Another AANR Resort Markets to Swingers

In the wake of swinger lifestyle groups taking over Caliente and Paradise Lakes in Florida, and the recent controversy with erotic lifestyles groups at Lupin Lodge, Seminole Nudist Resort in Davie, Florida, is offering special rates to Swinglifestyle members on Saturday, June 26th.

It is reported that Seminole is also including free alcohol and a private bartender to the group, and activities include body painting, a slumber party boutique with lingerie, lotions, potions and adult toys, and a fashion show. There will also be an "ice-breaker" game called "Nuts & Bolts" to match up males with females.

Is this another "ambush" at an AANR nudist resort, as was claimed at Lupin Lodge, or is this another example of nudist resorts caving in to social and economic pressures?

UPDATE: Erich Schuttauf informs me today that Seminole has not been affiliated with AANR for "several months", even though the resort still claims AANR status on their website.

Pasco Attorney Warns Caliente About Sex Parties

Breaking story. I can now confirm that on April 29, 2010, Caliente Tampa clothing optional resort received a "cease and desist" letter from Debra M. Zampetti, Zoning/Code Compliance Administrator for Pasco County, warning about allegations of offering "performances" which "feature sexual activity and/or the anatomical areas" in return for a fee. When contacted today by email, Ms. Zampetti confirmed the letter, and added, "A few months ago we had a meeting with several folks that lived in Caliente, and there was discussion about some of the conduct that was taking place that could be regarded as violations of the SOB (Sexually Oriented Business) ordinance."

In the letter, which Caliente is to consider a formal warning, Zampetti stated that if Pasco is "provided evidence of such violation in the future, the county will seek an injunction to stop further violations of the zoning code, issue a citation and fine, or make use of other available legal remedies."

I am seeking further information on this situation and hopefully will have more to report soon. Anyone reading this who has knowledge of this letter is encouraged to email me as soon as possible.

Religion Threatens Nude Beach in Key West

A section of Smathers Beach in Key West slated for naturist use is under threat from religious groups who are "uncomfortable" with the idea of nude people enjoying the sun and surf.

"I'm convinced that the naturalist is not an evil person," said Adam Walker, pastor of Calvary Chapel. "Let's just look at facts about humanity: The naturalist does not see anything wrong about nudity. I believe that. You've got to know that not everybody going on that beach is going to be a naturalist. Twitter has opened the world. What do you think is going to be going on on these beaches?"

"I personally would not want this temptation there for my sons," Walker's wife Patty said. "It's hard enough for them to go through life as a teenager. I don't want their mind dwelling on things like that. You go in there and you're not in there for the right reason and you come out, you've got to go let that out somewhere, and things happen in our community."

So, in a nutshell, naturists and naturists are not evil, but nudity attracts evil people. And the argument is not about reality, but about what people "think is going to be going on". And what on earth does Twitter have to do with nude beaches? Fear, ignorance and religions zealotry once again stand in the way of the basic human right of enjoying nude recreation.

