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Topless Women Refuse To Take Ban Lying Down

The Wesley Mission charity has been accused of censorship after blocking a “tasteful” photo of two topless women from winning a prize in a photographic competition backed by the City of Sydney.

Four of the five judges in the charity’s MyPlace-MyFace contest are believed to have chosen the photo of the women, pictured on a hotel bed, for a second-place award. But the chief judge was told this week to find a replacement because the mission thought the picture inappropriate and wanted it removed from the contest.

The photographer, Isabella Melody Moore, saw nothing improper about her picture and said blocking it amounted to censorship. “Nudity is shown all the time in photography. It’s an art … It is disappointing because I would’ve liked my photo to be shown.”
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Moore, 24, said her image, Bibs Hotel, was not meant to have sexual overtones and she and the friend pictured were not lesbians. “Nudity is natural and it’s real … we’re just lying there next to each other.”

The friend, Amy Tuxworth, 23, said blocking the award was ridiculous and unfair. “It’s what art is – being able to express yourself. And that photo represents nothing but friendship and fun … It shouldn’t inhibit a decision. Would it change if we had tops on or something?”

Nudity alone could not be the Wesley Mission’s main objection, one judge said, as a full-length photo of a naked man, taken from behind, had been approved for a prize.

But yesterday, after the mission issued a statement defending its decision and leaving unclear whether the contest would go ahead after attracting more than 200 entries, the City of Sydney said it would. And a public exhibition of finalist contest photos at Pine Street Creative Arts Centre in Chippendale would continue as planned, but without Wesley Mission’s involvement.

“We will be exhibiting the photo in question because, as per the judging panel, we were supportive of that picture,” a Sydney council spokeswoman said. She thought the photo would receive the prize – worth $367 – because “we support the judges’ decision”. The winners will be named at the the exhibition opening on August 17.

The lord mayor, Clover Moore, said earlier: “I don’t agree with censorship in public art.”

Wesley Mission, which is affiliated with the Uniting Church, had said photos from the contest would be on show at its Pitt Street mission centre, near churches, and children would be among the thousands walking past.

“Wesley Mission supports the spirit of the photographic exhibition but cannot support the display of such photos in a church building,” a spokeswoman said.

The Australian Centre for Photography, represented on the judging panel, said before the council’s intervention that it believed in freedom of expression and blocking the photo called the contest’s credibility into question.

“We don’t find that photograph offensive in any way,” said Ivona Kadlec, the general manager. “We exhibit photos along those lines. In fact, I think we have boobs … right now on photos.”

The competition’s head judge, Verity Chambers, a photographic editor at the Herald, which is a contest partner, said Bibs Hotel was a “tasteful” photo and not in any way salacious. The judges did not have any guidelines which suggested its subject matter was unacceptable.

Moore entered the photo under the theme of “a favourite place or a place of meaning”.
2010.08.30 / no responses / Category: Nudist News
Brits Break Naked Roller Coaster Riding Record

The group was raising money for Southend Hospital Charitable Foundation’s Bosom Pals Appeal, a breast cancer charity. For some, it must have been the only reason to expose their privates to all those G forces in public. It appears it was well worth it: The group raised tens of thousands of dollars at Adventure Island today.

This particular roller coaster

Apparently, the Brits have some sort of attraction for riding roller coasters in the nude.

The previous world record, set in 2004, was set by just 32 naked thrillseekers in Staffordshire.
2010.08.26 / no responses / Category: Nudist News
Staycations Are Out, Nakations or Nude Vacations Are In!

Staycations are so 2009. It’s nakations in 2010. According to a recent unscientific TripAdvisor survey, there is one thing staying home more during vacations: clothing.

The online travel community asked 22,091 of its U.S. readers if they would bare all at the beach and 48% said yes. This is up from last year’s nude beach survey, in which 31% of respondents said they would “love to see and be seen” at a clothing-optional destination.

“Travelers indicate in their reviews that the real appeal of nude beaches has nothing to do with flaunting one’s flesh or checking out the neighboring eye candy,” said Amelie Hurst, a TripAdvisor spokeswoman. “Rather the spaces often benefit from a lack of crowds and beautiful settings that can be enjoyed by any demographic.”

TripAdvisor dedicated one of its recent e-newsletters to the nakation trend, highlighting the top member-recommended beaches for travelers to “strip down to their smile.” Little Banana Beach in Skiathos, Greece, took top nod, followed by resorts in Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Australia, Croatia and France.

