News of the Nude, Aug. 2025
Volume 32: Barriers, bans, and blurred lines: Nudity under pressure on beaches, in courts, and online
Welcome to another News of the Nude. Much of August’s news deals with the vulnerability of our freedoms. Beaches that are cut off by wildfire closures and eroding cliffs, fences and tents reshaping cherished nude spaces, and platforms and corporations deciding which bodies or images can be shown. What these stories share is the truth that our bodies are never neutral; they are always at the mercy of bans, judgments, or fences. And of course extreme weather events.
There are some happy stories in here too. Enjoy. 🚀
News of the Nude, Vol. 32 🪐
Some people risk $25,000 fine to reach Nova Scotia's nude beach
Following Nova Scotia’s emergency ban on accessing wooded areas due to wildfire risks, confusion has arisen over whether trails leading to Crystal Crescent’s third beach—a beloved unofficial nude beach near Halifax—are included. The beach is typically accessed by a 15-minute hike through forested coastal trails, now technically off-limits, with violators facing fines up to $25,000. Some visitors, uncertain about the ban’s scope, have reportedly continued making the hike. “We think going to the beach through the woods is fine,” said two young men interviewed en route. Others cited a lack of physical barriers or signage as reason to proceed. Meanwhile, the Bluenose Naturists issued a public statement urging caution and affirming their support for the fire safety measures. 🚀
Man Wins $12,500 After Google Street View Camera Photographs Him Naked
An Argentinian police officer was awarded $12,500 after a Google Street View car captured him sunbathing nude in his own backyard—a 2017 image that went viral, exposing his address and identity to the public. Initially dismissed by a lower court, the case was overturned on appeal, with the judges calling it a “blatant” invasion of privacy and holding Google accountable for failing to blur the image, as per its own policies. The case raises important questions about consent, context, and digital voyeurism—especially in a world where simple nudity can be algorithmically captured, distributed, and weaponized. 🚀
The Battle of Denny Blaine: Nudists vs prudists on Seattle’s lakefront
Monocle’s Gregory Scruggs offers a sharp, occasionally cheeky summary of Seattle’s ongoing conflict over Denny Blaine Park—a modest lakeside space with an outsized role in local nudist culture. Scruggs recaps the now-infamous 2023 donation that sparked a public backlash: a playground proposal quietly funded by a billionaire mall developer who also happened to live next door. The story traces the spiraling tension from neighborhood complaints and mayoral texts to lawsuits, a court ruling declaring nudity a “public nuisance,” and the recent erection of a green-meshed chain-link fence. Scruggs notes the fence’s “Reaganesque” symbolic weight, hinting that the culture war around nudity is far from resolved.
Monocle’s piece is a fun read that breezily highlights the contradictions between bureaucracy and bare bodies, but at 600 words, it amounts to merely summary of a much larger saga, one that we have been covering for years on Planet Nude, including extensive original reporting, interviews, and legal context. Still, the piece offers a useful flyover for international readers who may be discovering this uniquely Seattle story for the first time. 🚀
More ro read:
Iconic mermaid statue to be torn down as critics slam it for being a 'man's hot dream of what a woman should look like'
Copenhagen’s 13-foot “Big Mermaid” statue is being removed after years of public debate over its exaggerated features, particularly its large breasts and curvaceous form. Critics, including journalists and art reviewers, have labeled the statue “pornographic” and claimed it reflects a male fantasy rather than a body-positive representation of women. One commentator argued that such depictions discourage real women from embracing their own bodies. The artist defended the statue’s form as proportional and popular with tourists.