Key West Clothing Optional Beach Action Request

Members of FKFB hold the original banner that christened Haulover's c/o beach in 1991 Key West C/O Beach Action Request Dear : As previously noted, a Community Workshop will be held in Key West at Old City Hall on March 30, 2010 to discuss the designation of a clothing-optional area at Smathers Beach. You can show your support two ways: ATTEND THE MEETING if you are in the area. It is important that as many supporters as possible are in the audience. Shirley Mason has requested that a Haulover manager and the Haulover lifeguard captain be asked to attend to address any management concerns. VIEW MEETING TIME & PLACE DETAILS WRITE A LETTER OF SUPPORT Send a short letter of support for the c/o beach to be read into the minutes. Address your letter to "The Honorable Mayor and City Commissioners of Key West" Letters may be sent via email attn: Sue Harrison, Senior Deputy City Clerk, at Sharriso@keywestcity.com [At the right we've also listed the individual email addresses and names of the Mayor and Commissioners.] The c/o beach is being promoted as an economic benefit. Points that may be included in your letter: that you are interested in tourist destinations with a c/o beach that a c/o beach will make Key West more attractive to you as a vacation destination positive personal experiences with other c/o beaches like Haulover, Gunnison, etc. As the Key West Citizen noted: "Many commissioners received e-mailed form letters from right-wing Christian groups who said they would not visit Key West if it had a clothing-optional beach, but it was unclear as to whether any of the organized opposition was from local residents." (One such organization was the American Decency Association, prior to the Key West election that brought in a new mayor favorable to a c/o beach- Read its July 2009 post & email campaign) Read full Key West Citizen article (March 1, 2010) Note: Request your letter be read into the minutes of the c/o Beach Workshop on March 30th. Mayor Craig Cates has publicly voiced his support of a c/o beach, but implementation requires the votes of at least 4 commissioners, or 3 commissioners plus the mayor. We believe we will have a positive vote from Commissioners Johnston and Rossi, and that the Mayor's support and a good workshop will result in the needed additional vote from at least one other commissioner. Commissioner Wardlow is the only commissioner on record that he will NOT vote for a clothing-optional beach. Established in 1980, South Florida Free Beaches is committed to actively representing Naturism and nude recreation to government, business and civic leaders; to preserving public beaches and park lands for all citizens; and to lobbying for the position that a portion of such public lands should be designated for clothing-optional use - just as other portions of public lands are designated for the use of golfers, boaters, tennis players and the like. Founders of Haulover's Naturist Beach South Florida Free Beaches / FNA Inc. Key West City Officials [with presumed vote] Mayor Craig Cates [+] ccates@keywestcity.com City Commissioners: Barry Gibson [?] bfgibson@keywestcity.com Teri Johnston [+] johnston@keywestcity.com Clayton Lopez [?] clopez@keywestcity.com Mark Rossi [+] mrossi@keywestcity.com Billy Wardlow [-] bwardlow@keywestcity.com Jimmy Weekley [?] jweekley@keywestcity.com Additional Commission info on KEY WEST CITY WEB SITE Key West City Officials [with presumed vote] Mayor Craig Cates [+] ccates@keywestcity.com City Commissioners: Barry Gibson [?] bfgibson@keywestcity.com Teri Johnston [+] johnston@keywestcity.com Clayton Lopez [?] clopez@keywestcity.com Mark Rossi [+] mrossi@keywestcity.com Billy Wardlow [-] bwardlow@keywestcity.com Jimmy Weekley [?] jweekley@keywestcity.com Additional Commission info on KEY WEST CITY WEB SITE

Ten TNS Members Could Be Arrested

Looks like 10 naturists at the Mid-Winter Naturist Festival at Sunsport Gardens Family Naturist Resort decided to defy public nudity laws by appearing naked on public Delray Beach with the intent on making a human peace symbol for an aerial photo.

The nine men and one woman were not arrested.Police recommended an indecent exposure charge but the State Attorney's Office will decide whether the birthday-suit peaceniks will be arrested.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. Whose idea was this? Was Morley Schloss or any other TNS or NAC official involved? I'm dumbfounded as to why these 10 decided to pull this idiotic stunt and generate more negative publicity for nudism and naturism.

Get over it already nudists!

Rebecca Ammon of The Daily Loaf tells nudists it's high time to accept the fact that swingers are part of the lifestyle.

Most nudists don’t want to associate their lifestyle with swingers. Being a nudist doesn’t make you a swinger, and being a swinger doesn’t make you a nudist. I enjoy being nude myself, but only in the bedroom and not while drinking at a club or playing tennis. The only reason swingers have flocked to nudists resorts is because nudists claim to be a community of open minded people who accept alternative lifestyles. Not all swingers are going to behave inappropriately by having sex on the bar stool next to you, and not all will attempt to pick you up simply because you’re walking around the pool naked. Swingers want to mingle in a safe environment just as nudists do.

