nudity arrest at San Onofre Beach in CA

In several past newsletters, we've written on the CA Parks rule change designed to end nude use at an area of San Onofre State Park.

According to the Naturist Action Committee:

"During the afternoon of March 17, a peace officer lifeguard issued a citation for nudity at Trail 6. The victim has indicated that he and his female friend were seated near the peace sign at the north end of the clothing optional area. The officer drove up quickly and told the gentleman to get dressed. No warning was given. His female companion was wearing a bikini bottom and had her top covered with a wrap. She was not ticketed.
The victim was cited under section 4322 of the California park regulations. He has indicated he will fight the citation. In close coordination with Friends of San Onofre Beach, the local TNS-affiliated beach user group, the Naturist Action Committee is working to assist with legal issues. It is our intent to assist persons who are cited for nudity at trail 6, while they are nude under appropriate circumstances. The specific nature of that assistance will likely vary from case to case."

READ COMPLETE ALERT ON NAC WEBSITE

UPCOMING EVENTS OF INTEREST

Details of events below may be viewed on the SFFB website Events Page:

5K Bare Run, May 2, Lake Como (near Tampa)
Naturist Youth Camp, July 18-25, Sunsport Gardens, Palm Beach(sponsored by The Naturist Society & Sunsport Gardens Family Naturist Resort)
Guiness World RecordTM Skinny-dip, July 2010: Haulover Beach & across North America
Naturist Society Festivals & Gatherings, various dates, across North America
Florida Young Naturists Naked End of Summer Bash, August 13-15: Sunsport Gardens

Guidebook to the Naturist Beach - advertiser info

SFFB's new Guidebook is in process.

Advertise your business to a pre-qualified market of naturists, skinny-dippers and nude sunbathers, while you support SFFB's efforts to preserve and enhance nude recreation opportunities and present the naturist message to the widest possible market.

View draft & advertiser information here

SFFB Nudist Resort Policy Statement

South Florida Free Beaches has never had any formal affiliation with any private nudist resorts; as a service to our sponsors and website viewers we list only AANR/TNS-affiliated Florida resorts on our website. We also promote events at these resorts we believe would be of interest to naturists. Some resorts have also participated as sponsors for events held at Haulover Beach by SFFB or B.E.A.C.H.E.S. Foundation.

Some six months ago, we found that while Seminole Resort in Davie was promoting itself online as a family nudist resort, it was advertising locally as a "Lifestyles" venue. The following excerpt from an advertising flyer distributed by Seminole for its last Christmas party documents the issue:

We believe all private businesses have the right to develop their own marketing plans as they see fit. However, we do not believe the majority of naturists view the promotion of "Lifestyles" events as compatible with their values. Therefore, we removed all links to Seminole Resort from our website.

We have recently learned that Seminole has relinquished its membership charter in the the American Association for Nude Recreation. To our knowledge, it has never been a member of The Naturist Society Naturist Network.

Anti-Naturist Crusaders

In the past, organizations opposed to naturist beaches have sent out literature to legislators across the country, including bill templates to outlaw nudity. The problem is that most legislators are unfamiliar with naturism, and we cannot have this be their only source of information. That is why SFFB regularly meets with Florida legislators and presents positive information to counter the message of these groups.

The image above is featured on the Jesus-is-Savior.com website in a piece against the naturist beach at Haulover:

"As if the United States hadn't sunk low enough in it's love for sin, Florida actually has a nude beach, where children are allowed to view totally naked adults walking around...The beach also includes a homosexual nude section and a designated area for nude volleyball. This is just sickening! ...for Florida lawmakers, the governor, the mayor and local authorities to allow such wickedness is inexcusable." [read complete article]

Jesus-is-Savior appears to be a relatively small organization with a strident and sensationalistic message. Other better-known organizations present a more carefully-crafted message, like the American Decency Association.

In July 2009, the ADA organized an email campaign to Key West City Commissioners, when the issue of a c/o beach was raised. ADA picked up on the economic argument, and asked its members to say they would not visit Key West if a c/o beach was designated. (Though one wonders how many of its members had ever contemplated a visit to Key West.) [read campaign]

Not all religious people share these views.

