Lee Baxandall was, is, and always will be in my top three of personal heroes, because he did things like this. He has a lot in common with the original founders of naturism. Years before the Germans made their mark on naturism, there was a group from England who advocated for a clothes free life in harmony with nature. They were very supportive of LGTBQ+ rights and inclusion as part of it. The reason you don’t hear about them that often is because of that support. The Germans were willing to exclude people from naturism and that connected more with people at the time than inclusion did. Lee Baxandall helped right that wrong.
The early nudists were trying to make the clubs as non-sexual as possible with "all-American family values" just to survive. As times changed the clubs did not as fast.
Felix Severance, an English teacher in China, served as President of the Hong Kong Sunbathing Association. In 1966 to took the position that everyone was welcome and that the whole sex balance issue was really about providing the opportunity for men to see women. He would not put into place any sex balance quota insisted by umbrella organizations.
"We are not hipped on this female-or-bust attitude. Don’t overlook the fact that a lot of that insistence is the result of prurient interest on the part of the males…. The Hong Kong Sunbathing Association feels that nudism is open to all who want to practice it sincerely and honestly."
It's true. I would sooner focus on creating exclusive spaces for women than worry about a gender-balancing quota. The quota is punitive to some men and not necessarily supportive of what some women desire. In that way, it fails both genders.
Why do people think that Baxandall was ahead of his time? Stonewall happened in 1969. Women's liberation movement started in the late 1960s. Black Power movement began in the late 1960s. He was simply watching and applying the change outside of naturism. He saw the intersectional opportunities.
The tricky thing is that there has been a story told of older people's inability to change. That is reinforced by supposed "family values" as a blunting object to associations of sexuality. Entangling issues like this allows issues a place to hide and thrive. Take, for instance, the single male policies. Without any naivete, I can see that there needs to be filters to prevent the problems of voyeurism that can come. However, some of the more prominent perverts I've encountered have been men who are married. Yet, they are also some of the most protected by virtue of being married. I feel for the single guys who have years of being a naturist behind them and still fall under the lens of scrutiny because of a relationship status.
Until clubs figure out how to deal with issues caused by difficult members who are embedded in their ranks, change will be difficult as they will resist it, either passively or aggressively. The truth is that people of any age can change, unless they don't want to.
Robert Sapolsky, talking about transgender folk, made the case that what happens in the brain trumps both genitals and chromosomes. That's pretty central! (Sapolsky is the neuroscientist identified with the connection between hierarchy and stress in Kenyan baboons.) We can make the same observation about the rest of the LBTQ+ spectrum. Ain't nobody's bizzniss. For heterosexual nudists, there's a self-interested reason for taking the rightness of queer gender and sexuality for granted: more available human mental bandwidth. We're in a moment when we're facing a batch of interfering crises—the "metacrisis"—and we don't need brother humans distracted and frustrated by bigotry. We might even hypothesize that untangling the mess of thwarted central values will help to resolve economic and ecological problems that threaten the entire population.
That's all fine, but we have had several great nude beaches closed here in California because mainly gays somehow could not restrain themselves from having sex on the beach.
There are tons of heterosexual couples who also have sex on those same beaches. I’ve seen them. It’s not a sexuality issue, it’s an issue of people being selfish, immature, and ignorant.
So much work still need to be done, and indeed, we are walking... Nay... Sprinting... Backwards in both subtle and egregious ways.
Not too long ago I had to read a person complaining that a naturist club added an LGTBQIA+ ambassador to the staff because 'if nudism is non-sexual why do we need to know about gay people?'
So not only missing the point entirely, but basically doubling down on the need for an ambassador.
As a dedicated naturist activist, not a week passes without reflecting on the profound impact of Lee Baxandall, whose progressive vision, standards, and imagination shaped the course of our community. Lee engaged with me, a female Black naturist raised during the Civil Rights Movement, in discussions that laid the foundation for a shared vision — one aimed at reversing the loss of our traditional clothing-optional beaches by fostering responsible stewardship entities.
In our conversations, Lee and I recognized the importance of embracing, educating, and recruiting all individuals who cherished these special places. However, as time has unfolded, it appears that the naturist/nudist community is facing a shortage of leaders who can seamlessly combine visionary thinking with decisive action, thereby carrying forward Lee's impactful legacy.
