Last week,Planet Nudelaunched a Change.org petition urging Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers to veto the controversial anti-nudity bills currently in the state legislature. This initiative sparked debate within the naturist community, between individuals in online forums like Reddit, and also within and between multiple nudist organizations. While some view the petition as a vital tool to demonstrate support and mobilize action, others dismiss it as ineffective “slacktivism,” pointing out that many signers are not actually Wisconsin residents. Criticism also centers on whether such actions could backfire, potentially drawing negative attention from the Republican legislators who are promoting this bill, the suggestion being that we should try to “fly under the radar.” This debate extends to organizational strategies, with some arguing for proactive engagement and others cautioning against hasty moves that could lead to unintended consequences. Critics of naturist organizations accuse them of being too passive in the face of legislative threats, lagging behind a rapidly evolving media landscape, and failing to show the next generation of nudists why this is worth fighting for.
Personally, I think this is a super important discussion and very timely with everything going on in the nudist movement right now. So in this week's #UndressedThread, we want to explore your perspectives.
How do you view the role of petitions and public activism in naturist advocacy, especially in situations like the one in Wisconsin?
Do you think naturist organizations should be more proactive in their approach, or is there merit in a more cautious, strategically reserved stance?
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Please join the conversation and share your thoughts in the comments! 🪐
One interesting and nuanced take on this issue was articulated just recently in an article in the NAC/NEF Pages of History newsletter, called, “A Reason.”
" moving its ideas of body acceptance into the mainstream, without necessarily seeking to convert everyone into a card carrying naturist."
Excellent point and probably why landed nudist clubs and AANR have not focused on general public acceptance. It's not immediately profitable. I can't hate them for it because landed clubs and nudist oriented businesses must make a regular profit or the cease to exist. And it feels like fewer and fewer pass that test as time goes by. New ones don't get started because there's an inadequate potential member base to be worth it.
Memberships are important because without dues there are no resources for action. This is still true for organizations that primarily use activists and volunteers. Nothing gets done without material resources. But it is equally true that young people don't throw dues money at clubs. They aren't joiners. They are, however, very accepting.
I do remember the Naturist Society back in the 80s. I was in the 4WD SIG. The organization felt like it had a purpose. The SIGs were about doing stuff and not just socializing. Now TNS seems more concerned with internal squabbles. They couldn't keep a Young Naturists group going.
I chose “good to be proactive”, however, as a community we need to understand that this can be an expensive approach. This means that we need infrastructure in place to monitor proposals and keep important legislators close. I believe our national organizations work toward this, but don’t know if they have the resources to do much more than react. We do need to fund the effort - this may be where there is a generational fork in the road. Based on some of the articles I have read, the “younger” folks amongst us generally do not like to “belong” and that seems to be the way things are currently funded. Don’t know how true that statement is, but I really do think the foundation of maintaining the rights and privileges of naturist living does come down to funding the process. Ah, the beauty of existing in a capitalist world 😊
When I volunteered for Garden State Equality in 2009, we would canvass and gather signatures/contact info from constituents via petition cards. Those cards would be put into a CRM and the leaders of our organization would use those giant bundles of cards, all from constituents, to show how much support/opposition there is for certain legislation.
If what Naked Wanderings and others say about most people’s attitudes towards nudity is correct (that most people don’t feel strongly one way or the other and that most of the opposition comes from a small but loud minority), then we actually have an opportunity to raise awareness and show that most people would probably agree that Wisconsin’s bills are an overreach.
Just an aside to build off of Naked Wandering’s observation: I think we should call people like Jeff Weigand and Chris Kapenga “prudists”; other non-nudists “normies”; and retire the term “textile”.
