FAQ

National And International Organizations

U.S.A.

American Association for Nude Recreation

The Naturist Society

The National Nudist Council of the Americas

Canada

Federation of Canadian Naturists (FCN)

Federation Quebecoise de Naturisme (FQN)

Other Countries

Central Council for British Naturism (CCBN)

Australian Nudist Federation

International Organizations

International Naturist Federation (INF)

International Naturist Information Center

Publications

Guidebooks

Periodicals

Electronic Resources

World Wide Web | Newsgroups | Mailing Lists

Internet Relay Chat (IRC)

Online services (AOL, CompuServe, etc.)

Bulletin Board Services (BBS)

______________________________________________________________________

U.S.A.

American Association for Nude Recreation

The AANR is the premier organization of American nudist resorts and facilitates lobbying and education

efforts, while TNS serves as a publishing organization emphasizing fair use of beaches and other public

lands. There are hundreds of local clubs, camps, and resorts too numerous to list here.

American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR), 1703 N. Main St., Suite E, Kissimmee FL 34744.

(800) 879-6833; (407) 933-2064; (407) 933-7577 FAX.

http://www.aanr.com/

The Naturist Society

The Naturist Society represents many of the "free beachers" and grew out of that phase of the

nudist/naturist movement in America. The Naturist Action Committee, in conjunction with TNS, works with

officials to increase public acceptance and opportunities for clothing-optional recreation.

The Naturist Society (TNS) and the Naturist Action Committee (NAC), PO Box 132, Oshkosh WI 54902.

(920) 426-5009; (920) 426-5184 FAX.

http://www.naturistsociety.com

E-Mail naturist@naturistsociety.com

The National Nudist Council of the Americas

N.N.C., P.O. Box 860, Keene, New Hampshire 03431.

603.585.6800

weekends; FAX 603.585.6711.

http://www.nnc.org/

Canada

Many Canadian clubs are AANR clubs. However, Canada has two national movements (one English, one

French) and is the only country in the world to have two INF (International Naturist Federation) member

groups because of this.

Federation of Canadian Naturists (FCN)

FCN, PO Box 186, Islington, Ontario, Canada M9A 4X2.

http://www.fcn.ca/

Federation Quebecoise de Naturisme (FQN)

FQN, 4545 av. Pierre-de-Coubertin, C.P. 1000 Succarsale "M", Montreal, Quebec, Canada H1V 3R2.

(514) 252-3014; (514) 251-8038 FAX.

http://www.generation.net/~legrand/fqnhome.htm

Other Countries

Central Council for British Naturism (CCBN)

CCBN, 30-32 Wycliffe Road, Northhampton NN1 5JF UK.

Telephone (within UK): 01604 20361, (from abroad): +44 604 20361; FAX: 01604 230176.

http://www.british-naturism.org.uk/british-naturism/

Australian Nudist Federation

The Secretary, ANF, P.O. Box 268, Belconnen, ACT 2617

International Organizations

There are many, many countries with national organizations. For information on your country

write to the following groups:

International Naturist Federation (INF)

The INF Secretariat, St. Hubertusstraat 5, B-2600, Antwerpen, Belgium.

Phone +32 3 230 05 72. Fax +32 3 281 26 07.

http://www.inf-fni.org/

International Naturist Information Center

International Naturist Information Center, PO Box 2082, 2800 BE Gouda, Netherlands

Publications

Guidebooks

o The North American Guide to Nude Recreation: A guide to all AANR

members camps, resorts and non-landed clubs. $16.95 ($14.95 for

AANR members) soft cover.

o World Guide to Nude Beaches & Resorts, by Lee Baxandall: A Naturist

Society publication covering the USA and 80 other countries. $28.00

+ $4 shipping in US (Outside US, by surface mail, $5 or by air,

$10) from TNS. Credit card orders can be E-Mailed to

naturist@naturistsociety.com, or faxed to (920) 426-5184.