While the social aspect of naturism is undoubtedly enjoyable, it is imperative for us all to acknowledge the ongoing threats posed by attempts to criminalize mere nudity and to see the common connection to rollback hard-fought rights for people of color, including Native Americans, women, and the LGBTQ communities. The political landscape is treacherous, with too many lawmakers and judges showing a willingness to compromise or eliminate our rights, influenced by the stronghold of Christian Nationalists who have united against us.
To truly thrive in a world where naturism is commonplace and accepted, we must first unite as a community-industry. This unity should extend beyond our immediate circles to collaborate with other threatened groups facing similar challenges. The Naturist Society (TNS(F)) Gay Naturist International (GNI) and the North American Naturist Coalition (NAC), including the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR), need to evolve beyond their current roles to become powerful advocates for the broader acceptance of clothes-free recreation and the naturist creed in the Americas.
Questions linger about the future direction of TNS(F), with desires for it to be much more than an attractive light-hearted travel magazine reaching only a shrinking membership. Similarly, the predominantly male-dominated boards of NAC and AANR's GAT must transcend their current roles of being more than an anti-nudity bill monitoring service and embrace a more proactive stance.
Moreover, the outreach plans of organizations such as the Naturist Education Foundation (NEF) and AANR's educational foundations should extend far beyond educating existing dues-paying, card-carrying naturist members. Efforts should be made to engage with the wider public, shedding light on the environmental, mental, emotional, social and physical health benefits, including economic benefits and values of naturism, particularly in the face of increasing legislative threats.
An intriguing question arises regarding the absence of AANR and TNS(F) from the International Naturist Federation (INF). Joining this global entity could provide both influence and credibility to enhance the acceptance and growth of nude recreation in the Americas.
On a legislative front, the absence of lobbyists and attorneys in every state and province throughout North America is a glaring gap. Naturist organizations must actively seek the skills and knowledge of their members, employing them to protect our rights and interests in the face of legal challenges.
Personally, my husband and I have drawn inspiration from Lee Baxandall's vision, translating aspects of his legacy into action by reimagining the free beach movement in Florida. As we honor Lee, we are reminded of the sacrifices made by our parents and ancestors during the Civil Rights Movement. Their struggles highlight the importance of active participation — for if we're not at the table, we risk becoming part of the menu.
In conclusion, the naturist/nudist community must rise to the occasion, uniting under a shared vision that transcends the boundaries of our immediate circles. It's time for leaders within TNS(F), NAC, GNI and AANR to step up, adopting a proactive stance that addresses legislative threats and fosters broader societal acceptance. By doing so, we honor the legacy of pioneers like Lee Baxandall and actively contribute to the growth and acceptance of naturism in the modern world.
The founding leaders and Board of Governors of B.E.A.C.H.E.S. Foundation Institute, a 501(C) (3) nonprofit, has quietly and successfully been executing proactive, progressive programs in the forementioned areas without fanfare since 1999 and individually decades prior. We invite you to join us.
Nudists are already thought of as perverts to the general public. Why would we openly associate with ANOTHER minority group that openly promotes perverted material? (Google Folsom street fair, if you don’t believe me).
It’s take a lifetime to build a reputation, only minutes to ruin it. Those are the stakes here with this issue.
This is spot on. The irony is that even though the LQBTQ community has okayed a significant part in modern nudism there is still the stigma associated with homosexuality in certain quarters of the nudist community. I have found freedom in my 50’s in nudism and as a result also now it has opened the door to my sexuality. If modern nudism continued to press down the LQBTQ community it would be less active today. I can only say for me that nudism and this way of life has liberated me from the shackles of society but also I am on my journey as to who I am now sexually.
A very well written and informative article that further backs the idea that society truly needs a few Lee Baxandall’s in it right now … American society in particular. Canada is still rather liberal in its ways but the strong possibility of a new conservative government, combined with the probable return of a right-wing government in the U.S., does have me a bit concerned however …
Baxandall, a nudist icon in my eyes, had it right when he backed the strong link between homosexuals and the beaches we enjoy today as nudists. In Canada, both Hanlan’s Point in Toronto and Oka Beach (or “Okapulco”) just off the island of Montreal are perfect examples … and both have been treasured by gay and straight nudists (or naturists) alike for decades.
Lee Baxandall was, is, and always will be in my top three of personal heroes, because he did things like this. He has a lot in common with the original founders of naturism. Years before the Germans made their mark on naturism, there was a group from England who advocated for a clothes free life in harmony with nature. They were very supportive of LGTBQ+ rights and inclusion as part of it. The reason you don’t hear about them that often is because of that support. The Germans were willing to exclude people from naturism and that connected more with people at the time than inclusion did. Lee Baxandall helped right that wrong.