Illinois and Wisconsin share a unique relationship, with many Illinois residents frequently visiting Wisconsin during the warm months. While living out of state may seem like a negative thing, the truth is that we contribute to the Wisconsin economy by spending our money there. Some of us even become residents during the warmer months. My husband and I are considering moving to Wisconsin in the near future, but the recent possibility of naturists losing their right to recreate in designated areas or in locations where no others are present has caused concern. If this were to happen, it would be a major deterrent for us to make the move. We believe that many others share our sentiment and that it might result in some Wisconsin residents leaving the state as well. Therefore, it's unfair to label non-residents as a burden, as it discourages future residents and Wisconsin sales taxpayers. Let's celebrate diversity and welcome everyone to Wisconsin with open arms. Illinois and Wisconsin have a special bond, with many Illinois residents visiting Wisconsin frequently during the warm months. Living out of state is not a negative thing, as we contribute to the Wisconsin economy by spending our money there. In fact, many of us even take up residents there during the warmer months. Some of us, like my husband and I, are seriously considering moving to Wisconsin in the near future. However, if naturists lose their right to recreate in designated areas or in locations where no others are present, it would be a huge deterrent for us to make the move. We believe that we are not the only ones who feel this way and that some Wisconsin residents may also leave the state for the same reason. Therefore, labeling non-residents as a bad thing is not fair, as it discourages future residents and Wisconsin sales taxpayers. Let us embrace diversity and welcome everyone to Wisconsin with open arms.
Tim, I appreciate your important perspective on this. My fear is that a situational approach ignores the longview. What can we do to build our coalition to fight this fight when there are more states copying Wisconsin?
I find myself unsure because I don't totally understand. I feel it is important to be proactive, but do out of state signatures matter or count?
I am relatively new to naturism and absolutely enjoy the freedom of being naked especially in nature. I also feel like I am still in the closet and unable to openly say I am a nudist to anyone.
How have groups like the gay or lesbian community gave what little more freedom they have.
It didn't come from sitting back and not being proactive.
On an individual level, they don’t necessarily count, in that the Governor of Wisconsin wants to hear from constituents. However, in the larger narrative, when added up, they absolutely count. An overwhelming response of opposition would make an important statement not just to Evers but to legislators all over.
I try not to cause harm to others by how I live. I want to hear it if my nakedness is causing distress to my neighbors. If we have an uprising against nudity by the majority of Wisconsin people then I will listen to the majority and be discreet. But I don’t see this. What I see and hear from being proactive and getting the message out there is….. “I had no idea”.
Democracy…. Making sure everyone knows ! We need to stop legislating in the dark!
I think we should take every opportunity to hike nude, sunbathe nude, swim nude, and - as best we might - act as if nudity were perfectly acceptable. I have a friend who has wandered through San Francisco nude hundreds of times. I have ran Bay to Breakers nude almost every year since 1997. We can do it if we conquer our own fears.
Activism does not create danger; instead, it reveals it. Not only that, activism liberates those who have been surviving in harmful circumstances.
To be fair, I do think about things such as signing petitions for causes outside of my geography. I consider if I know enough about the local laws and the circumstances surrounding the petition. I do my own research. I hold my own independent opinion. And then, based on all the information available to me, I make a decision whether or not to sign.
The dangerous part about silence is how it enables the oppressor. It enables them to paint pictures of people who sign petitions that are false. It enables them to convince people that there is only a binary. It enables them to persuade others to reinforce a standard over a bogeyman.
Freedom of the press isn't just freedom for newsrooms. It's the freedom of every voice to be heard, it is "a fundamental personal right". If we prohibit that freedom ourselves, we are already back to square one. There is a difference between discretion and repression. And then, think about all the people being oppressed who cannot hide. The cultures, genders, races, abilities...think about them and then maybe consider again if being silent is something you will be proud of when you are older.
There is an excellent argument to be made that if doing something gets a law passed against what you did, it was never your "right" to do it to begin with.
I don't see that. A right is something you are allowed to do and there's no legal recourse to prevent it. If someone can pass a law against something - and make it stick - you don't have the "right" to do whatever it is. Unless you are an absolutist, rights are in constant flux.
One court vote and the right to have a first trimester abortion evaporated. Now it is up to the individual states to give it back because Congress sure isn't any use. Even the enumerated rights of free speech and religion are subject to the government of the moment.