The swinger population has brought a substantial amount of business to the community, giving resorts like Caliente a boost during this economic downfall. The fact that this issue is still swirling around the media is disheartening.

Get over it already nudists!

What do you think?

Angye, Angye, where will it lead us from here?

Events organizer Angye Fox has left Caliente Resort in Pasco County, Florida, but her sexing up of the resort, and marketing to swingers groups, has homeowners up in arms and threatening to sue. Richard Klos, a resident, presented County Commissioners with a notebook filled with evidence of events such as "Naughty School Girl Camp" to "Sinful Seduction". It's a tricky situation to enforce adult entertainment laws at a place where everyone is nude, but if admissible evidence surfaces, Caliente could be in for some trouble.

Deb Bowen, Caliente spokeswoman, said the resort has strict policies at community property, including the swimming pool, and enforces it.

"Any antics were exposed and stopped immediately," she said.

She added that the former events organizer, Angye Fox, who left the resort last month, may have taken the marketing a little far. "That's why you have a staff who can reel it back in," she said.

But she made no apologies for the more explicit tone in the type of events the resort is conducting. The idea, she said, is to attract a younger generation.

Did Deb Bowen just admit on the record that there were definitely "antics"? That statement could almost certainly be used against Caliente in any legal action, and illustrates just how unsavvy nudists and naturists are when dealing with the press.

While the Commissioners seem unable to provide any relief for homeowners, they are sympathetic and suggested to Mr. Klos that he hire a lawyer and consider a civil suit.

AANR and TNS are losing this PR battle for the definition of nudism/naturism. Either there needs to be much stronger pushback against this sexual behavior, or begin to accept the fact that the nudist community is going to be irreparably split into two factions: family and adult.

It will be interesting to see if Caliente homeowners sue the resort. If they are successful, it will certainly put a chill on other resorts which are considering a turn to a more adult-oriented agenda. If they fail, it will probably open the door for other struggling resorts to spice things up to bring in more revenue.

I am a strong opponent of turning traditional family-friendly nudist resorts into havens for swingers, but a recent post by Dr. Marty Klein about sexual prejudice got me to thinking.

Carnival Cruises of Miami will not book another “cougar-cub cruise” (younger men and middle-aged women meeting for erotic connection, either temporary or long-term), even though the first sold out and demand for a second is high.

It’s not clear what Carnival objects to—middle-aged women having sex, middle-aged women having sex with people other than the crew, or simply all that legendary 24-hour-a-day food going uneaten.

I've said many times that I have no objection to Caliente catering to a swingers crowd, but I do object to the use of the term "nudist". Even though Caliente uses the term "clothing-optional", in the eyes of the public it's the same thing.

Instead of AANR revoking charters and losing members, maybe it's a better (and certainly more radical) idea to begin rating resorts just like they do movies in Hollywood. Parents take their kids to the multiplex and drop them off to see the Chipmunk movie as they go to the theatre next door to see something more adult like "Up in the Air".

Young adults will certainly be more attracted to the sexy and romantic atmosphere of Caliente or Hedonism, and perhaps when they get a little older and have kids, they will continue their nude recreation activities at more family-friendly venues.

Perhaps AANR is a bit guilty of the same sort of sexual prejudice that confronts nudists every day.

Either traditional nudists and naturists learn to live with a spicier version of the lifestyle, or die a slow death as the younger generation rejects miniten, petanque, and pot-luck dinners.

In December, 1962, Edmund Kiernan wrote:

We who belong to the nudist movement know that social nudity has very little sex stimulation; but we also realize that with a different attitude allowed there could be plenty of such stimulation. There was a reason for the rule against alcohol in the parks and for the rule against physical contact that might cause sex arousal. The need for these rules still exists. Although, thanks to a friendly press, we are regarded with more tolerance than in the early days, the nudist movement is still not accepted by most Americans. If we were to follow the advice of Eden 11, whatever acceptance we have would be lost. Very probably nudist parks would be closed and nudism banned.