o INF World Handbook - Exhaustive guide containing information on

naturist sites, clubs, and beaches around the world. Published

every two years. $18.95 + $3 shipping from the AANR or TNS. See

also http://home.sn.no/~nnf/infguide.htm.

o NUDISK - NUDISK 1, 2, 3, & 4 describe 325+ different sites from

Vermont to Key West to Southern California offering nude hot

springs, hiking, camping, spelunking, wind surfing, gatherings,

water skiing, etc. Printouts or Disks: 1: New England; 2: NY-SC &

E. TN, PLUS Scott's Gulf; 3: FL, GA, AL, MS, & LA; 4: Hot Springs,

TX, NM, & AZ. Camilla Van Sickle, POB 10, Tonopah, Arizona 85354.

Phone (602) 393-0750. http://www.nudisk.com/nudisk/

o There are several hot springs guides that may be useful, as well as

guides for specific areas (California beaches, etc.).

o Canadian Guide to Naturist Resorts and Beaches, Federation of

Canadian Naturists (FCN), 1991, CAN $9.95, 51 pages. Contents:

Introduction to Naturism and its history in Canada; Listings for

clubs, resorts, travel clubs, and 'free' beaches organized by

geographic region: Pacific, Prairie, Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic; In

total, covers: 27 clubs or resorts; 8 travel clubs; 4 free beaches.

o Some European guides (sorry no prices on some of them -- maybe

someone can fill me in and I will post it next go around?):

o L'Officiel du Littoral Nudiste - French beaches only. Tells you

where it is official, where it is tolerated, and where they impose

fines. Written in French, with maps and access instructions.

Editions Symbiose, 23, Rue Tronchet 75008 Paris.

o Guide du Tourisme de la Gironde - La Gironde is a region of South

West France by the Atlantic Coast. The guide is updated and

published annually. Mainstream French, official, local government

tourist brochure, with specific entries for naturist holidays.

Available free of charge from: Maison du Tourisme de la Gironde,

21, Cours de l'Intendance, F-33000 Bordeaux. Tel (33) 56-52-61-40;

Fax (33) 56-81-09-99.

o FKK Reisefuhrer - All over Europe. Beaches and inland. All in

German. Contains some very beautiful photography. Price: 19,80 DM.

ISBN 3-87261-061-9. Gloss & Co Verlagsgesellschaft, Postfach 50 03

44, D-2000 Hamburg 50, Germany.

o Naturist Guide to Europe, 2 vols, 8.50 pounds per vol. Contact:

David Martin, Coast and Country Publications, 3 Mayfield Avenue,

Scarborough YO12 6DF UK.

o Naturist Guide, Holiday Centres in France, Spain and Greece -

Published by La Vie au Soleil/Vivre Nu Magazine. In English and in

French; very good coverage of France, but probably most useful for

camping sites rather than holiday centres with only cottages. Price

50 FRF. EDIBUL, BP 21, F-84570 Mormoiron, France. Tel

+33--4-90-61-93-04; Fax +33--4-90-62-88-33.

o Bare Facts, A Guide to Australia's Nude and Dress Optional Clubs,

Resorts and Beaches. Published by Australian Sun & Health. Good

descriptions of most clubs and resorts, with contact details.

Beaches well covered, with directions and most descriptions

accurate. Price A$10, US$12 (air), US$9 (sea).

o A listing of nude beaches in Poland, in the Polish language is

acceassible at the home page of Tomasz Skrzydlo at:

http://www.kki.net.pl/tgniw/naturyzm/ back to top

Periodicals

o The Bulletin: Published by the AANR for its members. A monthly

newspaper. Contains organizational business updates, club news, and

other topics of interest to members. Single copy price - $2.75.