Doing something you don't have the right to do in the hope of getting that right - or at least provoking a specific response - is civil disobedience. Saying that you have a right to do something that the government disallows is entirely *rhetorical* until you can convince the "powers that be" to treat it as a right. It is opinion and not fact.
The only way to discover the true limits of your rights is to push the envelope. There are many things one might have a theoretical right to do but in reality, you don't. Once you know the limits of what you can do, then you can work on expanding those limits.
I didn’t hear a peep from the legacy organization I’m a member of so anyone who criticizes PN for activating or those of us from out of state for sticking up for our way of being is not seeing the neon writing on the wall. Some of us have been squawking about the coming incursion on our rights for several years. So if anyone is whining that you tried to do something, they’re helping pave the path toward the degradation of our ability to exist.
I feel like American nudism has been fighting from day one. And as naturism and pornography evolved, this fight has grown with the public majority confusing the two. I agree with M.M., we should always use the power of our voice to make change and use our privileges to fight for those less privileged, no matter who is a resident and who is not. But in my opinion, from a larger picture, this is becoming a two-steps-forward, three-steps-backward approach. Yes, petitions and protests have helped shape this beautifully diverse country- but so has education, movements, socioeconomic trends, and philanthropy.
So no, to answer your title, I do not believe we are doing enough. But not in terms of just our democratic voice, but in ways of positively setting the example and showing society HOW this is normal, HOW this is healthy, HOW this can be non-sexual and beneficial to our children. It'll take time, but I think we should really revamp how we approach our place in American society and try to step away from only the consumerism side so that our arguments can become even stronger.
Yes, I agree we are not doing enough. I don't think this we realize how much things are being altered at this moment in time. Language itself is an active tool that is being altered as part of propaganda. Words are being eliminated and replaced. I'm feeling a bit shook after watching a video that is completely unscientific and is being forced showing in schools by anti-abortionists. It's called "Baby Olivia" and there is a push for the AG to be able to sue schools who do not show it to young children. It is very extremist and the "so what" for me is that if we do not create and embrace our own language with naturism, it might soon be gone.
My opinion is that change.org is an ineffective device used to make people feel good about something without having to invest themselves.
Letters, email, and personal calls to the legislatures offices make the difference. They have to account for time on the call and have mail and email to review. Taking your time and expense to communicate does make some difference.
For those of us out of the state the comments can precede with you being from your location and are interested in the activities discussed as you would like to participate when you visit the state.
So, yes, make your concerns known as a person/family who would make decision on future visits to that state.
There's an expression that fits this situation. "There's nothing new to learn from a second kick of the mule." With only 3 exceptions that I know of in the past 40 years, I've wondered for decades why our national and international naturist/nudist organizations are always playing defense when it come to threats to naturist freedoms. Having lobbied on behalf of naturists and the free beach movement for 35 years in the Florida legislature, county commissions and before representatives in Congress in Washington DC, as well as working on campaigns throughout Florida of both Democrats and Republican legislators who proved to be "friends of naturists", I can honestly say that we're doing this lobbying "thing" ass backwards. Petitions have its place in a much larger strategic plan to secure our freedom. It starts with EDUCATION. First: Start by educating us — the dues-paying, card-carrying naturist/nudist community. This can be done by conducting Zoom caucuses-style training sessions so groups of people in a conference room can participate together throughout the country. We ALL must personally take the time to meet with our local, state and federal lawmakers. Second: Develop strategic allies from communities in the hospitality/tourism business, civil rights, PR/Marketing, and experts in key fields of discipline to boost our influence and credibility. Third: If it's true that there's strength in numbers, then grow our numbers/membership by going to where the skinny-dippers go by working with the free beach organizations that are the stewards of our few remaining clothing-optional beaches. Fourth: Privately owned nudist clubs and resorts should re-establish and fund TANR (Trade Association for Nude Recreation) to hire professional government affairs representatives and marketing firm. Fifth: Let women of all ages be the face of naturism. We love and need our intelligent male partners in this effort, however, if we ever want to be taken seriously by lawmakers and the "prudists" (I like that term), women must be the ones who say that they feel safe in a clothes-free environment whether at a designated c/o beach or at a private resort AND that its been good for them and their children. Women give naturism the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. Laws are to protect our health, safety, welfare and Constitutional Rights and freedoms. Make those who want to take away this natural right and state of being that it is harmful. They can't.
