Excellent topic for today and well put. I hope you don't mind if I quote you sometimes. It lays out what as nudists we need to be aware of and what we can do. thank you.
There's plenty here that *should* happen. But where are the details about what will *make* all these good things happen? U.S. naturists have had two national naturist organizations for many years. Unfortunately, they haven't brought about much in the way of results.
Instead, many established naturist clubs and resorts are gone or fading away. And general public attitudes towards naturism and social nudity are still overwhelmingly negative. Harassment of public places for nudity is ongoing - all the way from Seattle (Denny Blaine Park) to Florida (Playalinda).
Organization is *essential* for making good things happen. But what are naturists themselves - collectively - going to do to bring about organization that is effective? How do all the good ideas actually get implemented?
While I agree with a number of the points made here, I disagree with making naturists/nudists a special identity group. Non-sexual social nudity, or nudity at home when alone (thinking of the housing issue) should be open to all people, whether or not they subscribe to the tenets of naturism. Perhaps someone just enjoys being nude at home or occasionally visits a nude beach or accompanies a spouse to a nudist resort but doesn't "identify" as a naturist. These rights should be defended as the rights we have as persons, not as naturists.
I prefer to focus on human rights, not naturist rights. I don't consider naturism a core part of my identity in a definitional sense, the way I would see certain other things (such as my faith or my family relationships or who I am as a human). I'm not inherently a naturist, as if it were inseparable from who I fundamentally am. I do subscribe to a naturist philosophy and practice, but I see that as an outgrowth of other more fundamental things. But I believe every human should have the right to experience wholesome nudity, alone or with others, indoors or outdoors, regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, social status, etc., even if they don't subscribe to a certain philosophy about it. So I would like to see us as a movement focus on defending the behavior of nonsexual nudity rather than define naturists as a minority identity group and build our defense around that.
Let's say you had some innocent but not mainstream interest that might be controversial to some (or many) people - a recreational handgun or rifle enthusiast, for example. You might not consider it a core part of your identity, but you'd still want to pursue it responsibly without interference. You'd still want protection from people or governments that try to hamper your interest unreasonably (in your opinion). I think this applies to people who enjoy either home or (especially) social nudity. Even if they don't identify as either nudists or naturists, they should still have the right not to be harassed for enjoying being clothesfree on their own property and at some portions of beaches, parks, and similar "public" places. I don't think typical naturists/nudists want to be a "protected class" or "special identity group" that gets favored treatment because of who or what they are. Defending the right to enjoy nonsexual nudity in responsible ways is exactly what naturists should pursue.
I don't disagree with you. I do believe in organizing and standing up for our rights (and the rights of all, even outside of our organization). But as I read it, the author of this piece is making the argument for special protections for naturists as an identity group.
Besides, if naturists were to become a protected class, that could create a double standard where nudity is OK for the person who identifies as a naturists but not for the person who doesn't. Better rather to regulate by whether the nude person, naturist or not, is being respectful of other people and not using nudity in a lewd or indecent way. Many of our state laws specifically legislate against nudity that is *lewd.* Let's start there and educate our legislators on what constitutes lewd vs. wholesome nudity.
Excellent article!!
Puts it altogether on who we are and what we need to do.
Well said.
Excellent topic for today and well put. I hope you don't mind if I quote you sometimes. It lays out what as nudists we need to be aware of and what we can do. thank you.
There's plenty here that *should* happen. But where are the details about what will *make* all these good things happen? U.S. naturists have had two national naturist organizations for many years. Unfortunately, they haven't brought about much in the way of results.
Instead, many established naturist clubs and resorts are gone or fading away. And general public attitudes towards naturism and social nudity are still overwhelmingly negative. Harassment of public places for nudity is ongoing - all the way from Seattle (Denny Blaine Park) to Florida (Playalinda).
Organization is *essential* for making good things happen. But what are naturists themselves - collectively - going to do to bring about organization that is effective? How do all the good ideas actually get implemented?
While I agree with a number of the points made here, I disagree with making naturists/nudists a special identity group. Non-sexual social nudity, or nudity at home when alone (thinking of the housing issue) should be open to all people, whether or not they subscribe to the tenets of naturism. Perhaps someone just enjoys being nude at home or occasionally visits a nude beach or accompanies a spouse to a nudist resort but doesn't "identify" as a naturist. These rights should be defended as the rights we have as persons, not as naturists.
I prefer to focus on human rights, not naturist rights. I don't consider naturism a core part of my identity in a definitional sense, the way I would see certain other things (such as my faith or my family relationships or who I am as a human). I'm not inherently a naturist, as if it were inseparable from who I fundamentally am. I do subscribe to a naturist philosophy and practice, but I see that as an outgrowth of other more fundamental things. But I believe every human should have the right to experience wholesome nudity, alone or with others, indoors or outdoors, regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, social status, etc., even if they don't subscribe to a certain philosophy about it. So I would like to see us as a movement focus on defending the behavior of nonsexual nudity rather than define naturists as a minority identity group and build our defense around that.
Katy,
Let's say you had some innocent but not mainstream interest that might be controversial to some (or many) people - a recreational handgun or rifle enthusiast, for example. You might not consider it a core part of your identity, but you'd still want to pursue it responsibly without interference. You'd still want protection from people or governments that try to hamper your interest unreasonably (in your opinion). I think this applies to people who enjoy either home or (especially) social nudity. Even if they don't identify as either nudists or naturists, they should still have the right not to be harassed for enjoying being clothesfree on their own property and at some portions of beaches, parks, and similar "public" places. I don't think typical naturists/nudists want to be a "protected class" or "special identity group" that gets favored treatment because of who or what they are. Defending the right to enjoy nonsexual nudity in responsible ways is exactly what naturists should pursue.
I don't disagree with you. I do believe in organizing and standing up for our rights (and the rights of all, even outside of our organization). But as I read it, the author of this piece is making the argument for special protections for naturists as an identity group.
Besides, if naturists were to become a protected class, that could create a double standard where nudity is OK for the person who identifies as a naturists but not for the person who doesn't. Better rather to regulate by whether the nude person, naturist or not, is being respectful of other people and not using nudity in a lewd or indecent way. Many of our state laws specifically legislate against nudity that is *lewd.* Let's start there and educate our legislators on what constitutes lewd vs. wholesome nudity.
*as a naturist
Legal protection of nudists and naturists is why I created NaturismRE ( NRE), the NAturism REsurgence...www.naturismre.com