Subscription available with AANR membership.

o Nude & Natural (formerly Clothed with the Sun): A quarterly

magazine, included in Naturist Society membership. Provides

information about the Naturist movement on a national level. May be

subscribed to separately. Single copies $8 + $3 shipping/handling

per order.

o Naturally: Quarterly magazine, $18/year. Naturally, PO Box 317,

Newfoundland, NJ, 07435. http://www.internaturally.com/

o Naturist Life International (NLI). A subscription is $20/year (four

issues). Personal articles, religious-bent (not necessarily

Christian). N. L. I., Inc., POB 300, Troy, VT 05868.

http://www.together.net/~nli/

o Hot Springs Gazette: A light-hearted travel guide for the hot

spring enthusiast. Covers mostly western US. Four quarterly issues,

$15 US. Hot Springs Gazette, 12 S. Benton G3, Helena MT 59601.

o Going Natural: Canada's National Naturist Magazine, A quarterly

report on naturist resorts, beaches, travel, events, and all

aspects of the naturist lifestyle. Subscription rate - $30.00

Canadian ($25.00 US) from Federation of Canadian Naturists.

o British Naturism: A quarterly journal of the British naturist

movement. Contains information on France, Spain, Holland, and

Africa, too. Sample copy, $5. Year, $12 by sea mail, $20 air mail.

CCBN, 30-32, Wycliffe Road, Northampton, NN1-5JF, UK.

http://www.british-naturism.org.uk/british-naturism/

o Australian Sun & Health: A glossy color magazine published

quarterly with lots of photos & information about the nude and

dress optional clubs, beaches & resorts in Australia and overseas.

Australian Sun & Health, P.O. Box 5601, Mail Centre, GOLD COAST

4217, Australia. http://www.winshop.com.au/sun&health/ back to top

==========================================================

Electronic Resources

Naturism is flourishing on the Internet. Here is a list of electronic resources for your perusal.

______________________________________________________________________

1. World Wide Web

2. Newsgroups

3. Mailing Lists

4. Internet Relay Chat (IRC)

5. Online services (AOL, CompuServe, etc.)

6. Bulletin Board Services (BBS)

______________________________________________________________________

1. World Wide Web

There are hundreds of naturist web sites, with more being added all

the time. Since there are several pages that attempt to exhaustively

list all these pages, I will not duplicate that effort here, but will

instead refer you to these links:

o rec.nude FAQ

WEB SITE TO BE ANNOUNCED

o Site Reports FAQ

or http://www.faqs.org/ -or- rtfm.mit.edu/pub/faqs/nude-faq/beaches/

o Legal FAQ - [Under revision. Posted manually by D. Kirkpatrick

until approved by Usenet Administration].

o uk.rec.naturist FAQ

[Note: Under revision. [This may be an outdated FAQ. Details pending.]

o Naturist Alert System FAQ

[Duplicated at: ]

o Kent Ashton's list of links

o Charles Daney's list of links

o Nudism Web Ring:

The Nudism Web Ring is a moderated resource of naturist/nudist web

sites, private, commercial, and group, that are on-topic, spam free

and porn free. Each site in the network carries a link system to all

of the other sites. Great for naturist/nudist web surfing!

Links are also provided where appropriate in other sections of this

FAQ. In particular, there are many links to various organizations in

part II of this FAQ. back to top

2. Newsgroups

Besides rec.nude, there is:

o alt.nudism.moderated, established in 1999 in response to growing issues

of off topic postings and "flaming" in rec.nude. This newsgroup may

not be on all news servers as yet but a request to your news

administrator may bring results. Make sure you explain that it is a

"moderated" newsgroup.

o uk.rec.naturist, for discussions of topics pertinent to naturism in

Great Britain.

o aus.culture.naturist for discussion pertinent to naturism in

Australia and New Zealand.

o nl.naturisme, for discussions (in Dutch) of topics pertinent to

naturism in the Netherlands.

o es.rec.naturismo, for discussions (in Spanish) of topics pertinent

to naturism in Spain.

o alt.christnet.nudism, for discussions amongst Christian naturists.

o alt.cult.nudism, which exists for no purpose evident to me (and

gets very little traffic of note, anyway.)

o Regional newsgroups that are specific to a particular geography are

always being added to the choice of Usenet styled newsgroups. Running

a search on the available "Full Group List" from your internet service

provider may turn up one of these groups in your area. Recommended

search terms include "naturist", "naturism", and "nudist" or "nudism",

although you may turn up some newsgroups with questionable agendas in

doing so. A discerning eye will find the right newsgroup.

