News of the Nude, Jan. 2025
Volume 25: Bare bodies, banned art, and bike rides shape this month in nudity
Welcome to this edition of News of the Nude! As we dive into the latest in naturist news, activism, and culture in this time of turbulent change and uncertainty, it’s clear that the fight for body freedom is as relevant as ever. From challenging digital censorship to reclaiming public spaces, naturists around the world are pushing back against outdated taboos and standing firm in their right to exist—without shame, without barriers, and without clothes.
This month, we cover a bold global effort to hold Meta accountable for its discriminatory censorship of non-sexual nudity, the latest in nude art censorship at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, and a summer of cycling activism ahead in Portland and around the world. We also explore how the rise of social isolation is impacting naturism, new legal battles over nudity in public and professional life, and even a Wheel of Fortune moment that had us all laughing (or cringing).
So whether you’re reading this fully clothed or in your natural state, let’s get into it. 🚀
News of the Nude, Vol. 24 🪐
Naturists call out Meta for nudity censorship and discrimination in open letter, claim unfairly targeted
In January 2025, a coalition of 34 naturist organizations, led by the International Naturist Federation (INF-FNI), issued an open letter to Meta calling for reform in its censorship of non-sexual nudity. As someone involved in conceptualizing and executing this initiative, I feel proud of the collaboration, even as circumstances overshadowed its impact.
The letter, signed by naturist groups from over 30 countries—including U.S. organizations like AANR and TNSF which are not actually affiliated with INF-FNI in an official capacity—demanded that Meta recognize naturism as valid non-sexual expression, improve moderation systems, and increase transparency. It highlighted how Meta’s policies perpetuate body-shaming narratives and hinder naturist communities, which rely on social media to connect and educate.
Unfortunately, the release coincided with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement that Meta would loosen content moderation and end fact-checking on its platforms, which dominated media coverage. Despite the announcement, multiple international naturist organizations noted their posts sharing the letter were censored by Facebook, limiting its reach.
This claim was reinforced by another article published by 404 Media the next day, revealing that Facebook has censored their articles criticizing Meta as well. Their article highlighted more double standards in Meta’s ad policies, specifically in how they allow explicit and illicit ads while censoring body-positive art and other content. This inconsistency echoes the systemic issues naturists have historically faced—and continue to face—on social platforms.
While outlets like The Sun and National World reported on the campaign, it didn’t quite make the splash we hoped. However, the initiative successfully demonstrated unprecedented global unity among naturists in advocating for body positivity and challenging societal taboos, and it got tremendous support and positive feedback from the naturist community. It also laid vital groundwork for future efforts to push platforms like Meta to distinguish non-sexual nudity from inappropriate content and foster a more inclusive digital landscape. For this, I couldn’t be more proud. 🚀
More to read:
World Naked Bike Ride offshoot sets 2025 date, setting up big summer for nude cycling in Portland
Portland is gearing up for a lively summer of nude cycling activism as two World Naked Bike Ride events are set for 2025. The original ride, organized by longtime advocates of the event, is finalizing its date, while an offshoot group has announced their event for Saturday, August 9. Both events aim to spotlight environmental justice, body positivity, and cyclist safety, with particular focus on holding Zenith Energy accountable for its controversial fossil fuel practices.
This dual-event approach follows last year’s developments, reported by Planet Nude, when the original ride was canceled due to planning delays and volunteer burnout. A new group stepped in to organize a substitute ride, sparking concerns about divisiveness and leadership transitions. Despite these challenges, the substitute ride successfully carried forward the spirit of activism, including a protest at Zenith Energy’s facilities.
In 2025, both organizing groups aim to collaborate while maintaining distinct identities, as reported in the above article from OregonLive. As Portland continues to embrace its reputation as a hub for nude cycling protest culture, these events reinforce the city’s commitment to environmental action and the celebration of body freedom. Whether through a unified or divided approach, the rides demonstrate the enduring power of collective activism. 🚀
Naturists visit Body Works exhibition in the altogether
A group of 60 naturists attended the Body Works exhibition in Bruges, which showcases plastinated human bodies preserved to reveal anatomical details. By experiencing the exhibition without clothing, the naturists emphasized their philosophy of celebrating the human body in its natural state, free of societal judgment or taboos.