“While nude beaches might be less common in the U.S. than in other destinations around the world, the interest certainly appears to be there, with nearly half of U.S. travelers we surveyed appearing quite comfortable in their own skin and willing to bare it all waterside,” TripAdvisor spokesman Brooke Ferencsik said.

A nude resort in Turkey is in the works, a hiking trail for nudists opened this summer in Germany, and campers are roughing it in the buff in Canada. From the full-body scanner controversy to flight attendants stripping down, Jaunted.com hasn’t just been keeping track of the nude travel trend, the site has ranked the top naked travel incidents of 2010.

Naturally, the American Association of Nude Recreation has been making news as this travel trend grows. In fact, the group — dedicated to rebuffing common misunderstandings of the nudist way of life — hopes the recent news of full-body scanners and Spirit Airlines’ carry-on bag fee will encourage nude travel.

AANR’s executive director, Erich Schuttauf, shed some light on the association’s response to the new fee. “If more air travelers take a stand and a nakation in 2010, it could send a message to the airlines using checked and unchecked baggage fees as a way to charge the vacationing masses more money in this tight economy,” he said. “All you’ll need for the week (sunscreen, cap, sunglasses, shoes and toiletries) can fit in a small carry-on that will fit under the seat, avoiding even carry-on bag fees.”
2010.08.20 / no responses / Category: Nudist News
Nude Race Series Promotes Naturism & Body Awareness

David Palermo ended Kevin McGuinness’ three-year reign as the Wreck Beach Bare Bun’s champion Sunday when he won the five-kilometer, clothing optional race in Vancouver under wet conditions.

Competing in the race for the first time against a field of about 50 runners, Palermo, a 27-year-old massage therapist, completed the course over the sand on Canada’s most famous nude beach in 16 minutes and 58 seconds, about 30 seconds ahead of Washington State native McGuinness.

“It was a great run, first time for me. I’ve been meaning to get down here for a few years,” said Palermo, body glistening under a mix of sweat and sand.

“I do a lot of road running so this is a lot different being on the sand. A lot of different terrain, you’ve got the mud, the sand, loose sand, water, it’s really interesting. And of course hills and stuff too. So it was different.

“I come down to Wreck Beach all the time, I love it down here. I had some friends down here that wanted me to run because they knew I could probably beat Kevin (McGuinness). Him and I have run together a lot through the series, the Lower Mainland series and stuff. It was about time I came down and kept the prize in Canada.”

The charity race, where all the money raised will go to help in the preservation of the nudist beach located down a steep cliff below the University of British Columbia campus, was the final leg of a three-race series around the Pacific Northwest.

Earlier races were held in Spokane and outside Seattle, the two big cities in neighboring Washington State.

McGuinness, who usually competes in traditional marathons, as well as in races of lesser distances, said he had been running nude, periodically, for about 18 years.

He called the conditions for the three races in the series very different. The Seattle race was on a course up a steep mountain and very dangerous coming down, while the Spokane course was along a gravel road.

With his training, fully clothed, covering anywhere from 80 to 120 kilometers a week, he added running nude was no different, it all depended on the weather.

“When it’s cold it’s a bit uncomfortable sometimes. But that’s why they have the races in the summertime. It’s fine,” said McGuinness who has run in the world famous Boston Marathon on two occasions.

“A lot of people think that it can be painful. I don’t mind it all. It’s a lot of fun. Fortunately it is only five K. It’s not like I am running a marathon.”

“I do train with clothes on,” he added with a laugh. “I would imagine training in the nude I would probably be arrested in the town that I live. But I haven’t tried it and I don’t think I will. I’ll stick with racing in the nude.”

With the participants of the Vancouver run ranging from seven to 90 years old, among those who stood out were a heavily pregnant woman who walked the course, elderly couples who alternated between jogging and walking in the light rain, and assorted crazies in creative headgear. For most, the joy of competing in and completing the race was a major accomplishment.

Judy Williams, chairman of the Wreck Beach Preservation Society, organizer of the event, said the race was started 14 years ago in memory of elderly comedian Paddy White, a tireless fundraiser for the beach, who was run over by a vehicle while in the southern United States.

She added the main purpose of the race was not as a fundraiser, but more so to let non-nudists or non-naturists understand that “body acceptance is the idea and nude recreation is the way”.