For example, at the March Key West Workshop, Rev. Randy Becker of the Unitarian Universalist Church, spoke as follows:

"I want to remind you that you may hear some objections to a clothing-optional beach that are coined in religious terms, but they don't represent the totality of the religious community.

My faith tradition, among others, affirms the basic goodness of human beings and does not see in the human body any shame or sin. When you take this issue up, it's not your job to base anything on a religion, either mine or anyone else's, but rather to look for what it would be that would affirm the right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness for all the citizens of this community."

(Rev. Becker's comments as reported by Randy Newman in the Keynoter.)

This SFFB Special Interest Group is for those interested in getting together with old & new naturist friends. Events are not limited to nude or clothing optional events but also include clothed outings to local venues such as restaurants, night clubs, movie nights, etc.

To receive announcements you will need to enroll on the Meetup website at theClothing-optional Social Club page.

NAC NEWSLETTER

The Naturist Action Committee newsletter offering information on naturist issues nationwide is posted monthly on the NAC website

is a 501 (c)(4) political action adjunct of The Naturist Society.

New Nudist publication

Lately, we have been distributing copies of this publication at Haulover Beach. Starting from its base in Florida's Pasco County, home to many of Florida's nudist resorts, it has been expanding coverage to include South Florida...as well as featuring travel articles on nudist venues worldwide, and some interesting background nudist articles.

The publication can be viewed online; mail subscriptions are also available: www.nudistusa.com

paid advertisement

Castaways Travel is a leading travel company specializing in Clothing Optional, Nude and Adult travel fun, since 1984.

The owners and staff of Castaways have personally visited virtually every destination featured in the website, especially those included in the Resort Report section and can provide you with SOLID TRAVEL ADVICE you won't find anywhere else. Why? Because we've been there!

When you decide when and where to go... please contact us for more adventure advice, skilled travel counselors and your one stop for all your travel arrangements.

Established in 1980, South Florida Free Beaches is committed to actively representing Naturism and nude recreation to government, business and civic leaders; to preserving public beaches and park lands for all citizens; and to lobbying for the position that a portion of such public lands should be designated for clothing-optional use - just as other portions of public lands are designated for the use of golfers, boaters, tennis players and the like.

Founders of Haulover's Naturist Beach

South Florida Free Beaches / FNA Inc.

The World's Best Nude Beaches & Resorts

Get it free when you join SFFB & TNS
offer details

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Anatomy of a Topfree Activist - Andrea Simoneau

2010-04-28T09:47:00.001-07:00

PHOTO BY AMBER WATERMAN, SUN JOURNAL/AP

When Andrea Simoneau was seven years old, she took her shirt off because she was hot. Her father came outside and told her she could not do that in public. When she asked why, he said, "I think its really stupid, but the rest of the world thinks that girls should not go shirtless."

That memory stuck with Andrea, and when she marched topfree with Ty MacDowell and others in Portland, Maine, a few weeks ago, she was inspired to take action.

At 1 PM on Friday, April 30, Andrea Simoneau and a crowd of both men and women will exercise their topfree rights in Farmington, Maine. The march will begin at Meetinghouse Park on Main Street and will go about a half mile to Abbott Park. Andrea says that 60 people have signed up on her Facebook page, but due to all the publicity it's impossible to predict the number of people who will participate.

"If we're protesting anything, its that societal double standard of women's chests being considered sexual, no matter what context they are presented in, and men's chests are only sexual in certain context", said Andrea.

The 22 year-old University of Maine Farmington senior, who has been on the Dean's list for academic excellence, has been walking topfree through the town handing out flyers for the event, with the word "Freedom" written across her chest. As for public reaction either pro or con to her free expression, Andrea says that it's "pretty evenly split, and there have definitely been uncomfortable confrontations. You just have to keep on going, and ignore them and do not engage with them or escalate the situation in any way, as that hurts the cause far more than helps it." In a radio interview today, Andrea says that most of the negative reaction comes from people who oppose her on moral grounds, and, of course, for the sake of the children.

"I believe no religious group should have any sway in lawmaking, as it promotes special interests for certain groups. Morality is subjective. Therefore, I feel that morality is not a grounds to stand on to make policy, and should never be."