Having experienced the Bodies exhibit (a similar but different type of show also featuring plastinated bodies) many years ago and being seriously moved by it, I find this particular event really fascinating. Events like this highlight how naturism fosters a deeper appreciation for the human form beyond surface-level perceptions. It also underscores the persistent challenges naturists face, as public nudity remains stigmatized in many parts of the world. Such initiatives offer a powerful reminder that nudity can serve as a profound means of connecting with humanity, nature, and oneself. 🚀
Woman Arrested for Stripping Naked and Posing on Public Sculpture
Olga Larrea, a 30-year-old nudist and artist from Mexico City, was arrested on January 13th in La Paz after staging a nude photoshoot atop the iconic “La Perla” sculpture on the city’s boardwalk. Footage captured Larrea throwing off her dress, climbing onto the clam-shaped statue, and posing as traffic slowed and bystanders looked on. Police detained her following the stunt, and she was later fined 3,365 pesos (approximately $163) before being released.
Larrea defended her actions as a protest against societal censorship of nudity, reportedly expressing frustration on social media with the caption: “Guess who was arrested for simply existing? Why is the human body censored, but not violence? Nudity is not offensive; it is natural.” The photos, briefly posted on Facebook, were later removed. 🚀
Two people hospitalised after a car drives over a 50m cliff at Maslin Beach, Adelaide
A car plunged 50 meters off a cliff onto Maslin Beach in Adelaide late Sunday night, January 19, leaving two people hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Emergency services responded to the scene after the car crashed onto the sand below. Photographs reveal the vehicle’s extensive damage as authorities worked to determine the safest method for its removal.
Maslin Beach is celebrated for its stunning views and status as Australia’s first legalized nudist beach. Thankfully, the crash did not disrupt the tranquil reputation of this naturist haven, but the surreal event added a moment of drama to the otherwise peaceful locale. 🚀
Sponsor shout-out:

PETA holds ‘naked truth’ protest outside Downtown Jersey City’s Whole Foods
PETA staged a striking “naked truth” protest outside Whole Foods in Jersey City, with activists lying nearly nude in giant cellophane-wrapped “meat trays” covered in fake blood. The demonstration aimed to criticize Whole Foods’ association with the Global Animal Partnership (GAP) and its “animal welfare certified” labels, which PETA alleges mislead consumers by giving factory-farmed meat a false veneer of ethical approval.
In response, Whole Foods defended its animal welfare standards, stating that the suppliers mentioned by PETA are no longer part of its supply chain and have not been for several years. Whole Foods reiterated its commitment to transparency and ethical practices, while PETA continues to call for the ASPCA and Humane Society of the United States to withdraw their support from GAP. 🚀
Parents demand arrest of man accused of indecent exposure near Castro schools
Parents in San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood are outraged over a man who has allegedly been exposing himself to teenage girls near a popular student hangout. Witnesses say the man frequents the area on 18th Street wearing little more than a sock, reportedly engaging in lewd behavior.
Some residents claim they found the man on the sex offender registry, though police have not confirmed this. The SFist article above frames the suspect as a “nudist,” despite his alleged behavior being entirely unrelated to naturism. Nudism is a philosophy centered on body acceptance and non-sexual social nudity, while exhibitionism involves indecent exposure for shock or sexual gratification. Conflating the two is both misleading and harmful to legitimate naturist communities. 🚀
‘Wheel of Fortune’ Player Gives Hilarious Wrong Answer to ‘Nudist Colony’ Puzzle
A memorable moment unfolded on the January 15th episode of Wheel of Fortune when a contestant’s misstep on the puzzle “Nudist Colony” left host Ryan Seacrest and co-host Vanna White visibly amused. During the Triple Toss Up round, contestants solved puzzles ending in “Colony,” with Ricky Brown correctly guessing “Ant Colony” and Karen Morgan nailing “Artist Colony.”
However, when the final puzzle revealed “_ U D I S T / C O L O _ Y,” Morgan buzzed in and guessed “Budist [sic] Colony,” prompting laughter in the studio. Brown then provided the correct answer, “Nudist Colony,” joking afterward, “I was afraid to say it.”