Things have certainly loosened up since then. Alcohol is present at every nudist resort I've been to. Physical contact is less frowned upon. AANR finally put in its bylaws that there should be no discrimination over sexual orientation. Tattoos and body jewelry are common, as are shaved pubic areas. TNS is having seminars on Roman Sex, polyamory, and "raunchy" burlesque at its Mid-Winter Festival. Edmund Kiernan is probably rolling over in his grave.

Nudists have traditionally been as prudish about sexuality as the rest of clothed society. Perhaps even more so. Can nudism and naturism, as defined by AANR and TNS, survive in a society where teens are sending nude photos with their cell phones, pornography is omnipresent, and sex is used to sell everything from soap to politicians? Senator-elect Scott Brown posed for a nude Cosmopolitan centerfold when he was in college, certainly more sexual than a nudist event, yet that did not prevent him from winning in Massachusetts last week.

This is the central debate for nudists and naturists today. More to come on this subject soon.

Update on the Arrested "Nudist"

A judge has ordered Florida radio station owner F. Douglas Wilhite to be released on his own recognizance, after concluding that the man was arrested on a "frivolous" anonymous tip. This article once again refers to this man as a "nudist".

The Face of Nudism?

Florida radio station owner Doug Wilhite was arrested and accused of having sexual activity with a minor. Up to seven teens are possible victims.

The mix of boys and girls said they did not have sex with Wilhite, but claimed he paraded around his house naked, offered them alcohol, showed pornographic movies and encouraged them to have sex with each other so he could watch.

Five of the seven said they got naked in front of Wilhite, at his insistence. Some also said they played pool in the nude at his house, while others said Wilhite said "house rules" required them to remove their clothes if they wanted to use his workout room.

One of the girls said she had sex in front of Wilhite, both in his house and in the back seat of his car as Wilhite drove and watched, Davidson said. Two other girls said they had sex with a boy, believing the liaisons were private but instead learned Wilhite was watching.

Others said Wilhite grabbed their buttocks and one claimed he rubbed his genitals against her.

So how does the media label this guy? One story calls him "a self-professed nudist" and says that he "admitted he was a nudist" to investigators. Another story simply refers to Wilhite as "a nudist".

The mere act of not wearing clothes does not make one a nudist, or a naturist, no more than putting on a costume at Halloween makes one Dracula, but the media doesn't care because labeling this creep as a "nudist" makes good headlines, especially in Florida where the clothes-free population is the highest in America.

Concerned nudists and naturists should leave comments on these stories disassociating themselves from this man's behavior.

UPDATE: Thank you Fox Orlando for writing a story about this man and not referring to him as a "nudist".

UPDATE 2: Nudist Radio Station Owner Faces New Charges

New Book Portrays Nudists as Swingers

Is it fact or fiction? This review doesn't say whether the book "Would You Like to Sleep With My Wife" is a memoir, or a fabrication.

Former Tampa resident Tom Kelly details his journey into the swinger world as a single male in Would you like to sleep with my wife. Kelly’s adventure begins after leaving an unhappy relationship with a fanatic girlfriend in attempt to quell his desire to be constantly surrounded by naked women. This ultimately leads him to a management position at a nudist resort frequented by swingers...The book ends with an almost unbelievable account of oral sex in a pool full of naked swingers.

So I then looked it up on Barnes & Noble and found a synopsis.

Would You Like to Sleep With My Wife? is a satirical novel based on true events and the lifestyle of Tom Kelly, a young man who, on his quest for self-fulfillment, stumbles into a nudist swinger culture.

At the age of twenty-five, Tom Kelly decides he's had enough of northern Virginia and heads to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where his half-witted girlfriend, Denise, offers him a place to stay. Born to long-time nudist parents, Tom has become what one might call an expert at viewing the naked body at many different angles. After spending two unfulfilling months in Ft. Lauderdale, Tom decides to pursue his shallow dream of immersing himself in a nudist colony and ends up in the city of Lust-more specifically at the gates of Naked World Resorts and Spa. Tom snags a management job at the resort, and as he is thrown headfirst into the world of swingers, closet swingers, and wannabe-swingers, he begins to find himself knee-deep in all sorts of sticky and humorous situations.