Ms. Simoneau believes there is "no time like the present" to promote women's topfreedom, and credits Dr. Paul Rapoport and TERA for "great encouragement and assistance". She hopes that other organizations interested in equal rights for women will also pick up on the movement.

The April 3 topfree march in Portland, while successful in generating lots of publicity, descended into somewhat of a circus, with hoards of men tripping over each other to take photographs, and some of the female participants obliging with some cheesecake posing. "There's nothing that can be done to stop men from taking pictures or making inappropriate comments. However if any inappropriate touching occurs or assault, the participant must report it to the police. There are going to be a lot of counterprotesters present also, I am told, and the police have expressed that they will be present to hold order."

As for anyone acting in a sexual manner, Andrea makes it clear that she wants none of that. "Anyone I catch doing that I will personally ask to leave, with great admonishments about them undermining our cause. Those women's actions disgusted me about the Portland march far more than the men taking pictures and leering."

Although there are no laws in Maine specifically prohibiting the exposure of female breasts in public, Andrea admits her actions could result in a backlash, and people are already calling for laws prohibiting topfreedom. "The town of Farmington has decided not to take an official position on the issue, and has decided to defer it to the State legislature to be ruled on, possibly even put to state referendum. Since support seems to be so evenly split for it, I feel confident that even when that happens, we stand a good chance for it to be officially legalized, as I believe the law stands now that only genital exposure is "indecent" exposure. I will do my part to speak out to the legislature as well, as I hope women's equal rights organizations in Maine or even national ones will do the same."

Perhaps the most high-profile opposition to Ms. Simoneau's protest comes from conservative activist Michael Heath of the American Family Association of Maine, who is seeking records from UMF regarding a recent campus event for EqualityMaine.

Heath said he draws a connection between the upcoming march in Farmington and his records request because "the promotion and presentation of public nudity is a staple of the homosexual rights movement." Heath's recently founded organization is a chapter of the Mississippi-based American Family Association.

"We see an organic connection between the two," Heath said. "Many still confuse sexual license, and indifference to the gospel of Jesus Christ, with true freedom and liberty."

Calling the march "more typical of San Francisco than Maine", Heath joins other religious groups who plan to counter-protest, including women from local churches holding a silent prayer vigil, and Rev. Bob Emrich who recently helped to overturn Maine's gay marriage law.

But Simoneau says all of the criticisms of the march are off-base. For instance, the march will be held while children are in school and will follow a route that is away from schools, Simoneau said.

And in a way, Simoneau said, "we are doing this for children -- to create a more equal world for them by presenting a female body that is not a sexual contest."

"This is for a noble cause of gender equality," she said. "Giving up has not crossed my mind."

Adelle Shea, Canadian topfree activist and naturist, has come to Andrea's defense.

It is curious that it is not enough in our society that something not be illegal but instead must be made specifically legal in order to be enjoyed freely? In North America a woman going topfree risks being charged with anything from ‘causing a disturbance’ to a sex crime. Breastfeeding women faced, and in some cases still face, the same discrimination and many States and Provinces had to enact laws to make breastfeeding a child in public specifically legal. In some cases even this was found to be insufficient and laws had to be enacted to make harassment of a nursing mother (by passers-by, business owners, police) illegal. In this case the attending constables were a great help in protecting Ms Simoneau’s legal right and informing the public that she was doing nothing illegal. In my opinion, it isn’t topfreedom that is immoral but the systemic discrimination of women that surrounds it.

Andrea understands the wide societal ramifications of women's topfreedom in America. She says, "it saddens me greatly that nursing mothers are particularly discriminated against in this matter. I encourage nursing mothers particularly, as well as breast cancer survivors and those who have been victims of sexual assault to come out and experience the empowerment and freedom of going topless in town."

Eventually the topfreedom movement will need a leader, or an organization, which can mobilize women nationwide. Is Andrea up to the challenge? "I'm not a leader by nature, but if that role falls to me, I will do my best to fill it. I cannot do it alone, not by a long shot. I'm having a terrible time trying to handle this myself, though I have had help in advertising, definitely, from UMF students and friends."

If you would like to help Andrea, or participate in her march this Friday, you can contact her on her Facebook page here.