Yes! Being on the back foot means that you'll always keep walking backwards. At the very least, fortify the existing strong places, bring power and persuasion to the places that are slipping and then reposition and regain ground where it's been lost.
Be more proactive. In American history, no social or minority group ever made any headway in gaining their rights by being passive or "flying under the radar." Almost all of them had to fight an uphill battle against the forces of the status quo, who don't anything to change in a society that is always changing. There were setbacks and casualties along the way. Still these groups and in pretty much every case they did secure their rights. Naturist are a minority group, no matter which way you look at it. Our way of life conflicts with the status quo, so we must be willing to endure and fight against what they throw at us. We are a minority by choice, in the same sense that a person of faith might be in a minority by choice. But I see countless examples from American history and today of these people fighting for their rights and winning. That could be us too.
Nudism has been doing its damnedest to "fly under the radar" for most of its existence. That is why we're in such a bad situation today. How can you possibly expect new new people to embrace nudism if you are anxious to hide it? Nudism is shrinking in this country and flying under the radar does nothing to slow the trend.
I do not know if the trend is reversible. We lack the political acumen of gays. We lack the unity of purpose of the civil rights movement. We lack the fundamental sense of injustice that fueled both. Nudism has grown old and failed to bring in adequate new blood. We may simply need for American culture to evolve to catch up with Europe.
How about being active - but also being understanding of the regional culture? WNBRs have gone off without a hitch in many US cities without protests and without attempts to make them illegal. Chicago has WNBRs too.
Before you try to push the envelope, you need to acknowledge and then understand the envelope. Also, know that if you tear the envelope, you're screwed. Different states have different envelopes.
Petitions are effective, maybe not in persuading specific individuals to do what the petition asks, but as evidence of naturism's existence as a social trend. The trend is the real thing we need to stoke.
One interesting and nuanced take on this issue was articulated just recently in an article in the NAC/NEF Pages of History newsletter, called, “A Reason.”
https://naturisteducation.org/wp-content/uploads/library/newsletters/2024_02.pdf
" moving its ideas of body acceptance into the mainstream, without necessarily seeking to convert everyone into a card carrying naturist."
Excellent point and probably why landed nudist clubs and AANR have not focused on general public acceptance. It's not immediately profitable. I can't hate them for it because landed clubs and nudist oriented businesses must make a regular profit or the cease to exist. And it feels like fewer and fewer pass that test as time goes by. New ones don't get started because there's an inadequate potential member base to be worth it.
Memberships are important because without dues there are no resources for action. This is still true for organizations that primarily use activists and volunteers. Nothing gets done without material resources. But it is equally true that young people don't throw dues money at clubs. They aren't joiners. They are, however, very accepting.
I do remember the Naturist Society back in the 80s. I was in the 4WD SIG. The organization felt like it had a purpose. The SIGs were about doing stuff and not just socializing. Now TNS seems more concerned with internal squabbles. They couldn't keep a Young Naturists group going.
I chose “good to be proactive”, however, as a community we need to understand that this can be an expensive approach. This means that we need infrastructure in place to monitor proposals and keep important legislators close. I believe our national organizations work toward this, but don’t know if they have the resources to do much more than react. We do need to fund the effort - this may be where there is a generational fork in the road. Based on some of the articles I have read, the “younger” folks amongst us generally do not like to “belong” and that seems to be the way things are currently funded. Don’t know how true that statement is, but I really do think the foundation of maintaining the rights and privileges of naturist living does come down to funding the process. Ah, the beauty of existing in a capitalist world 😊
When I volunteered for Garden State Equality in 2009, we would canvass and gather signatures/contact info from constituents via petition cards. Those cards would be put into a CRM and the leaders of our organization would use those giant bundles of cards, all from constituents, to show how much support/opposition there is for certain legislation.
