British Naturism Seeks Equality Protection Under the Law

In a bold and potentially historic move, British Naturism has submitted a claim to the Government Equalities Office which contends that "devotees of skinny dipping and nudist campsites suffer prejudice equivalent to that experienced by gays, ethnic minorities and the elderly."

It is urging the government and other authorities to make “affirmative statements” in favour of naturism and combat the financial penalties endured by those who pursue clothes-free leisure pursuits. Entry to naturist nights at council swimming pools is often twice as expensive as admission on other nights...British Naturism’s submission was one of those selected for display on the website of the equalities office alongside work by Stonewall, the gay rights group, Age Concern and the Runnymede Trust, which campaigns for racial equality

The National Equality Panel report will be published in November.

In the United States, people who oppose public lands to be set aside for nude sunbathing often make the comment that the beaches should be for "everybody", and that somehow the presence of nude people suddenly makes a beach restricted. In fact, this argument is prejudicial, and a society which denies equal access to tax-paying citizens who merely wish to enjoy nature without the burden of clothing is guilty of discrimination.

Nudists and naturists should pay close attention to the British Naturism action, which could prove to be a model for other initiatives around the world.

The complete equality bill which was submitted in June 2009 can be found here.

They Don't Get It

Swedish news is reporting that even though women gained the right to bathe topfree in Malmö's public pools, "bare-breasted female bathers have remained conspicuous by their absence."

To any topfreedom advocate, this is not surprising. It's never been about getting all women to take their tops off, it's about discrimination. No woman should ever be prohibited to go topfree as long as men have the right to take their shirts off in public.

Just because people do not always exercise their civil rights doesn't mean that those rights should be taken away. There are many women, and men, who will not take their shirts off in public for a variety of reasons, but knowing that the freedom exists is enough.

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Pasco Sheriff Links Naturism and Prostitution

This is something I've never heard before from a public official.

In the area of the country which is probably the most popular with nudists and naturists, Bob White, the sheriff of Pasco County, basically called them all prostitutes.

“With nudists and swinging and that sort of thing – comes prostitution, and we have a number of adult entertainment (businesses).”

This is what happens to public perceptions when people try and mix swinging with nudism, as they are doing at the Caliente Resort.

Let's take this a little further.

Let's say that with political conventions, comes prostitution.

With the Olympics, comes prostitution.

With tanning salons, comes prostitution.

With a sheriff's department, comes prostitution.

You get the point.

Nudists and naturists in Pasco County need to organize politically and throw out public officials who are hostile and ignorant when it comes to the clothes-free lifestyle.

It's safe to say that at least 99% of the crimes in America are committed by people wearing clothes.

Using the sheriff's logic, wearing clothes leads to crime.

The sheriff should now move to outlaw clothing in Pasco County in order to protect the community.

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AANR, What is Your Policy on Gay Couples?

Nudism advertises itself as all inclusive, that all bodies are good, that people from all walks of life are equal when they are nude.

So when an AANR affiliated club was asked about its rates for a gay couple, why was the response as follows: "Our members are not very welcoming to any "gay" couples, so they probably would not enjoy (club name omitted). Our rates would base them as singles."

Something is a bit rotten here. Any thoughts? AANR, are you listening?

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