In those instances when a newsgroup is not available or a request is

refused by a news administrator, a good source for locating newsgroup

material is the free service at Deja.Com. With

any web browser you can search this service by keyword and topic and

view newsgroup postings from both current and archival material.

Note that the group "alt.binaries.pictures.nudism" is not considered a

naturist group, but is (like most of the alt.binaries.pictures.* groups)

chiefly an outlet for pornography of various types. This group was not

created by naturists (or nudists), and most rec.nude readers want

nothing to do with it. Due to problems with illegal material or

newsgroup (such as AOL and CompuServe). Various other "nudism" groups

exist for purposes of binary (image) posting that are generally not

supported by most on-line nudists due to association with soft or

hard porn. back to top

3. Mailing Lists

Some mailing lists relevant to naturism:

o The CO Digest, one of the oldest mailing lists on the net for

naturist information, news and discussion. Moderated by John Hendry

, and distributed as an irregularly-

mailed digest (usually on the order of two to three issues a month.)

See the CO Digest web page for more

information.

o Ohio Nude Digest, a mailing list concentrating on Ohio. See

OHNudeRec to subscribe.

o Campus-Nude List, a mailing list aimed at naturists in college, or

of college age. Sponsored by CyberNude

and operated by Dave Rossow . See the

CyberNude web site for subscription information.

o Cybernude Chat, Sponsored by CyberNude

and operated by Dave Rossow . See the

CyberNude web site for subscription information. Web based.

o NetNude Hosts various naturist pages and

a web-based chat system. Based in Ontario, Canada but with interest

to a global market.

o RixPlace, a mailing list run by Rick Jaggers

Nudist News & Views of a social/friendly nature. See

their web page for information on

how to subscribe or e-mail at: .

Individual list server style messages or digest formats

available.

o EFLOWER, a mailing list run by Dennis Kirkpatrick.

See the Pilgrim Naturists web page at

http://www.tiac.net/users/nat/pilhome.html

or their New England regional page at:

http://www.tiac.net/users/nat/pilgrm.html .

The EFLOWER concentrates on news of interest and other idioms by

the author for the six-state New England region of the northeast

corner of the USA. Free. On the 2nd & 4th weekend each month. back to top

4. Internet Relay Chat (IRC)

Naturists gather in several channels on several different IRC

networks. Due to the transient nature of IRC channels, a list is not

possible. Look for channels named #nudists, #nudism, #naturists, etc.

5. Online services (AOL, CompuServe, etc.)

Updates from those who are on these services is always appreciated.

o America Online: System-wide reorganization of topical material has taken

place on AOL. In 1999 older nudist interactive message boards which

were only accessible by specific internal AOL link were closed.

The present supported naturist/nudist message board inside AOL is one

located under the Travel Channel. The link from the opening screen

is: CHANNELS>TRAVEL>TRAVEL MESSAGE BOARDS>BEST BEACHES & WATER

RESORTS>NUDE BEACHES

The direct AOL link that can be used in the Favorite Places Menu is:

aol://5863:126/mB:169159 This is case sensitive so copy it direct.

As of September 1999 we are pleased to note that this area is well

accepted and even maintains reference links to both The Naturist

Society (TNS) and American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR).

Information on chat rooms for naturists / nudists is pending. A good

place to start asking is this message board.

o CompuServe: GO NUDE for the "Nudist & Naturist Forum",

or GO ADULTLIFE

for the "Adult Support Forum"

and Section 12 for "Naturist Lifestyles". Both have scheduled moderated

chat sessions (CompuServe subscribers) & user accessible chat areas at

other times. Select sections of some CompuServer forums are publicly

accessible to non-subscribers.