In aggregate with similar controversies—like the backlash to a mermaid statue in Monopoli, Italy—this latest episode suggests an ongoing cultural discomfort with certain expressions of nudity in public art. This situation raises complicated questions about when nudity is embraced, when it’s condemned, and whose bodies are deemed acceptable in public view. 🚀
UK beach voted one of world’s best (and unofficial nudist spot) closed on safety grounds
The National Trust has temporarily closed access to Pedn Vounder Beach in Cornwall citing dangerous levels of coastal erosion. The internationally acclaimed cove and unofficial nudist haven is known for its clear turquoise waters and history as a naturist-friendly destination, but is now unreachable by foot after the cliffside path from Porthcurno was deemed increasingly unstable. Locals have expressed frustration at the sudden closure, arguing the path has long posed a challenge but hadn’t visibly worsened. Still, the Trust emphasized the decision was made in consultation with emergency services to prevent serious injury. 🚀
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Nudist says tents that have popped up on nudist beach are 'spoiling' the area
Headline from The Argus • August 4, 2025
Also on Yahoo News• August 4, 2025
A cluster of large tents pitched directly on Brighton’s official nudist beach near Black Rock has sparked complaints from regular visitors. One longtime beachgoer described the scene as “tent city,” arguing that the encampment is “spoiling the nature of the beach” and disrupting its usual atmosphere. Brighton & Hove City Council confirmed it had visited the site and is working with Sussex Police to address the situation. While authorities emphasize their commitment to providing welfare support for those in need, the city maintains a firm no-camping policy on public beaches and has reportedly issued notices to those occupying the area. 🚀
Steam Doesn't Think This Image Is ‘Suitable for All Ages’
When indie developer Paolo Pedercini tried to submit his satirical game Future? No Thanks! to Steam, the process was delayed because a low-res screenshot of a fully clothed woman was flagged as “suggestive.” The image itself is ordinary; what’s absurd is treating it as sexual. Yet storefronts like Steam and Itch, under pressure from financial gatekeepers, increasingly censor anything that could be construed as “adult”—no matter how far-fetched the claim.
Much of this pressure comes from financial gatekeepers like Visa and Mastercard, influenced by groups such as Collective Shout, whose campaigns against the “pornification of culture” have swept up queer content, political art, and even satire. Pedercini warns that such opaque censorship endangers games as cultural expression, echoing battles he’s faced before.
At Planet Nude, we explored this very trend in our recent piece, The price of being naked online, showing how financial censorship now decides what nude expression is allowed. Pedercini’s flagged screenshot may look harmless, but it’s part of the same cultural erasure that deems bodies, queerness, and satire too “risky” for commercial platforms. 🚀
Read more:
As influencers spread ‘toxic’ claims, what is the truth about sunscreen?
With sunscreen skepticism on the rise (fueled in part by the spreading MAHA movement, as well as a rash of online influencers and viral misinformation) this article from The Guardian explores what the science actually says. Despite alarmist claims about “toxic ingredients,” experts confirm that sunscreen remains a crucial tool in preventing UV damage and skin cancer. Organic UV filters like oxybenzone have raised questions due to their presence in blood and potential endocrine effects, but studies show typical usage stays well below harmful thresholds. Inorganic filters like zinc oxide are generally seen as safer, though they pose some environmental risks.
While many (but not all, notably) nudists value sun exposure for its liberating and health-affirming qualities, responsible protection matters. Shade, clothing, and sunscreen can all be part of a balanced approach. This piece reinforces the nudist ethos of body awareness and personal responsibility, while cautioning against the social media-driven fearmongering that often distorts public understanding of skin health. 🚀
One Woman’s Wholesome Mission to Get Naked Outside
In the humorous and vulnerable personal essay from Outside (linked above), writer Gloria Liu shares her journey from modest bystander to aspiring outdoor nudist. Inspired by her boyfriend’s vivid childhood memory of running naked on the beach, Liu reflects on her own lack of nude experiences growing up, and the awkwardness of her first attempt to disrobe at a hot spring, where none of her friends followed suit. Now in her late thirties and increasingly ready to push past embarrassment, Liu proposes a “naked training plan” to gradually embrace naturism in the outdoors. Her goal? To become one of “those people” she’s always admired: the confident, body-free adventurers who ski, hike, and bathe in the nude. 🚀
The 10 best nude beaches in the US, ranked by travelers
USA Today published a widely circulated travel feature this month ranking the ten best nude beaches in the United States. Compiled using online metrics like TripAdvisor reviews and Instagram hashtags, the list includes well-known naturist spots such as Haulover Beach in Miami, Black’s Beach in San Diego, and Blind Creek in Fort Pierce, along with several lesser-known locations like Ship Island in Mississippi and Secret Cove at Lake Tahoe.
These kinds of lists get published all the time, and I don’t tend to spotlight them in News of the Nude, but this article’s prominence in USA Today made it remarkable in my view.
Have you been to any of the beaches named? Which ones? 🚀
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Pickleball? Play naked.
That was August.
That’s all for this month’s News of the Nude. August ends.
September is our semiannual September Member Drive (the other is in March). We have some fun stuff planned to encourage people to support our work with a paid membership. I know those reminders can get old, especially if you’re already a supporter, but paid memberships are what keep this work going. My goal is to make participation both enjoyable and valuable. Are you with me? 🪐
Disclosure: This post used generative AI to support the writing and editing process.