Would You Like to Sleep With My Wife? is full of laugh-out-loud surprises and eroticism, all while offering an intriguing and fascinating glimpse into the swinger way of life.

A novel "based" on true events. Hey, more power to Tom Kelly for pursuing his dreams, but this is yet more terrible PR for nudism.

Making Asses Out of Nudists

Still being referred to as a "nudist resort", even after breaking from AANR, Caliente hosted a bikini-less bikini contest with porn stars, in front of "half-drunk nudists and overenthusiastic dudes with cameras." Article with plenty of photos here. Take note of the many people who appear to be typical nudists mixed in with the others wearing clothes and gawking at the gyrating adult entertainers. I really don't have an answer how TNS and AANR can get these sexed-up resorts to disassociate from the nudist label, because this ain't nudism. One thing for sure - ignoring this problem is not going to make it go away.

Mark my words - the next big push by moralists and politicians will be to try and bar anyone under 18 from nudist resorts. Read this letter to the editor from a woman who asks, "If a photo of a nude child is against the law, why in the world are children allowed in nudist camps?"

Photos of nude children are NOT against the law, but sexualized images of children are. It now seems that the majority of the public believes that any image of a nude child, even in a museum, or taken by parents to record childhood innocence, is somehow pornographic, and a magnet for pedophiles.

Now throw in the image being put forth by Caliente, which is being mistaken for nudism, and you have a potentially fatal problem. You want nude beaches? You want public lands set aside for nude recreation? Well, the hysteria over pedophilia, the sexed-up image of nudism, and teens being prosecuted for taking nude photos of themselves, all add up to trouble, and you have a growing opposition to anything involving nudity for people under the age of 18.

Trying to separate sex from nudity in this society seems to be an impossible task, but we cannot, and must not, give in to this pornification of the nudist and naturist lifestyle.

Key West to Bare All?

NBC in Miami is reporting that the Key West Florida city commission will introduce an ordinance today that would lift a nudity ban on beaches.

''No one visiting us [from other countries] understands why we are such prudes,'' Commissioner Sylvia Murphy told the Miami Herald earlier this summer.

No further information at this time.

"Tampa is gross"

That's the conclusion of one writer regarding the AANR sanctions and subsequent withdrawals from the organization by Caliente, and now Paradise Lakes Resort. No good will come from any of this sexing-up nonsense of once-respectable nudist resorts.

More bad PR for nudism is here. "So much for social, family nude recreation."

AANR Suspends Paradise Lakes Resort

AANR suspended Paradise Lakes Resort in Florida over an advertisement for a "Miss G-String International" contest, contending that such an event was contrary to the organization's family-friendly principles. When notified of the suspension, resort owner John Forier withdrew membership altogether.

The Paradise Lakes investigation determined that the resort's management had "increasingly sexualized the nudist experience" by advertising and marketing the G-string contest, AANR said.

The resort opened in 1981. Hawkins characterized Paradise Lakes as a longtime member or the organization. She said she has worked for AANR nearly 20 years and doesn't recall any previous investigations at Paradise Lakes.

The sexing-up of nudist resorts continues, no doubt due in part to the pervasiveness of pornography in our culture, and to many traditional nudist resorts no longer pack enough of a thrill to keep up the attendance.

I've said many times that I have no problem with people engaging in whatever mutual sexual activity they desire, just don't call it nudism, or naturism. Also, the danger facing these adult-oriented clothing-optional resorts is that they will soon be drawing the attention of public officials who will no doubt seek to regulate them as adult entertainment establishments. This is precisely why AANR did the right thing by suspending this club.

Sticking it to the Puritans

Liz Langley has an excellent article on AlterNet about nudism.