While the moment brought laughter, naturists may gently point out that the term “colony” is a bit outdated—“nudist camp” or “resort” are typically preferred these days—and have been for many years. Regardless, the playful exchange quickly went viral on social media, with fans joking about the incorrect guess and the unexpected nature of the phrase. 🚀
School was wrong to sack teacher over nude photos, court rules
In a landmark decision, a Dutch court in The Hague ruled on January 7th that a Protestant secondary school violated a teacher's right to freedom of expression by dismissing him over nude photos he posted online. While the images were deemed non-pornographic, the school argued the teacher’s actions had tarnished its reputation, especially after students discovered the photos and the teacher later showed a film featuring himself and his partner nude during a classroom discussion.
The court awarded the teacher €10,000 in damages, emphasizing that the school’s actions damaged his career prospects and infringed on his rights. However, the teacher was not reinstated, as the court found the relationship between him and the school irreparably strained. 🚀
Kaka Point nudist draws ire of community with ads for naked walking groups
A nudist in Kaka Point, New Zealand, has sparked mixed reactions within the local community after promoting naked walking groups in the Catlins region. Public nudity is legal in New Zealand under the Summary Offences Act, provided it does not intend to offend or alarm others, and the organizer emphasized discretion in choosing remote natural spaces for the walks.
While some locals find the activity harmless or amusing, others have criticized it as inappropriate or attention-seeking. Despite criticism, the organizer reportedly remains committed to encouraging others to explore the outdoors naturally and hopes to grow his group. 🚀
Bluesky is getting its own photo-sharing app, Flashes
Bluesky, the decentralized social network gaining traction as an alternative to Big Tech, is introducing Flashes, a photo-sharing app designed for visual content enthusiasts. Built by Berlin developer Sebastian Vogelsang, Flashes reworks his existing Bluesky client, Skeets, to focus on photos and short videos while seamlessly integrating with Bluesky’s timeline and features. The timing of the announced app seems well-suited to offer another path for users fleeing from Meta-owned Instagram in the aftermath of CEO Mark Zuckerberg's announcement that his platforms will no longer engage in political fact-checking. There has been growing interest in platforms that reject Big Tech’s monopolistic tendencies, censorship, and algorithmic manipulation.
While it’s hard to celebrate any new social media in the current “broligarchy” of misinformation and corporate overreach, Bluesky’s approach to artistic and nonsexual content offers some room for tempered optimism. With a name like Flashes, I dare say it had better be nude-friendly. 🚀
NCAC decries artistic censorship at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) has condemned the seizure of photographs by celebrated artist Sally Mann from the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth as part of a criminal investigation into alleged child abuse. The works, part of the museum’s Diaries of Home exhibition, include stylized portraits of Mann’s own children in the nude—images that have been widely recognized as significant works of contemporary art.
The investigation, launched after a complaint by Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare, echoes a long-standing moral panic surrounding depictions of childhood nudity in art. Officials such as Tarrant County Republican Party Chairman Bo French and State Representative-elect David Lowe have fueled the controversy with inflammatory rhetoric, likening Mann to a predator and calling the work “indecent.” NCAC, in its statement, warns that such claims are not only legally unfounded but also dangerous—threatening the artistic and parental rights of millions while trivializing actual child exploitation.
Mann’s work, which has been exhibited at the National Gallery of Art and honored by institutions such as the Guggenheim Fellowship and the National Endowment for the Arts, has been subject to controversy for decades. Yet, as NCAC points out, criminalizing a mother’s documentation of her children’s lives—and by extension, any non-sexual images of childhood—sets a chilling precedent.
NCAC calls on Texas authorities to immediately return the confiscated works and halt their baseless investigation, warning that such actions degrade First Amendment protections and reinforce the very sexualization of children that critics claim to oppose. 🚀
Aussie Pool Chain Sparks Debate Over G-String Bikini Ban
Blue Mountains Leisure Centres in Australia reignited public debate by reiterating its ban on G-string bikinis and thong swimwear at its facilities. The council clarified its stance after a sign banning “revealing swimwear” caused confusion, explaining that while bikinis are acceptable, G-strings and thongs are not considered “recognized swimwear” under their policies.
