South Florida Free Beaches Newsletter May 2010

Online here.

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 to Get Nude Beach Test Period

South Florida Free Beaches is reporting that Key West Mayor Craig Cates is saying that a clothing-optional area of Smathers Beach will proceed for a one-year trial period, capping a successful lobbying effort for the group.

The naturists had proposed they would provide signs for the beach, and Mayor Cates has notified FKFB that it will need to provide four. Three signs will be placed at the 2 dune crossovers, and on the sand at the start of the naturist area. The additional sign will be placed on the sand several hundred feet west to inform beach strollers that they are approaching the clothing-optional area.

Previous mayor McPherson had opposed a clothing-optional beach.

At this point we do not know the date when the clothing-optional beach will be officially available, but will keep you informed. We request that no nude use be attempted prior to official designation (italics mine).

Imagine if the hard-working folks at SFFB decided to pull a stunt like the fiasco at Delray Beach prior to this victory. The bad publicity would almost certainly soured the mayor and other city officials on the idea of a nude beach.

Congratulations to SFFB, and all naturists in that area need to work extra hard once the beach is open to maintain a safe, family-friendly atmosphere, so that public nude recreation can become a permanent fixture on the Florida Keys. You can donate to SFFB here.