If what Naked Wanderings and others say about most people’s attitudes towards nudity is correct (that most people don’t feel strongly one way or the other and that most of the opposition comes from a small but loud minority), then we actually have an opportunity to raise awareness and show that most people would probably agree that Wisconsin’s bills are an overreach.
Just an aside to build off of Naked Wandering’s observation: I think we should call people like Jeff Weigand and Chris Kapenga “prudists”; other non-nudists “normies”; and retire the term “textile”.
Illinois and Wisconsin share a unique relationship, with many Illinois residents frequently visiting Wisconsin during the warm months. While living out of state may seem like a negative thing, the truth is that we contribute to the Wisconsin economy by spending our money there. Some of us even become residents during the warmer months. My husband and I are considering moving to Wisconsin in the near future, but the recent possibility of naturists losing their right to recreate in designated areas or in locations where no others are present has caused concern. If this were to happen, it would be a major deterrent for us to make the move. We believe that many others share our sentiment and that it might result in some Wisconsin residents leaving the state as well. Therefore, it's unfair to label non-residents as a burden, as it discourages future residents and Wisconsin sales taxpayers. Let's celebrate diversity and welcome everyone to Wisconsin with open arms. Illinois and Wisconsin have a special bond, with many Illinois residents visiting Wisconsin frequently during the warm months. Living out of state is not a negative thing, as we contribute to the Wisconsin economy by spending our money there. In fact, many of us even take up residents there during the warmer months. Some of us, like my husband and I, are seriously considering moving to Wisconsin in the near future. However, if naturists lose their right to recreate in designated areas or in locations where no others are present, it would be a huge deterrent for us to make the move. We believe that we are not the only ones who feel this way and that some Wisconsin residents may also leave the state for the same reason. Therefore, labeling non-residents as a bad thing is not fair, as it discourages future residents and Wisconsin sales taxpayers. Let us embrace diversity and welcome everyone to Wisconsin with open arms.
Being proactive means actions based on the situation, the situation many times dictates the course of action.
Tim, I appreciate your important perspective on this. My fear is that a situational approach ignores the longview. What can we do to build our coalition to fight this fight when there are more states copying Wisconsin?
As Wisconsin goes…..so goes the nation.
Our progressive, forward thinking state is often a barometer for legislators throughout our country!
I find myself unsure because I don't totally understand. I feel it is important to be proactive, but do out of state signatures matter or count?
I am relatively new to naturism and absolutely enjoy the freedom of being naked especially in nature. I also feel like I am still in the closet and unable to openly say I am a nudist to anyone.
How have groups like the gay or lesbian community gave what little more freedom they have.
It didn't come from sitting back and not being proactive.
On an individual level, they don’t necessarily count, in that the Governor of Wisconsin wants to hear from constituents. However, in the larger narrative, when added up, they absolutely count. An overwhelming response of opposition would make an important statement not just to Evers but to legislators all over.
Hopefully the out of state signatures will be correctly translated by the Governor as tourism dollars!
I try not to cause harm to others by how I live. I want to hear it if my nakedness is causing distress to my neighbors. If we have an uprising against nudity by the majority of Wisconsin people then I will listen to the majority and be discreet. But I don’t see this. What I see and hear from being proactive and getting the message out there is….. “I had no idea”.
Democracy…. Making sure everyone knows ! We need to stop legislating in the dark!
I think we should take every opportunity to hike nude, sunbathe nude, swim nude, and - as best we might - act as if nudity were perfectly acceptable. I have a friend who has wandered through San Francisco nude hundreds of times. I have ran Bay to Breakers nude almost every year since 1997. We can do it if we conquer our own fears.