On my first day, I eased out of my clothes one item at a time over the course of about an hour, and once I did, the relaxation was palpable. With no bathing suit squeezing your flesh and reminding you of how much you have and no wardrobe tricks to diminish this or amplify that, it's all you, baby: no faking. There's something very freeing about having no choice but to be exactly what you are.

Now you've relaxed, and you can sit back and be dazzled by something from which consumer media has shielded you: the staggering variety that real human bodies come in. Variations in sizes, shapes, colors, density, hairiness, age, texture, mass and buoyancy will knock you sideways unless you're a doctor, moritician or hooker and have seen it all before. You will be reminded wonderfully of those Discovery channel specials about life at the bottom of the ocean, the ones that make your mouth drop open with the thrilling realization that you don't know shit about the world in which you live.

Lastly, there's the feeling of sun hitting some parts of your body for the first time and the incomparable sweetness of gliding through the water and feeling it everywhere -- cool and vast and tranquilizing. Hanging out under the waterfall with Sheree and calling it "research" made me feel, not only like I was like a perfectly realized component of nature, but also that every decision I've ever made to get me here was good and I must be the smartest cookie in the box.

Action Alert for All Naturists

The Naturist Action Committee is requesting that all nudists and naturists immediately send an email supporting a clothing-optional beach in Key West, Florida. Full details here.

Florida County Debates Nude Beaches

Florida may soon see another nude beach, but naturists fear that the ultimate location will be undesirable.

Boca Chica Beach abutting Naval Air Station Key West has become the de facto nude beach in the Lower Keys, as it is secluded and rarely patrolled by sheriff's deputies. However, naturists consider it seedy. Key West naturist Tracy Leigh chooses not to go Boca Chica, as the beach has no bathrooms or facilities and is not well maintained. The beach has gained a reputation as a cruising area for gay men looking to have casual sex. Leigh is lobbying for a safe beach she can go to with her children and grandchildren."Most of the places do not provide for a family and there is no benefit to the community," said Leigh, who added that South Florida Free Beaches raises money for local charities such as AIDS Help, and that clothing-optional beaches provide revenue to municipalities through parking fees.

Florida naturists have proven to be good citizens and deserve a little respect from the people who collect their taxes. On a positive note, the majority of the Monroe County commissioners agree that a nude public beach would be good for tourism, but there are concerns over locating it at Higgs Beach because it would be "difficult to shield naked sunbathers and swimmers from children at the neighboring Astro City Park and pedestrians on the White Street Pier."

This is nonsensical thinking for two obvious reasons. First of all, there is no evidence that the sight of people sunbathing nude on a beach is harmful to any person of any age, and if a person is offended by the sight of nude people, he or she doesn't have to look, and nudists are not going to care if anyone can see them. Secondly, what better way to keep out the undesirables than to make the beach out in the open, thereby ensuring that people are on their best behavior.

I would expect that at first there might be an influx of voyeurs, but once the curious and the kooky begin to realize that there's nothing titillating about a bunch of average nude bodies soaking in the sun, they will crawl back into their lairs.

Keep it out in the open, Florida, it's the only way to keep nude beaches safe for people of all ages.

The Daily Newds 4/8/09

• There were 44 videos uploaded to the World Nude Day 09 site. Click here to see them all.
• It's confirmed: Bay to Breakers will feature the usual assortment of body freedom participants.
• A tongue-in-cheek article exposes the ridiculousness behind the banning of nude sunbathing on Bird Island.

  It is a known fact that nude sunbathing is a gateway activity that leads to more serious civil breaches. For purposes of modesty, I will not dwell on the issue of visible cleavage in the workplace, but we all know it costs the nation more in lost productivity than the NCAA tournament.

• A letter to the editor in Florida claims that law enforcement is "clueless" about the law, and "completely unaware" of naturist values.
• William Saletan of Slate Magazine regrets once supporting body scanners in airports.