In 1998 Compuserve's forums became web browser accessible in a read-only

format to non-subscribers. An option to subscribe is available for

purposes of being able to post messages or files to archival areas.

Unlike rec.nude Compuserve's forums are moderated to assure all

discussions remain on-topic. Chat access via the web is not universal

at this time to all CompuServe forums.

o Delphi: The Online Naturist Club, hosted by Michael Corbin, is

located at CUSTOM 13. Weekly chat sessions are scheduled

and are accessible to subscribers.

o Prodigy: In October of 1999 Prodigy "Classic" (Prodigy.Com) will cease

to exist due to Y2K compliance issues of the user software. It has

already been superceded by Prodigy.Net and a web-based interface.

Naturist access can be inquired about at:

http://bb.prodigy.net/craftsb/Ultimate.cgi?action=intro back to top

6. Bulletin Board Services (BBS)

With the proliferation of Usenet and the web private BBS services and

other services such as FIDO echos are quickly becoming a thing of the

past. Persons hosting or having knowledge of BBS systems dedicated

to the nudist/naturist option are welcome to contribute that information

for inclusion in this FAQ. back to top

1. A semantic note

There are two terms that are commonly used to describe the way of life this info page deals with: "nudism" and "naturism". Some people prefer one or the other, some use either term, and some use neither. (This will be discussed later in the FAQ.) Feel free to substitute your own terminology in your mind as you read. back to top

2. What is naturism?

There are probably as many answers to this question as there are naturists. One common definition is the one suggested by the International Naturist Federation in 1974:

"Naturism is a way of life in harmony with nature characterized by the practice of communal nudity, with the intention of encouraging self-respect, respect for others and for the environment."

(It should be pointed out that naturism does not necessarily have to be enjoyed in a "communal" fashion. Many naturists enjoy being nude by themselves, or just with their SO's, or in numbers that aren't really "communal". Of course, there is nothing at all wrong with this.)

The main tenets of naturism are:

2.1. Clothing optionality

Naturists believe that, while clothing does have some practical uses (such as for warmth or

protection), many activities are better performed nude. In many cases nudity is more comfortable,

healthy, or fun than wearing clothes. Naturists do not intend to force everyone to go nude; rather,

they advocate the optionality of clothing when and where appropriate.

2.2. Body acceptance

Too much emphasis is put on the perfect body by clothing-obsessed society. Naturists know that

almost no one has a perfect body, and that beauty can be found in bodies of all shapes, sizes,

colors, and ages. Nudity is the means to the goal of body acceptance; when nude, the full beauty

of the human body is exposed, creating pride in what you've got and reducing the desire for what

you've not.

2.3. Separation of nudity and sex

For hundreds of years, people have assumed a connection between nudity and sex - after all, the

only time many people are nude, other than while bathing, is during sex. Naturists reject this

assumption. Nudity does not automatically lead to sex - and, incidentally, you can have sex with

your clothes on. The two are quite simply not related.

2.4. Concern for the environment

Nudity is a natural state. Naturists often choose to go nude in the remote, undeveloped areas of our

planet. The feeling of standing nude atop a mountain peak cannot be duplicated! But in order to

preserve this opportunity for future naturists, we must take care of our planet. Too much damage

has already been done; we might not be able to repair it, but we can avoid further damage.

2.5. Activism

Naturism is not the majority opinion - not yet, anyway - so naturists must, out of necessity, be

advocates for the practice of naturism. Naturists have lobbied for the designation of clothing-optional

areas on public lands, the repeal of laws that ban simple, non-sexual nudity, and many other related

causes. Recent years have seen a rise in activism and a decline in the closeted anonymity that

typified naturism in the past. (It should be noted that there are naturists who prefer not to get

involved in the politics of naturism, and some who support some of the politics but not others. As

with non-naturist politics, there is a spectrum of opinions, and it's impossible to categorize all

naturists with one brush stroke.) back to top

3. Arguments for nudity

Why did naturists decide that nudity is worth speaking up for?