Activism does not create danger; instead, it reveals it. Not only that, activism liberates those who have been surviving in harmful circumstances.
To be fair, I do think about things such as signing petitions for causes outside of my geography. I consider if I know enough about the local laws and the circumstances surrounding the petition. I do my own research. I hold my own independent opinion. And then, based on all the information available to me, I make a decision whether or not to sign.
The dangerous part about silence is how it enables the oppressor. It enables them to paint pictures of people who sign petitions that are false. It enables them to convince people that there is only a binary. It enables them to persuade others to reinforce a standard over a bogeyman.
Freedom of the press isn't just freedom for newsrooms. It's the freedom of every voice to be heard, it is "a fundamental personal right". If we prohibit that freedom ourselves, we are already back to square one. There is a difference between discretion and repression. And then, think about all the people being oppressed who cannot hide. The cultures, genders, races, abilities...think about them and then maybe consider again if being silent is something you will be proud of when you are older.
Damn I always love your opinion. Well said!
There is an excellent argument to be made that if doing something gets a law passed against what you did, it was never your "right" to do it to begin with.
That philosophy dooms us to the status quo. Applied, say, to laws against gay marriage, it should be clear why.
I don't see that. A right is something you are allowed to do and there's no legal recourse to prevent it. If someone can pass a law against something - and make it stick - you don't have the "right" to do whatever it is. Unless you are an absolutist, rights are in constant flux.
One court vote and the right to have a first trimester abortion evaporated. Now it is up to the individual states to give it back because Congress sure isn't any use. Even the enumerated rights of free speech and religion are subject to the government of the moment.
Doing something you don't have the right to do in the hope of getting that right - or at least provoking a specific response - is civil disobedience. Saying that you have a right to do something that the government disallows is entirely *rhetorical* until you can convince the "powers that be" to treat it as a right. It is opinion and not fact.
The only way to discover the true limits of your rights is to push the envelope. There are many things one might have a theoretical right to do but in reality, you don't. Once you know the limits of what you can do, then you can work on expanding those limits.
I didn’t hear a peep from the legacy organization I’m a member of so anyone who criticizes PN for activating or those of us from out of state for sticking up for our way of being is not seeing the neon writing on the wall. Some of us have been squawking about the coming incursion on our rights for several years. So if anyone is whining that you tried to do something, they’re helping pave the path toward the degradation of our ability to exist.
I feel like American nudism has been fighting from day one. And as naturism and pornography evolved, this fight has grown with the public majority confusing the two. I agree with M.M., we should always use the power of our voice to make change and use our privileges to fight for those less privileged, no matter who is a resident and who is not. But in my opinion, from a larger picture, this is becoming a two-steps-forward, three-steps-backward approach. Yes, petitions and protests have helped shape this beautifully diverse country- but so has education, movements, socioeconomic trends, and philanthropy.
So no, to answer your title, I do not believe we are doing enough. But not in terms of just our democratic voice, but in ways of positively setting the example and showing society HOW this is normal, HOW this is healthy, HOW this can be non-sexual and beneficial to our children. It'll take time, but I think we should really revamp how we approach our place in American society and try to step away from only the consumerism side so that our arguments can become even stronger.
Yes, I agree we are not doing enough. I don't think this we realize how much things are being altered at this moment in time. Language itself is an active tool that is being altered as part of propaganda. Words are being eliminated and replaced. I'm feeling a bit shook after watching a video that is completely unscientific and is being forced showing in schools by anti-abortionists. It's called "Baby Olivia" and there is a push for the AG to be able to sue schools who do not show it to young children. It is very extremist and the "so what" for me is that if we do not create and embrace our own language with naturism, it might soon be gone.
My opinion is that change.org is an ineffective device used to make people feel good about something without having to invest themselves.
Letters, email, and personal calls to the legislatures offices make the difference. They have to account for time on the call and have mail and email to review. Taking your time and expense to communicate does make some difference.
For those of us out of the state the comments can precede with you being from your location and are interested in the activities discussed as you would like to participate when you visit the state.