  Now I'm having second thoughts. I still like the technology. It's the people behind it who worry me. Yes, the scan is less invasive than the pat-down. But TSA has just demonstrated its ability and willingness to move the goalposts. When TSA offered pat-downs as the alternative to body scans in secondary screening, the scan sounded pretty good. Now TSA is offering pat-downs as the alternative to body scans in primary screening, and again, the scan sounds better. And if TSA announces tomorrow that pat-downs are the new alternative for all train or bus passengers, body scans will seem preferable there, too. Anywhere we're threatened with pat-downs, we'll settle for body scans. Where does it end?

• Sexting Roundup: Dr. Paul Rapoport writes, "If Pennsylvania wants to reduce sexting, especially in cases where there is no victim, it should not turn to the police or the courts. The keys are education about technology's relation to sexuality, and about society's body phobias and sex obsessions." A nude photo of a teen is causing a "big stir" in Glen Rock, New Jersey. Mike Galanos of CNN writes, "There is no control over that image or video once it gets out. But that doesn't mean little Suzie should be charged as a child pornographer." And the Wall Street Journal asks if the worry about teen sexting is the real epidemic.

  "Most of the mainstream media uses semi-nude models to sell us things -- so why is it surprising if teens have modeled this?" says Terry Humphreys, an assistant professor of psychology at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario. "I would want to see the results separated for semi-nude and nude before I get too anxious about what our teens and young adults are doing with their cellphones."

• A sculpture of a naked woman on a cross is offending the Christian establishment.
  

  Living Way Church Pastor Lanil Gunasekara was outraged by the sculpture.
  
  “It is a blasphemous insult to the image of Jesus Christ who was crucified on the cross,” he said.
  
  “There is something wrong with an artist who produces something so insulting to Christians.”

• Carol Muske-Dukes recalls her stint in a French production of "Hair" in the 70s.

  Then we all rallied for the final scene before the break - the famous nude scene. I'd never taken my clothes off for this climactic moment before - now I felt the time was right. I had "laid bare" the essence of HAIR, I thought - this was a breakthrough. I stood with my fellow cast members, shivering a little in the garish lights, naked. Then the great velvet curtains closed and I turned to pick up my bell bottoms and "pull-over-aire". They had vanished. The French cast had hidden my clothes.

• The Keys chapter of South Florida Free Beaches is lobbying for a clothing optional beach.
  

  The two prime candidates for a clothing-optional beach would appear to be a portion of Higgs Beach, which is owned by the county, separated by the main beach by the West Martello Tower; and Rest Beach near the White Street Pier.
  
  Haulover Beach in North Miami drew 1.3 million visitors in 2006 and, including direct and indirect revenue and things like sales tax, generated $179 million, according to Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Department data.

• A Calgary women has received an "avalanche" of hate mail over her stand on public breastfeeding.

  "I've been called a pedophile, I've had people threaten to perform obscene acts on me," said Gemma Kelsall, describing the messages that have been sent to her Facebook account and on the websites of various news sites that featured her story.

• And congratulations are in order to the editors of the Eureka High School in California for winning the James Madison Freedom of Information Award for taking a stand against school censorship. A nude drawing had been published in the school newspaper, prompting the principal to order the custodian to round up all the remaining copies.
  

  The law is on the side of student journalists when it comes to censorship, said (editor Drew) Ross. Right away, his publication received calls from the media, including the Student Press Law Center and the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU sent the Redwood Bark legal information about their rights.
  
  Ross said the ACLU told him his paper had a very strong case against school censorship. Steffen violated a state anti-censorship law that prohibits a person from taking more than 25 papers off any newsstand, said Ross. “This is a huge crime,” said Ross. “A person could be fined or go to jail.”

The Daily Newds 2/25/09

• Rachael Isaacson supports breastfeeding but believes that being too open is counterproductive.

  ...my personal belief is I can meet my baby’s needs AND take into consideration of the public around me. That means being discreet. Some women disagree with this because breast feeding is natural and healthy and isn’t something to hide.