Andrea Simoneau Topfree in Maine

2010-04-25T06:20:00.001-07:00

Simply because Andrea is exercising her right which is clearly supported by the law, people who oppose the exposure of her breasts in public are calling for a law to ban women from taking off their shirts. It's hard to even think of a similar example where someone is doing something perfectly legal and people start calling for a ban on that activity. It's clearly not rational, based on religious dogma and old social taboos, and not on the law or equal rights. If anything, the police and government officials should be protecting a woman's right to topfreedom. When the police say that their "hands are tied", this is not a ringing endorsement of the law, but rather a coded message that the legislators should act to prevent the public display of female breasts.

Our society is already burdened by too many laws and codes which restrict personal freedoms. To suggest that another law is needed to persecute women like Andrea Simoneau is over-reactive and completely unnecessary. Society has oppressed women for far too long, and sexualized their body parts to the point where they are sometimes more object than person.

Let's hope that Ms. Simoneau's march is peaceful and successful.

Going Natural Spring 2010 Available Online

2010-04-25T05:02:00.001-07:00

The digital edition of the Federation of Canadian Naturists' fine magazine Going Natural is now available here in a digital version, or here in paper version.

Inside you will find an editorial by Michel Vais on "The Naturist Minority" which echoes something I have said many times on this blog, that there is strength in numbers, that a "group is essential" for gaining wider acceptance for nudity.

There is also a very interesting article by Stina Sieg on the Northeast Naturist Festival. The author is in her twenties, and while raised by naturist parents, fell out of the lifestyle and felt it was "time to explore nakedness again".

Other articles include "The Fourth British Naturism Weekend at Alton Towers", "Naked People: An Internet Project", "Noods + Toons = The Bare Pit!", "Reasons to Be a Naturist, Part 2", "The International Naturist Anthem", "Kayaking Naked in Desolation Sound", "Going the Full Monte", and more. As usual, the magazine is loaded with great color photos. Be sure to check out the feature "Quote of the Quarter" for some words of wisdom from a certain nudist blogger.

Katharine Hepburn, Nude and Proud

2010-04-24T16:51:00.001-07:00

From The Hidden Passion of Katharine Hepburn:

In her senior year at the exclusive Bryn Mawr college, she became involved with an amateur photographer called Ludlow Ogden Smith, for whom she agreed to pose for pictures.

“He wondered how I’d feel about posing semi-nude,” she recalled. “Why do things halfway?” I answered boldly. I was very proud of my body and considered myself terribly attractive. My breasts were small, but very good ones. I was accustomed to nudity in our home — not just my father’s, but everyone else, too — so taking naked pictures seemed great fun. When I saw the photos, I was thrilled: I was more beautiful without my clothes than with them.”

Everybody is, Kate, every body is.

The Face is Present

2010-04-23T12:55:00.001-07:00

Artist Marina Abramović is present pretty much all of the time at her current exhibition at MOMA. She sits at a table while people one by one take the seat opposite her, and they share a moment, a moment which is captured on live video stream as well as on Flickr. Truly an inspired idea.

With all the emphasis society puts on body parts, something which nudism/naturism tries to negate, this art project shows emphatically that the most intimate part of the human body is the face.

More Than 1000 Expected for Brighton World Naked Bike Ride

2010-04-21T08:35:00.000-07:00

Starting with 160 riders in 2006, the Brighton leg of the World Naked Bike Ride promises to be the largest ever, with over 1000 riders expected. The event will end up at Black Rock naturist beach, which is a wonderful idea to mix the protest with some real naturism. It baffles me why AANR or TNS are not willing to tap in on the enthusiasm of the WNBR, which is peaceful, fun, environmentally kind, and a reflection of the true spirit of naturism. The WNBR is proof positive that public nudity can be a community event, and even the police are escorting and protecting the nude riders.

WNBR Brighton

Banning Cleavage

2010-04-21T04:50:00.001-07:00

It's amazing to see what lengths people will go to in order to "protect" society from the "evils" of the female nipple. Today's WTF moment comes to us courtesy of the City Council of Sumner, Washington, which is so terrified of sexy female baristas coming into their jurisdiction that they have passed laws which make bikinis in public illegal.

The ordinance will prohibit public exposure of the genitals or any part of a female breast below the upper edge of the areola. Violators can be charged with a misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 90 days in jail.