So, yes, make your concerns known as a person/family who would make decision on future visits to that state.
There's an expression that fits this situation. "There's nothing new to learn from a second kick of the mule." With only 3 exceptions that I know of in the past 40 years, I've wondered for decades why our national and international naturist/nudist organizations are always playing defense when it come to threats to naturist freedoms. Having lobbied on behalf of naturists and the free beach movement for 35 years in the Florida legislature, county commissions and before representatives in Congress in Washington DC, as well as working on campaigns throughout Florida of both Democrats and Republican legislators who proved to be "friends of naturists", I can honestly say that we're doing this lobbying "thing" ass backwards. Petitions have its place in a much larger strategic plan to secure our freedom. It starts with EDUCATION. First: Start by educating us — the dues-paying, card-carrying naturist/nudist community. This can be done by conducting Zoom caucuses-style training sessions so groups of people in a conference room can participate together throughout the country. We ALL must personally take the time to meet with our local, state and federal lawmakers. Second: Develop strategic allies from communities in the hospitality/tourism business, civil rights, PR/Marketing, and experts in key fields of discipline to boost our influence and credibility. Third: If it's true that there's strength in numbers, then grow our numbers/membership by going to where the skinny-dippers go by working with the free beach organizations that are the stewards of our few remaining clothing-optional beaches. Fourth: Privately owned nudist clubs and resorts should re-establish and fund TANR (Trade Association for Nude Recreation) to hire professional government affairs representatives and marketing firm. Fifth: Let women of all ages be the face of naturism. We love and need our intelligent male partners in this effort, however, if we ever want to be taken seriously by lawmakers and the "prudists" (I like that term), women must be the ones who say that they feel safe in a clothes-free environment whether at a designated c/o beach or at a private resort AND that its been good for them and their children. Women give naturism the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. Laws are to protect our health, safety, welfare and Constitutional Rights and freedoms. Make those who want to take away this natural right and state of being that it is harmful. They can't.
Your breadth of experience in this space is practically unmatched, Shirley! Thank you for leaving some of that wisdom here!
Yes! Being on the back foot means that you'll always keep walking backwards. At the very least, fortify the existing strong places, bring power and persuasion to the places that are slipping and then reposition and regain ground where it's been lost.
Be more proactive. In American history, no social or minority group ever made any headway in gaining their rights by being passive or "flying under the radar." Almost all of them had to fight an uphill battle against the forces of the status quo, who don't anything to change in a society that is always changing. There were setbacks and casualties along the way. Still these groups and in pretty much every case they did secure their rights. Naturist are a minority group, no matter which way you look at it. Our way of life conflicts with the status quo, so we must be willing to endure and fight against what they throw at us. We are a minority by choice, in the same sense that a person of faith might be in a minority by choice. But I see countless examples from American history and today of these people fighting for their rights and winning. That could be us too.
We are too allergic to casualties. Most nudists do not see it as a hill they are willing to die on.
Nudism has been doing its damnedest to "fly under the radar" for most of its existence. That is why we're in such a bad situation today. How can you possibly expect new new people to embrace nudism if you are anxious to hide it? Nudism is shrinking in this country and flying under the radar does nothing to slow the trend.
I do not know if the trend is reversible. We lack the political acumen of gays. We lack the unity of purpose of the civil rights movement. We lack the fundamental sense of injustice that fueled both. Nudism has grown old and failed to bring in adequate new blood. We may simply need for American culture to evolve to catch up with Europe.
How about being active - but also being understanding of the regional culture? WNBRs have gone off without a hitch in many US cities without protests and without attempts to make them illegal. Chicago has WNBRs too.
Before you try to push the envelope, you need to acknowledge and then understand the envelope. Also, know that if you tear the envelope, you're screwed. Different states have different envelopes.
Petitions are effective, maybe not in persuading specific individuals to do what the petition asks, but as evidence of naturism's existence as a social trend. The trend is the real thing we need to stoke.