Dark clouds forming: Threats to Florida’s nude beaches and resorts
Naturists unite: Defending the right to body freedom in the sunshine state
Shirley Mason is a longtime Florida free beach activist and advocate for nude recreation. She is a founder of Haulover nude beach and the B.E.A.C.H.E.S. Foundation Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to establishing and securing safe, well-managed designated nude beaches.
The Florida Legislature is in session, awash with bills, that, if passed with modest amendments while going through the Committee process, would make illegal nude use at Florida’s four clothing-optional beaches and several, if not all private family nudist clubs. This is a THREE ALARM FIRE and Action is needed NOW.
Bills with names like: Child Protection, Human Trafficking, Massage Therapy, Live Performances, Grooming, Beach Renourishment, etc. are what concern the Naturist community.
My favorite quote for when lawmakers assemble to make sausage is:
“If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.”
We’ve won a several battles against those who want to take away your rights to body freedom, but we’ve lost too many. These are bills may be well-intentioned but without naturists speaking up to inform, educate and influence lawmakers, we will be eaten.
We have a plan
Florida Naturist organizations have been down this road serval times before with the Florida Legislature and we have a plan. These bills must either be amended so they will not harm Naturism or killed. Naturist lobbyists, lawyers at the Capitol and volunteers are on it. Volunteers will be needed to go to Tallahassee to testify and meet with legislators as well as testify in a court proceeding regarding neutralizing a blanket anti-nudity state park rule to reclaim our lost clothing-optional beaches.
Here is how you can help
SIGN UP for B.E.A.C.H.E.S. Foundation Institute’s “Alerts” and bill tracking updates at: beachesfoundation.org
LOCATE your Florida Legislator and write them.
DONATE your time and money. It costs to educate officials, retain lawyers, provide documentation and cover volunteers’ travel expenses. 🪐
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Thank you Chris for the offer. Much appreciated. I have the fondest memories of attending TNS Gatherings at Eastover. I doubt if either of us will be able to attend the Eastern Festival, however, I have a suggestion. How about reserving time during the festival for a video presentation. Eastover has large spaces like the barn and should have a large flatscreen television or monitor which could accommodate this. You may want to offer this to other organizations and individuals.
I don’t doubt the real possibility of such an attack on our freedoms. As this is a political matter, I would make a political observation that if they can banish any mention of homosexuality in our schools through grade 12, prevent any woman from ending a pregnancy (6 weeks!) before she hardly knows she’s pregnant, and attack Disney, the Happiest Place On Earth - the state’s #1 employer and source of revenue, threatening to run it out of Florida - all real recent actions - you sure as hell better believe they won’t give a hoot about how much $ Pasco might make from its several nudist resorts. It’s ALL about our governor making a name for himself with the radical Christian Right so he can beat Trump in the primaries. The wackier the action, the better.
I would like to see more specifics about what they might be up to. But anyone of the R persuasion should be ready to speak up immediately - the voice of D’s is disregarded in Tally any more. It’s up to those of you who voted for these legislators to stop the insanity before it’s too late.