Great Naked Debate: Nudist Activism
The Great Naked Debate series is back after a few months on hiatus. Our panelists for this fourth installment are top naturist bloggers John Henry of the Nudist Travel Guide, Diary of a Nudist, Dan of USA Nudist, and finally, new panelist Cheri Alexander, a highly respected member of the naturist community who founded Travelites and moderates the Nudist Resorts forum as well as many other discussion groups. Welcome Cheri!
The question we asked our panelists: “Does naturist in-your-face activism make sense? That is to say, is loudly pushing the right to be nude anywhere in public warranted or is someone like Steve Gough misguided…or ahead of his time?”
Our panelists’ answers:
Cheri Alexander:
Nudists and naturists generally will not flaunt their state of (un)dress. They want to enjoy their freedom from clothing only. Pushing the envelope, i.e. being nude where not appropriate, can get new anti-nudity laws passed such as what happened with the “naked man” in Berkeley, CA and what is happening currently in Brattleboro, VT. If nudists work behind the scenes with the authorities to create a clothing optional beach or park, it works so much better. This is how Haulover Beach in North Miami, FL was created.
Nudist Travel Guide:
With great tolerance for all beliefs comes the humility that one’s own beliefs are as good as anyone else’s. Still, I think a lot of people would benefit through more naturism awareness. That’s why I take the educational approach. But I think what Steven Gough did was perfect, courageous and freaking cool.
Maybe more of what he did is what’s needed. People don’t want to change and he shook things up. Most people fear change so much that they would rather stay in a bad job, an abusive relationship or even a war-torn country rather than start anew. That’s why we live in a world where clothing or the lack thereof is a factor for population segregation. People like Steven Gough help build momentum and naturists who share their experiences with others keep the momentum going.
USAnudist:
In most societies, while incidental nudity is usually accepted with a grin, a person appearing in a public place fully nude often causes a knee-jerk reaction. We have seen several repetitions of this theme. Andrew Martinez, “The Naked Guy”, in Berkeley, Stephen Gough in Britain, the “Naked Neighbors”
in Oregon and California, and the “Nudist Tourist” in Battleboro, VT have all taken advantage of legal loopholes and by their actions, caused tougher laws to be passed, restricting the ability of the rest of us to enjoy naturism in those areas.
Many of these activists gain a reputation as being on the crazy fringe, which reflects on all naturists and nudists. We would be much better served by having the public think of us as normal responsible citizens, rather than someone to ridicule. A more realistic type of activism is that such as Richard and Shirley Mason accomplished with the actions of South Florida Free Beaches and the implementation of Haulover Beach near Miami. By working within the system, they accomplished one of the most successful nudist venues in the world. If more areas were to accept this model, we would find more respect from citizens and government officials.
Nudiarist:
This subject is much too complicated for a short answer, but here goes. A single person can make a difference - look at Rosa Parks, or Gandhi, but there has to be a some climate of support for the cause in order for the individual to gather a following. Currently, there is no wide acceptance anywhere for public nudity. Stephen Gough, Berkeley’s “naked guy”, and the people who bared all in Brattleboro, are only serving to deepen the divide between nudists and textiles, although their efforts are commendable and ahead of their time. Rather than risk further alienation, nudists, or “Body Freedom Advocates”, should be pushing to save existing clothing-optional beaches, and lobbying for more public spaces where nude sunbathing is permitted. We need more places like Haulover Beach.Also, one area where social change is more than possible is for women’s topfreedom. Politicians have been reluctant to oppose public breastfeeding advocates - after all, who wants to appear to be anti-motherhood? It’s a small step to take in going from widespread acceptance of public breastfeeding to topfree sunbathing on beaches. States like New York and Ohio already allow women to have the same topfree rights as men, but generally women do not exercise their freedoms. Liz Book, who has won in court her right to protest while topfree, is an example of one person who can make a difference, and next year on March 8 she will be demonstrating in support of International Women’s Day Topfree Stand. If Liz can convince thousands of women nationwide to take off their tops, society will never be the same.
Nudist Day:
Stephen Gough unjustly languishes in a cell in Scotland…Where are the naked protesters outside the jail? In our experience, most people who practice nudism don’t consider it their lifestyle, nor do they want it known, and that is why nudist activism does not get much support at this time. There’s one irrefutable fact here: The right to be as one is born is fundamental. The “right to be naked” activism definitely make sense, as would any claim for the restoration of a basic human right. It’s regrettable that Gough chose to reclaim that right in a place like the UK. Had he led his march across Spain instead, where it would be legal, he wouldn’t be in the predicament he is now, he’d likely have a lot more people joining him in his protest, and he could still have drawn attention to the fact that public nudity is a punishable crime in his native England.
Happy Thanksgiving from the AANR staff.