As you can see by the above graphic, the woman wearing that particular bikini is exposing some of her breast area "below the upper edge of the areola" in the cleavage area, and is therefore subject to arrest and incarceration.

Are Sumner police going to go around with a long ruler measuring breasts? And why is the skin below the areola illegal, but the skin above is not? Is there an age limit to the law? What about a toddler running naked under a sprinkler in a back yard? Do we lock her up too? The entire concept is beyond ridiculous.

So here's to the City Council of Sumner, for protecting society from the deadly female nipple, which is now apparently public enemy number one.

Naturist Action Committee Newsletter for April 2010 Now Online

2010-04-17T12:42:00.001-07:00

The Naturist Action Committee newsletter, entitled "The Newsletter", is now online for April with articles on World Naked Gardening Day, Apple iPhone censorship, and the hysteria over teen sexting. It's available on pdf file here.

British Politician Declares Herself a "Naturist by Instinct"

2010-04-13T05:48:00.000-07:00

Esther Rantzen is an independent candidate in Great Britain, and is unfazed when confronted by nude people when canvassing door-to-door. “You are my first nude, though I am almost a naturist by instinct. I like taking my clothes off, but not in the street.”

Topfree Organizer Needs Thicker Skin, Clearer Message

2010-04-11T05:23:00.001-07:00

In the past, protesters have been subjected to tear gas, bullets, fire hoses, taunts, thrown eggs, spit or worse. The heart of any protest is for people to stand up to an inequity in society, and to accept the consequences from the reactions of those who disagree.

When 20 year-old Ty MacDowell decided to organize a women's topfree march through the heart of Portland, Maine, she somehow thought that people would automatically accept bared women's breasts as a normal occurrence. "I was shocked by the number of people", she admitted. "I expected that (people would watch), but not to the extent that it was."

Ty was also upset that a video of the event was posted online and blurred out as if it was pornography, noting that such censorship felt like "total objectification".

Now I give Ty major props for taking on this endeavor, but she needs to thicken her exposed skin a little more in the face of public reaction. After all, the women were not arrested or hindered in any way. If some men behaved like young boys seeing their first Playboy centerfold, it's a male problem, and illustrates exactly why the topfree movement is important. The only way to reverse the objectification of women's breasts is to make them ubiquitous.

Ty states that she "can't understand" why other women would find the display of female breasts "disgusting" since there is nothing inherently sexual about nudity. Again, I applaud her efforts, but Ty has to get a little more savvy in dealing with the press if she wants to make her positive message more effective. It's hard to imagine Betty Friedan or Gloria Steinem declaring that they "didn't understand" society's push back against feminism. I would argue that Ms. MacDowell does in fact understand, which is why she is organizing topfree events in the first place, she is just inexperienced at articulating her position.

Embrace the photographers, embrace the publicity, and embrace your new position as a women's rights leader, Ty. It's all a good thing if you channel some of the negativity you feel into focusing your message and expanding the movement. Shock and indignation should not be the thrust of your platform.

Ty reports that she has been contacted by a University of Maine at Farmington student who wants to organize a similar march on that campus, but she also states that she wants to take her movement "more grass-roots" and plan events through word-of-mouth rather than through social networking on the Internet.

Like it or not, Ty MacDowell has made international news with her topfree walk through an American city. Shying away from the publicity is a mistake, and will likely create the impression that society is not ready for topless women in public. Trying to avoid the "circus atmosphere" only assures that the objectification and voyeurism will continue. A civil right not properly exercised will wither and die.

Virginia Man Not Guilty of Indecent Exposure

2010-04-08T12:22:00.001-07:00

It took less than 20 minutes for a Fairfax County jury to find Erick Williamson not guilty of indecent exposure for an incident last fall where a passer-by claimed that the man willfully appeared nude in a doorway and a window of his home.

The concept of obscenity is at the heart of the case, which went to the seven-person jury shortly before 3 p.m. Did Williamson intentionally display himself, both to Dean and to another woman who drove past the house and saw Williamson at 6:40 a.m. that same morning? Or was he simply moving about the house, admittedly unclothed, packing, eating breakfast and getting ready to move, as he testified.

A couple of the more disturbing aspects of the case, such as the witness being a spouse of a police officer, and the cops who entered the man's home without a warrant, remained unresolved.