Lee was ahead of his time although it was well past time to look to the gay community which was only just becoming a community at the time.
Murray Kauffman was the perfect guy to organize GNI. He was a gentle and funny and dynamic man.
Thanks for writing this.
Lee was a philosopher and visionary.
The early nudists were trying to make the clubs as non-sexual as possible with "all-American family values" just to survive. As times changed the clubs did not as fast.
Felix Severance, an English teacher in China, served as President of the Hong Kong Sunbathing Association. In 1966 to took the position that everyone was welcome and that the whole sex balance issue was really about providing the opportunity for men to see women. He would not put into place any sex balance quota insisted by umbrella organizations.
"We are not hipped on this female-or-bust attitude. Don’t overlook the fact that a lot of that insistence is the result of prurient interest on the part of the males…. The Hong Kong Sunbathing Association feels that nudism is open to all who want to practice it sincerely and honestly."
Thank you for this article.
It's true. I would sooner focus on creating exclusive spaces for women than worry about a gender-balancing quota. The quota is punitive to some men and not necessarily supportive of what some women desire. In that way, it fails both genders.
Why do people think that Baxandall was ahead of his time? Stonewall happened in 1969. Women's liberation movement started in the late 1960s. Black Power movement began in the late 1960s. He was simply watching and applying the change outside of naturism. He saw the intersectional opportunities.
The tricky thing is that there has been a story told of older people's inability to change. That is reinforced by supposed "family values" as a blunting object to associations of sexuality. Entangling issues like this allows issues a place to hide and thrive. Take, for instance, the single male policies. Without any naivete, I can see that there needs to be filters to prevent the problems of voyeurism that can come. However, some of the more prominent perverts I've encountered have been men who are married. Yet, they are also some of the most protected by virtue of being married. I feel for the single guys who have years of being a naturist behind them and still fall under the lens of scrutiny because of a relationship status.
Until clubs figure out how to deal with issues caused by difficult members who are embedded in their ranks, change will be difficult as they will resist it, either passively or aggressively. The truth is that people of any age can change, unless they don't want to.
Robert Sapolsky, talking about transgender folk, made the case that what happens in the brain trumps both genitals and chromosomes. That's pretty central! (Sapolsky is the neuroscientist identified with the connection between hierarchy and stress in Kenyan baboons.) We can make the same observation about the rest of the LBTQ+ spectrum. Ain't nobody's bizzniss. For heterosexual nudists, there's a self-interested reason for taking the rightness of queer gender and sexuality for granted: more available human mental bandwidth. We're in a moment when we're facing a batch of interfering crises—the "metacrisis"—and we don't need brother humans distracted and frustrated by bigotry. We might even hypothesize that untangling the mess of thwarted central values will help to resolve economic and ecological problems that threaten the entire population.
That's all fine, but we have had several great nude beaches closed here in California because mainly gays somehow could not restrain themselves from having sex on the beach.
There are tons of heterosexual couples who also have sex on those same beaches. I’ve seen them. It’s not a sexuality issue, it’s an issue of people being selfish, immature, and ignorant.
Amen!
To blame only gay people is disingenuous. Many other factors go onto any nude beach closure.
It's what the "powers that be" have said when they vote to close a beach based on testimony from their local law enforcement.
Then it's a lame and flimsy excuse they know they can use to get Conservatives on their side.
The titan Baxandall, “both ethical and pragmatic,” indeed. Thanks for a great essay!
So much work still need to be done, and indeed, we are walking... Nay... Sprinting... Backwards in both subtle and egregious ways.
Not too long ago I had to read a person complaining that a naturist club added an LGTBQIA+ ambassador to the staff because 'if nudism is non-sexual why do we need to know about gay people?'
So not only missing the point entirely, but basically doubling down on the need for an ambassador.
As a dedicated naturist activist, not a week passes without reflecting on the profound impact of Lee Baxandall, whose progressive vision, standards, and imagination shaped the course of our community. Lee engaged with me, a female Black naturist raised during the Civil Rights Movement, in discussions that laid the foundation for a shared vision — one aimed at reversing the loss of our traditional clothing-optional beaches by fostering responsible stewardship entities.
In our conversations, Lee and I recognized the importance of embracing, educating, and recruiting all individuals who cherished these special places. However, as time has unfolded, it appears that the naturist/nudist community is facing a shortage of leaders who can seamlessly combine visionary thinking with decisive action, thereby carrying forward Lee's impactful legacy.