Critics have called the policy outdated and intrusive, with many arguing that individuals uncomfortable with others’ attire should simply avert their gaze—a conversation that resonates with naturists advocating for body positivity and the normalization of diverse body expressions. 🚀
Naturists attend New Year’s Day annual nude plunge at Blind Creek Beach, St. Lucie County
The annual Polar Bare Plunge at Blind Creek Beach in St. Lucie County, Florida brought naturists together on January 1st to celebrate the start of the new year in their preferred attire: nothing at all. The clothing-optional event drew participants to the pristine beach despite the cool waters.
Attendees may need to adjust their plans for future visits, as renovations to the Blind Creek Beach parking lot began on January 6th and are expected to continue through mid-summer. During this time, naturists are advised to use alternative parking areas and access points while keeping safety and property boundaries in mind. 🚀
Dress code: Birthday suit at Polar 'Bare' swim Jan. 1 in South Surrey
Surrey’s United Naturists hosted their 17th annual Polar Bare Skinny Dip on New Year’s Day, inviting participants to brave the icy waters of Boundary Bay in nothing but their natural selves. The event, held at the nude-friendly Crescent Rock Beach, saw attendees donning festive touches like Santa hats and body paint while taking the plunge. The chilly celebration continued a longstanding tradition of embracing body freedom while kicking off the new year with an invigorating sense of community and connection to nature. 🚀
A new magazine article has very important implications for naturism / “The Anti-Social Century”
, a consistent and prescient voice in naturism, recently wrote on his wonderful Naturist Place Substack about Derek Thompson’s recent Atlantic article, “The Anti-Social Century,” and its significant implications for naturism. Daney highlights Thompson’s thesis that Americans are now more isolated than ever, spending less time socializing in person due to a combination of cultural shifts, technological advances, and changes in how we use public and private spaces. Thompson traces this decline back to the 20th century, when technologies like the automobile and television began reshaping social behaviors. Today, trends like remote work, solo leisure, and even virtual friendships have further eroded traditional community bonds, turning what was once a society built around shared spaces into one of increasing solitude.Daney connects these insights to naturism, arguing that declining participation in social nudity isn’t a rejection of nudity itself but a reflection of this broader societal retreat from face-to-face interaction. He draws on Robert Putnam’s Bowling Alone to underscore how the loss of communal spaces and activities has impacted everything from church attendance to social clubs. For naturists, this means fewer opportunities for gatherings at resorts, beaches, and events that rely on in-person connection to thrive—in other words, social nudity.
Thompson also highlights how this societal shift affects relationships, politics, and personal well-being. He argues that while technology makes life more convenient, it often leaves people lonelier, trading authentic interaction for curated digital connections. Daney builds on this, emphasizing that naturism—a lifestyle grounded in community and body positivity—requires active efforts to foster social spaces. His thoughtful analysis reinforces the importance of revitalizing social habits, not just for naturists but for the health of society as a whole. 🚀
More reading:
Nudist, podiatrist, mechanic, principal among guests for Orange County radio station’s 28-hour New Year’s show
Los Angeles Times, December 28, 2024
Prominent social naturist advocate and Huntington Beach attorney Allen Baylis was a featured guest on KOCI 101.5’s 28-hour New Year’s Marathon Party, hosted by Jim “Poorman” Trenton. Bayliss, a returning participant, used his segment to highlight new laws taking effect at midnight while sharing a playlist centered on Frank Zappa’s music.
As a passionate advocate for naturism, Baylis has long worked to promote body positivity and normalize social nudity. I had the opportunity to interview him on The New Nudist Podcast this past August, where he shared insights into his activism and the challenges of fostering greater public acceptance of naturism. His continued visibility through programs like the New Year’s Marathon highlights the intersection of naturism with broader cultural and legal discussions, bringing attention to the values of freedom and acceptance. 🚀
Listen to the podcast:
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That’s it, for now.
That’s a wrap for this edition of News of the Nude! These can be dark and foreboding times, but when the skies are grey, it’s vital to search for the silver linings. This month’s stories remind us that naturism isn’t just about nudity—it’s about community, activism, and challenging the status quo. As we move forward, let’s keep advocating, keep gathering, and keep pushing for a world where the human body is seen as something natural, not scandalous.
Until next time, stay bold, stay free, and—if the weather allows—stay nude. 🪐