Whether or not this man considers himself to be a nudist or naturist is irrelevant, but the issue strikes at the heart of every body freedom advocate who enjoys nudity at home. The police witch hunt against this man, which included sending letters to schools looking for witnesses who might have seen the man nude at other times, is an abuse of power which goes beyond protecting the community, and is designed merely to cover their own asses. The police exceeded their authority in the initial reaction to the incident and then tried to turn it into some sort of danger to women and children in the community merely to justify their heavy-handed actions.

Perhaps most shameful is AANR's stance on this incident, which basically condemned the man before a trial.

Carlyn Hawkins, a spokeswoman for the American Association for Nude Recreation, declined to comment on the specifics of the case. However, she said, "I'm nude when I'm in my home, but I also keep my drapes closed."

Hawkins said the association advocated naked responsibility.

"We don't want to offend anybody," she said. "We want to be accepted and we don't want any nudist to create any problems."

Even Executive Director Erich Schuttauf chimed in:

Did Mr. Coffee simply stumble around the kitchen preparing brew, or did he stand spread eagle in open doorways and a large plate glass picture window at 8:40 in the morning-and were mother and son taking only a small shortcut between two very public sidewalks from which one could have just as easily seen a purposeful display as has also been alleged?

AANR's continued policies of nudity being best when "not offending" condemns all nudists and naturists to practicing their clothes-free lifestyle behind drawn curtains, locked gates and tall fences.

There was no evidence that the Virginia "Naked Coffee Guy" did anything lewd or indecent, but there is evidence of overreaction and hysteria over simple nudity, and authorities treating a man's penis the same as a terrorist bomb on an airplane.

Thankfully a jury made the wise and sensible decision to find this man not guilty. The question today is will AANR apologize to all of its members for failing to support the most basic right of being nude in one's own home?

Women Exercise Their Topfree Rights in Portland

2010-04-04T06:12:00.000-07:00

The best way to normalize women's topfreedom is to exercise the right, and that's exactly what about two dozen women did in Portland yesterday.

The point of the march was that a topless woman out in public should attract no more attention than a man walking around without a shirt on, said Ty MacDowell, 20, of Westbrook, who organized Saturday's event and promoted it on Facebook....MacDowell said she understood that for women, going topless in public "is not socially acceptable yet, and obviously there's going to be a reaction to something that breaks the norm."

But, she said, the picture-taking was particularly upsetting.

"A lot of people were taking pictures without even asking," she said. "Even if you're somewhere where people are fully clothed, you should ask."

I find it rather odd that Ms. MacDowell would be so savvy about her topfree rights, yet so ignorant about photographer's rights. Anyone who appears in public and has no reasonable expectation of privacy can be photographed.

Also, in our breast-obsessed society, women who appear topfree in public should not be surprised by getting a lot of attention, particularly from males who have been conditioned to regard female breasts as sexual objects.

It's very encouraging that women turned out in such a relatively large number for this event, and since interest was high with no incidents or arrests, perhaps the next topfree protest in Maine will be even larger. For their next event, the women say they are planning a "topless adventure".

Religion Threatens Nude Beach in Key West

2010-04-03T06:57:00.000-07:00

A section of Smathers Beach in Key West slated for naturist use is under threat from religious groups who are "uncomfortable" with the idea of nude people enjoying the sun and surf.

"I'm convinced that the naturalist is not an evil person," said Adam Walker, pastor of Calvary Chapel. "Let's just look at facts about humanity: The naturalist does not see anything wrong about nudity. I believe that. You've got to know that not everybody going on that beach is going to be a naturalist. Twitter has opened the world. What do you think is going to be going on on these beaches?"

"I personally would not want this temptation there for my sons," Walker's wife Patty said. "It's hard enough for them to go through life as a teenager. I don't want their mind dwelling on things like that. You go in there and you're not in there for the right reason and you come out, you've got to go let that out somewhere, and things happen in our community."

So, in a nutshell, naturists and naturists are not evil, but nudity attracts evil people. And the argument is not about reality, but about what people "think is going to be going on". And what on earth does Twitter have to do with nude recreation? Fear, ignorance and religions zealotry once again stand in the way of the basic human right of enjoying nude recreation.