July open forum

Nudists in headlines after participating in Pride parades

July 4th fireworks are seen in Washington, D.C. in 2008. Fireworks will be banned in some Canadian cities, including Ottawa and Montreal, on July 1 this year as well as some American cities on July 4 for environmental and health reasons.

First, a Happy Canada Day to all Canadian readers! And a Happy 4th of July to all American readers!

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“Nudists have now completely taken over” the L.A. World Naked Bike Ride, reported Fred Heiser in the preceding post here about this year’s event. “The ride started as a protest against fossil fuel use. Bicycle safety was also a concern. However, there were no tents for any cycling or environmental organizations, which I find sad and counterproductive.”

Still, if nudists hadn’t shown up, there might not have been much of a WNBR in L.A. this year, right? And I think it is safe to say that nudists agree with and were showing support for the principle of the event, i.e. to push pedal power over the use of fossil fuels as much as possible.

Nudists also turn out for GoTopless events around the world, even though the U.S.-based organization was founded in 2007 by the leader of the Raelians, a somewhat questionable “UFO religion,” according to Wikipedia. The principle of GoTopless events is one nudists naturally support: “that women (should) have the same constitutional right that men have to go bare-chested in public,” the GoTopless site says.

Indeed, some nudism activists — individually and collectively — use every opportunity possible to promote social nudism/naturism, both through media opportunities and on the streets and beaches.

But should they be baring it all in Pride parades, as some did in Toronto, Seattle and other U.S. cities recently? Might they be doing more harm than good, considering the growing backlash against the LGBTQ community in parts of the U.S. and, to a lesser degree, in the U.K. and Canada?

Many naturists (including me) are members of the LGBTQ community, and while I have drawn comparisons in previous posts to the discrimination faced by both groups, I’ve always felt that they are two distinct groups. LGBTQ issues are about sexual orientation and gender identity; social nudism issues are about the right to be naked in public settings. No one will ever be seeking to add “N” to “LGBTQ.”

I get that nudists might see Pride parades as a chance to promote nudism and, yes, to show their support for the LGBTQ community, but I wonder if those who did bare it all in parades this year should have given it more thought beforehand?

First, their nudity in those parades drew international attention, with headlines like Bud Light sponsors Toronto Pride parade attended by naked men, children on the New York Post site. The Daily Mail report, with the headline Bud Light served as official sponsor at Toronto Pride parade - where wild footage shows naked men marching and dancing in front of children and families along parade route, also pointed to the Seattle Pride event with this: “In Seattle, the explicit footage posted by a Post Millennial staffer showed naked men with pride flags painted on their bodies riding down the street and waving to crowds of people, including many children.” 

The naked men were identified in reports and videos as nudists. They were seen as flaunting nudity in the faces of children by various media outlets. So, unwittingly, the nudists may have put the whole naturism community in the crosshairs of groups like Moms for Liberty, thought to be the inspiration for much of the legislation targeting the LGBTQ community in the U.S.

In the minds of Moms and others, nudists may be “guilty” by association at the very least. But more likely, nudists may be seen by some as a branch of the LGBTQ community. I expect to see more calls in the U.S. for a crackdown on nudism as a result — and I can see Republican governors caving to those demands.

Meanwhile, there has been some noise about children being present at nude beaches in Florida, but so far no action by Gov. Ron DeSantis on that front. Some nudists in that state are worried, though.

So, what do you think? Feel free to discuss naturism/nudism activism and where it might be appropriate and where it is not. Please note: opinions about sexual orientation and gender identity would be off-topic.

Of course, this is your open forum to discuss all things related to nudism and naturism. You don’t have to stick to the above subject.

And a warm welcome to all the newbies!

— Jillian