Weekly Wrap: February 4-10
This week on Planet Nude: Legislation to watch in the USA, naturism through the looking glass, and nudity in French versus American cinema
Hello readers, welcome to this week’s Weekly Wrap, your essential Saturday evening recap of the week on Planet Nude. We've got a packed edition for you, covering a wide range of topics. From a personal naturism journey ”reflecting” Alice’s adventures, to updates on nudity laws in Hawaii and New Jersey, insights from “The Naked Human” podcast by Kerry Kott, and a look at nudity in American and French cinema. Join us for a journey through these fascinating stories about body freedom and expression. 🚀
Here are your stories from this week:
On the other side of fear
This poignant personal essay by M.M. eloquently narrates her transformative journey into naturism, framed by the metaphor of passing through Lewis Carroll's looking glass—a journey from fear to liberation. She articulates how embracing nudity led to confronting deep-seated fears, finding empowerment in vulnerability. M.M.'s experiences in the naturist community reveal a profound sense of safety, authenticity, and mutual respect. Through this lens, she advocates for the courage to face personal fears, celebrating the subversive bravery and supportive nature of naturism. The essay serves as an invitation to challenge societal norms and discover personal freedom and acceptance on the other side of fear.
Hawaii introduces legislation to change indecent exposure laws
On January 18th, 2024, Hawaii introduced legislation to refine indecent exposure laws, focusing on enhancing protections for minors. Spearheaded by Democrat Scott Saiki, the bills aim to amend penalties for exposing minors to nudity, shifting the criminal charge from a petty misdemeanor to a misdemeanor. This legislative effort, reflecting a broader trend emphasizing child protection, distinguishes between malicious exposure and non-sexual nudity. However, it raises concerns within the nudist community about potential misinterpretations that could penalize non-obscene nudity. Comparatively, Hawaii’s approach, prioritizing an indecency standard, contrasts with more restrictive measures in states like Wisconsin, highlighting the nuanced strategies in addressing public nudity and child protection.
The Naked Human, Episodes 5-8
The Naked Human is a new podcast that dives into the uncensored realms of nudity, nature, and sacred earth practices. Led by Kerry Kott, The Naked Human invites listeners on a profound journey of self-discovery, peeling back layers of shame, trauma, and societal conditioning. In the latest series of episodes from the past four weeks, the podcast continues to explore the healing process, distinguishing between fear and intuition and deepening the connection with the Earth. This installment goes beyond the discussion of physical nakedness, offering listeners a chance to bare their souls, confront the raw truths of their existence, and celebrate the human experience in its entirety.
New Jersey proposes amendments to sexually oriented business laws
New Jersey's proposed Senate Bill No. 1905 and Assembly Bill No. 1723, led by Republicans Carmen F. Amato, Jr. and Brian E. Rumpf, aim to tighten regulations on sexually oriented businesses, notably expanding zoning restrictions and granting municipalities more regulatory control. These changes, while targeting businesses with sexual content, raise concerns for nudist venues, potentially classifying them similarly due to broad legislative language. This calls for nudist community advocacy to ensure distinctions between sexual content businesses and naturist lifestyle venues are clearly recognized in the law.
We got it all, and we show it all!
This article by CAMP contrasts the depiction of nudity in American and French cinema, highlighting how American films often use nudity for sensationalism and marketing, while French films incorporate it as a natural part of human experience. American cinema's commodification of nudity contrasts with French cinema's authentic and less objectifying portrayal. The piece criticizes the American film industry's approach to nudity, advocating for a more respectful and nuanced representation in line with French cinematic traditions.
Sign the petition: Tell WI Governor Tony Evers to VETO anti-nudity bills
Please sign our petition against the anti-nudity bills currently coursing through the Wisconsin state legislature. Please sign and help preserve Wisconsin naturism. Help save WNBR. Help us #KeepBodiesFree.
That’s it for this week’s Wrap. Tune in with us every Saturday night, and we'll make sure you never miss out a post. See you next week! 🪐