There are several appealing things about it:

3.1. Comfort

Anyone who's spent any amount of time in ill-fitting, uncomfortable clothing knows how good it feels

when it's not being worn. Clothing is, by nature, something foreign to the body, and its presence is

always known to the wearer. When you're not constantly being reminded that you're dressed, it's

easier to think about other things! There is a tremendous feeling of freedom when nude. Once you

have been swimming nude, you'll never understand why anyone would ever want to wear clothes in

the water.

3.2. Health

Medical research has shown that clothing can be unhealthy in certain situations. For example,

evidence supports a hypothesis that wet, clingy swimsuits can constrict the flow of bodily fluids.

Eliminate the swimsuit, and you've eliminated that problem! Anecdotal evidence suggests that

disease-carrying insects like to hide under clothing - another potential advantage for the naturist.

3.3. The equalizing aspect

Thoreau wrote: "It is an interesting question how far men would retain their respective rank if they

were divested of their clothes." All other things held equal, when nude, a king appears no different

than a peasant, a doctor no different than a steelworker, a wealthy CEO no different than his lowest

paid employee. Thus, these classifications disappear and the playing field is leveled.

3.4. Cleanliness

Dirt, sand, and salt accumulate in clothing. It is a lot easier to stain clothing than skin. It is a lot

easier to rinse skin than to wash clothing.

3.5. Convenience

Society says you must have clothing at all time when in public. Even the simplest tasks, such as

stepping out your front door to pick up the newspaper, require you to get dressed. A naturist's outfit

is always easily available. Sleep nude, and you are already "dressed" when you awake.

3.6. It's fun!

This is the best reason for going nude, and requires no further explanation.

4. Rebuttals To Arguments Against Nudity

Here are some rebuttals to common excuses for keeping the body covered:

4.1. Shame

Centuries of oppressive thought have convinced many people that the body is a shameful, worthless

object that should be hidden. Nonsense! The human body is one of the most elegant, masterful and

valuable things on earth. There are few things in existence which compare to it on an artistic,

technical, or philosophical level. Celebrate the human body! It's one of only a handful of truly unique

creations.

4.2. Embarrassment

Some people are afraid of running into someone they know while nude, or - worse - being seen by

someone they know (or someone they don't) while nude. Remember that you will be around many

other people who will also be nude. You may be momentarily embarrassed at first - this is normal -

but as you spend more time nude, you will realize that if everyone is nude, no one has cause for

nudity-related embarrassment. As for the possibility that you'll run into someone you know - well, if

you like them, you've got something new in common to talk about? Besides, what is there to be

embarrassed about? They are there, too, for the same reasons as you.

4.3. Gender-specific embarrassment

Naturists know that both erections and menstruation are normal, so don't be afraid that your body's

natural occurrences will offend other naturists. An erection is embarrassing, but rare, and easy to

hide - just grab a towel, roll over, or jump in the water. Most naturists won't even comment about it.

(Don't fear the erection your first time - most men will tell you they were too nervous for it to even be

possible!) Women may feel uncomfortable being nude during menstruation. No one will be offended

if women choose to wear shorts, tampons, etc. during these times.

4.4. Feelings of inadequacy

Many people refuse to go nude because they feel that their height, weight, build, features, etc. are

unacceptable. There is no need to feel that you must conform to a standard of beauty or

acceptability, especially one you had no part in creating! Naturists come in all shapes, sizes,

colors, ages, and beliefs. Naturists have even undergone surgeries, mastectomies, etc., and have

the scars to prove it (many have said that naturism helped them further accept these scars.) In

naturism, there is no ideal of the perfect body other than yourself. If you can accept yourself for what

you are, you will have no problem overcoming your perceived imperfections.