While the social aspect of naturism is undoubtedly enjoyable, it is imperative for us all to acknowledge the ongoing threats posed by attempts to criminalize mere nudity and to see the common connection to rollback hard-fought rights for people of color, including Native Americans, women, and the LGBTQ communities. The political landscape is treacherous, with too many lawmakers and judges showing a willingness to compromise or eliminate our rights, influenced by the stronghold of Christian Nationalists who have united against us.
To truly thrive in a world where naturism is commonplace and accepted, we must first unite as a community-industry. This unity should extend beyond our immediate circles to collaborate with other threatened groups facing similar challenges. The Naturist Society (TNS(F)) Gay Naturist International (GNI) and the North American Naturist Coalition (NAC), including the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR), need to evolve beyond their current roles to become powerful advocates for the broader acceptance of clothes-free recreation and the naturist creed in the Americas.
Questions linger about the future direction of TNS(F), with desires for it to be much more than an attractive light-hearted travel magazine reaching only a shrinking membership. Similarly, the predominantly male-dominated boards of NAC and AANR's GAT must transcend their current roles of being more than an anti-nudity bill monitoring service and embrace a more proactive stance.
Moreover, the outreach plans of organizations such as the Naturist Education Foundation (NEF) and AANR's educational foundations should extend far beyond educating existing dues-paying, card-carrying naturist members. Efforts should be made to engage with the wider public, shedding light on the environmental, mental, emotional, social and physical health benefits, including economic benefits and values of naturism, particularly in the face of increasing legislative threats.
An intriguing question arises regarding the absence of AANR and TNS(F) from the International Naturist Federation (INF). Joining this global entity could provide both influence and credibility to enhance the acceptance and growth of nude recreation in the Americas.
On a legislative front, the absence of lobbyists and attorneys in every state and province throughout North America is a glaring gap. Naturist organizations must actively seek the skills and knowledge of their members, employing them to protect our rights and interests in the face of legal challenges.
Personally, my husband and I have drawn inspiration from Lee Baxandall's vision, translating aspects of his legacy into action by reimagining the free beach movement in Florida. As we honor Lee, we are reminded of the sacrifices made by our parents and ancestors during the Civil Rights Movement. Their struggles highlight the importance of active participation — for if we're not at the table, we risk becoming part of the menu.
In conclusion, the naturist/nudist community must rise to the occasion, uniting under a shared vision that transcends the boundaries of our immediate circles. It's time for leaders within TNS(F), NAC, GNI and AANR to step up, adopting a proactive stance that addresses legislative threats and fosters broader societal acceptance. By doing so, we honor the legacy of pioneers like Lee Baxandall and actively contribute to the growth and acceptance of naturism in the modern world.
The founding leaders and Board of Governors of B.E.A.C.H.E.S. Foundation Institute, a 501(C) (3) nonprofit, has quietly and successfully been executing proactive, progressive programs in the forementioned areas without fanfare since 1999 and individually decades prior. We invite you to join us.
You are one of my heros.
LGBTQIA+ movement is a sinking ship. Crushed under the weight of its clownery. Nudists should distance themselves, now, more than ever to stay afloat.
Nudists are already thought of as perverts to the general public. Why would we openly associate with ANOTHER minority group that openly promotes perverted material? (Google Folsom street fair, if you don’t believe me).
It’s take a lifetime to build a reputation, only minutes to ruin it. Those are the stakes here with this issue.
Thank you Bill. I'm humbled by your kind words.
This is spot on. The irony is that even though the LQBTQ community has okayed a significant part in modern nudism there is still the stigma associated with homosexuality in certain quarters of the nudist community. I have found freedom in my 50’s in nudism and as a result also now it has opened the door to my sexuality. If modern nudism continued to press down the LQBTQ community it would be less active today. I can only say for me that nudism and this way of life has liberated me from the shackles of society but also I am on my journey as to who I am now sexually.
A very well written and informative article that further backs the idea that society truly needs a few Lee Baxandall’s in it right now … American society in particular. Canada is still rather liberal in its ways but the strong possibility of a new conservative government, combined with the probable return of a right-wing government in the U.S., does have me a bit concerned however …
Baxandall, a nudist icon in my eyes, had it right when he backed the strong link between homosexuals and the beaches we enjoy today as nudists. In Canada, both Hanlan’s Point in Toronto and Oka Beach (or “Okapulco”) just off the island of Montreal are perfect examples … and both have been treasured by gay and straight nudists (or naturists) alike for decades.
Thank you for the excellent article!