• Residents in the Vermont town of Westmore will vote whether of not to spend $25,000 to enforce a nudity ban on Lake Willoughby.
• A student at Whitworth University wants to preserve the legacy of streaking.

  The decline in streaking certainly can’t be due to an increased level of modesty or discomfort with our bodies. Society as a whole has become more immodest since the 1960s. If you think Whitworth is an exception to the rule, you have only to look at the popularity of the partially nude calendar the Carlson Men of Arend put out every year. There is no doubt that those students are comfortable with their bodies.

• The mayor of Oaxaca in Mexico wants to expand nude beaches to attract more tourists.
• This article exclaims that the summer of 2009 will be remembered as the time when nudism took off in Argentina.
• At an FKK swim in Germany, a woman was told that she had to undress, or leave the facility.
• More articles on the Maine topless coffee bar here and here.

  Topless waitress Susie Wiley, 23, of Farmingdale, said she went for the job because it's "something different" and said she's worked in coffee shops since she was a teenager. Asked whether the shop is degrading to women, Wiley said, "No, I love it. I find it very empowering, not degrading."

• Officials in Destin, Florida, plan to send out "inspectors" in order to catch nude dancers in the act.
• Members of the Edinburgh Music Theatre Company discuss disrobing for their production of "Hair".

  "I've never been unhappy with my body, but at the same time I've never been comfortable showing it off. I'm the kind of person that wouldn't even go topless on the beach, but this play has made me more comfortable – to the point where I wouldn't be afraid to bare all again. "Since I've been rehearsing for this show, I've learned to love the costumes and I've become comfortable being in character, with or without the clothes."

• I think this article is meant to be inspirational, but there's something a bit sad about a mother and daughter bonding over their boob jobs.

The Daily Newds 2/24/09

• If politicians worked on every issue with the same fervor they use in battling strip clubs, all our problems would be over.
• In Qatar, a glimpse of stocking is still looked on as something shocking.
• With a sign that reads "Over 18 only", a topless coffee shop finally opened in Vassalboro, Maine.
• Painting nude Carnival models is certainly the best job in Brazil, and Betto Almeida is Mr. Lucky.

  Sweat on his brow, he said the hard work is worth it. A modeling agency that employs the women pays him $1,000 for the roughly two hours it takes to paint each model. During the samba parades, he paints two women a night. And in a typical year will paint a minimum of 50 women for various events.

• Here's another article on Orlando's Nude Nite.

  In addition to nude paintings, nude sculptures, nude photography, fine art, metal and abstracts, there will be tongue-in-cheek burlesque shows, live models posing for do-it-your-self sketches, actors that create "living sculptures," body painters, and nude art that makes political and social statements on a wide range of issues from climate change to nuclear weapons.

• Nude bungee jumpers in Canada raised nearly $6,000 for schizophrenia society.
• An Englishman discovers the serenity of a hot-spring resort in Japan.

  The Japanese talk of the "naked communion" of the onsen. They know they are a hierarchical and hidebound society, beset with formality and ritual, and the onsen is an attempt to address and break down the barriers. Naked, all are equal. And it works.

• Forty-something women are finding more acceptance in Rio's Carnival.

  "It's a huge change," Luiza Brunet, 46, told The Associated Press as she prepared for her showcase role in the Imperatiz samba school's parade. "It shows that women who are more mature are gaining space in a country with so much machismo, where we give more value to youth and beauty."
  
  Psychologist Enaile Ortiz - herself 48 - agreed.
  
  "Brazil has always had this understanding that youth equals beauty, but this year's Carnival is breaking that paradigm," Ortiz said as she strolled down Ipanema beach. "This shows you can be in a beautiful state, no matter what stage of life you are in."

• The Dartford Warbler could prove to be the factor which saves a nudist beach from development.
• A Utah professional photographer was sentenced to 240 days in jail for taking nude photos of his girlfriend and a 17 year-old girl who misrepresented her age.