4.5. Vulnerability

By stripping away clothing, you strip away the armor that protects you from an unkind world. Some

people fear this. Naturists believe vulnerability is a good thing. Think about this: in a naturist

setting, everybody is vulnerable. The shared vulnerability creates respect and caring for your fellow

naturists. Besides, most of your vulnerability probably comes from the awareness that you are

nude - an awareness that becomes less important to you as you spend more time nude.

4.6. Fear of sexual consequences

Many people are afraid that if they go nude, they invite unwanted attention, possibly even rape.

Naturists decry sexual harassment and sexual assault, and are committed to creating an

environment where women and men may both feel safe and non-threatened. Don't let this fear

prevent you from trying naturism - harassment and assault are very rare, and are not tolerated by

naturists. (And, by the way, naturists enjoy healthy sexual lives like most everyone else - but they

enjoy them in private, like most everybody else.)

4.7. Fear of gawkers

By "gawkers" we mean the people who hang around naturist areas solely for the thrill of seeing

naked people. Gawkers are not a problem in most areas, but you may encounter them from time to

time. Don't let them make you feel uncomfortable. Instead, you should make them feel

uncomfortable and out of place. Either they'll leave, or come around to our way of thinking.

4.8. Religious teachings

Some world religions are firm in a belief that the human body was created, and should forever be

regarded, as a sinful object. It is worth remembering that all men and women are born nude. (A

popular nudist slogan, meant only partially in jest, is "If we were meant to be nude, we would have

been born that way.") In the Christian tradition, Adam and Eve were expelled from Eden only after

they clothed themselves, in rebellion against God. And some people believe that the display of the

nude body is a glorification of its Creator. Rejection of the body is the work of man, not of God.

4.9. Fear of legal consequences

See "Nudity And The Law" below.

4.10. Concern about sunburn and skin cancer

See "Nudity And The Sun" below.

4.11. Cleanliness

Some will ask "What about bodily excretions that I am used to having caught by my underwear?"

Naturists are mindful of this, and it is common naturist practice (and a rule at many naturist

facilities) to carry a towel to sit on.

4.12. Safety and comfort

Naturists do not claim that nudity is always appropriate. Clothing does have its practical uses.

Clothing is a good idea in cold weather. Clothing is a good idea when frying bacon. No naturist will

disagree. That doesn't mean that clothes should be required all the time. We should all be allowed

to use common sense to decide when we should be clothed and when we should not.

4.13. Offending others

Doesn't nudity offend some people? Well, yes. Walking nude down Main Street will offend others. It

may also do harm to the naturism movement. But going to a private naturist resort or traditionally

nude area should not offend others. If somebody passes a sign that says "nudity permitted ahead",

it is their fault if they take offense. This is why naturists continue to press for management rather

than banishment; naturists would get the same treatment as other taxpayers, and complainers

need no longer complain.

The arguments for nudity outweigh the arguments against. The opinions against may be more

popular, but ours are more sensible. If you are hesitant to try naturism, try to decide why you feel

this way, then find out if your hesitance is justified. More often than not, you'll find that it's not.

Naturism's advantages are much greater than any perceived disadvantage. Give it a shot!

5. Nudity And The Law

Nudity in private clubs, homes, and the like is legal in most areas. You generally need not concern

yourself with the law if your nudity is confined to a private place. Laws prohibiting private nudity are uncommon and generally unenforceable. (Note, though, that there could be problems in private places

that are easily viewable from public places, such as through an open window of your home. If the offended

person has to go to some trouble to be offended, it is more likely that they could be in trouble for being

"peeping Toms".)

Public nudity is a different story. Depending on your locality, simple public nudity may or may not be legal. There are some jurisdictions which explicitly prohibit simple, non-sexual nudity, and some which

do not prohibit public nudity, but in many areas public nudity is prosecuted under the codes for indecent

exposure. Cases in various jurisdictions have begun to establish a precedent that simple public nudity,

absent any malicious or sexual intent, cannot be construed as indecent. However, we are far from

achieving the goal of total decriminalization of public nudity. Check with authorities and be careful.

There is no prohibition against simple nudity on federal lands. However, depending on where you are, the

federal authorities may enforce any local or state prohibitions. This is called "concurrent jurisdiction."

Again, know what the status is in your area.

In many areas, the tide is turning in our favor. Government is realizing that there are more important

things to worry about than harmless nudity. And as naturism grows worldwide, people are realizing that

naturism is good business, too. However, many governments choose to ignore the current progressive

trend and keep their heads buried in the sand.

Naturists should not live in fear of the law; they should know the law and make it work for them. Naturists

are being cited for simple nudity under ordinances that, in many cases, do not ban public nudity unless

lewdness or malice is present. This must change. Believe it or not, the law is often on our side; it takes

an informed naturist to know when it is.

Here are some things you can do to avoid arrest:

5.1. Choose remote areas

The further you get from civilization, the less likely it is that you will run into easily offended people.

Even if you do run into somebody who claims they are offended and will complain, bear in mind that

in most cases, complaints must be made in writing. Most people will not go to the trouble to make

a written complaint, and most authorities won't act without one. Nonetheless, if there is a complaint,

and you are far enough from civilization, you can be out of the area before the authorities arrive.

5.2. Carry & post signs

This may increase your chances of being left alone by the easily offended. If people are informed

that nude persons may lie ahead, a defense can be made that they were warned and chose to be

offended, thus theoretically invalidating their legal basis for objection. A commonly-used sign,

which has been used successfully for this purpose in many places, reads "Attention: Beyond this

point you may encounter nude sunbathers."

5.3. Know the law

Go to the library, or talk to an attorney. Find out what is prohibited and what is not in your area.

You may be surprised! Laws in many areas do not appear to prohibit simple nudity in public, and

court decisions have upheld this opinion in some cases. In most areas, law enforcement officials

know when they can and cannot arrest you, but in some areas the officials are ignorant. An

informed citizen is the mortal enemy of improper law enforcement, so know your rights.

5.4. Support local & national groups

Naturist groups have made significant inroads recently towards the elimination of improper laws.

Nude areas at New Jersey's Sandy Hook and Miami's Haulover Beach have been authorized thanks

to the efforts of local naturist groups. National organizations such as the Naturist Action Committee

http://www.naturist.com/NAC are constantly working to make the legal world friendlier to naturists.

These groups deserve whatever time, money, and support you can give.

5.5. Vote

Vote for mayors, supervisors, sheriffs, etc. that support naturism. Vote for people who will stand up

against pressure from zealots to ban activities not normally considered illegal. The state should not

be our adversary - the state should be on our side! Send a message to government that you expect

both support for naturism, and an unyielding stance against anti-nudity extremists. Remember, the

government is in your service - not the other way around. back to top

6. Nudity And The Sun

Naturism has often been associated with the all-over tan. (The word "sunbathing" has been used as a

euphemism for years.) However, research has shown that the sun can be harmful when taken in excess,

and that things aren't going to change for the better. Skin cancer, in particular, is a major concern for

active naturists. This doesn't necessarily have anything to do with nudity - nudity exposes only slightly

more skin than a swimsuit - but it has everything to do with the long hours in the sun favored by some

naturists.

This is not to say that you shouldn't sunbathe. Sunbathing is not deadly if done in moderation. Use a

sunscreen. Avoid sunbathing during the middle of the day when the sun's rays are the most intense.

Limit your time in the sun to avoid burning. Above all, be sensible. Know what you're doing and what the

possible consequences are.

Nude activity doesn't have to depend on the sun. For example, you could hike nude through a shady

forest, or enjoy a nude jog in a warm spring shower. Indoor naturism is popular as well. And skinny-

dipping by moonlight is a time-honored tradition. So, naturism can be enjoyed in and out of the sun. The

best strategy is to do each when appropriate, and don't overdo your sun exposure. back to top