“While you are on this Earth you have one temple that you live in forever, regardless of what your outer surroundings might be, and that is your body. And if you can accept your body you are much more tolerant and accepting of other people on this planet. If everybody were naturists we would not have the wars that we have. There would be peace on this planet,” he said.

Having a nude beach within 15 minutes of the city center, however, has not come without its controversies. While the secluded beach has been enjoyed by naturists for more than 80 years, if has often come at the expense of much scorn and public debate.

For many years, the beach was a no-man’s land and inner-jurisdictional. The university sought to develop the land, while the federal Department of Public Works wanted to dredge it. Vancouver City’s board of parks and recreations also wanted to develop and build bath houses and not allow nudity.

In 1985, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the national force which patrols the Endowment Lands where the university and some of the country’s priciest real estate is located, wanted to build road access to the beach.

Enraged, the naturists responded by producing a petition with more than 13,000 signatures opposing the plan. The naturists eventually won the right from the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation to be nude on all 7.8 kilometers of Wreck Beach.

By 1991, the area’s various municipalities voted nearly unanimously that the beach would stay clothing optional.

“They didn’t want us to be naked down here at all. We had to go through the fires of Hell in order to establish that we were environmentalists, we cared about what happened to this beach,” Williams said.

“Our mandate is to preserve Wreck Beach in as nearly a natural state as possible. That’s because it is a very beautiful, a very spiritual place.”
2010.08.10 / no responses / Category: Nudist News
It’s National Nude Day: Strip Down in Celebration

Years and years ago when I worked at Playgirl magazine, I wrote an article on nudist colonies. I explored (in writing) the activities and the atmosphere happening at a few different camps around the country.

One of the owners of one of the places I wrote about got upset with me. It was one of the many pieces of hate mail I received while there (you’d be surprised how many people are offended by things featured in a magazine with photos of naked men and articles on happy stuff like love and sex). But this nudist colony owner was offended because Playgirl was a magazine about sex and nudists aren’t about sex, they are about being naked. And he felt I smutted up the good name of nudists.

I see the difference. I get it. But the celebration of being naked sometimes merges with the act of sex. And the freeing nature of being nude is often only done by those who are comfortable with their sexuality. So while not linked directly, there is a connection. A connection for me anyway. And it’s not like I was saying, “Get your freak on at these nudist colonies.” Now that I think about it, I should be mad at the nudist colony guy for thinking I was a pervert.

And here I am again. Writing about getting nude, but not in the name of sex, this time in The Stir’s Love & Sex channel. Why? Because today is National Nude Day!

Lucky for me, I work from home today. So I will be in the buff celebrating the beauty of going au naturel.

Have you ever done it? I know it’s hard with kids around, but if they are in school or at grandma’s, have you tried being in the buff? Or maybe you don’t have to wait until the kids are away. Maybe it’s a family activity. A lot of nudist colonies are family-friendly. Though most of society will probably think that’s creepy.

Did you ever venture out into your yard without anything on? Maybe even rode the NYC subway during No Pants Day? (No sitting!) It’s all a form of freeing ourselves of the confines of our clothes, to be who we are as we were born. Naked. Natural.

I am going to make the distinction this time, not that I implied it when I worked for Playgirl, but nudist colonies aren’t sex colonies. Getting naked doesn’t mean you have to have sex. Okay? No hate mail this time please!

But if you want to celebrate National Nude Day today by getting nude and then having sex with your partner, then please … do just that. Because if all holiday celebrations ended in sex, would we all be happier?

Happy Nude Day!
2010.07.27 / no responses / Category: Nudist News
Police Called To Former Suffolk Naturist Beach

Police have been called to a former naturist beach in Suffolk following reports of inappropriate behaviour.

Last year naturists lost a fight to keep Corton beach a designated naturist beach, however by-laws do not prohibit nude sun-bathing on the beach.

Police said there had been reports of a man “deliberately exposing himself” and other obscene acts.

Suffolk Police said action would be taken against anyone who caused harassment, alarm or distress.

Officers said this also included anyone who was abusive towards naturists using the beach.

The sands at Corton in Lowestoft have eroded since the naturist beach was established by Waveney District Council in the mid-1970s.

The council said it was forced to close it but pledged to look for a permanent alternative for naturists.
2010.06.30 / no responses / Category: Nudist News
Group Promotes Cycling By Riding Naked

A group promoting the energy-saving virtues of bicycling rode through Halifax, Nova Scotia, in an attention-getting — and naked — event, observers said.

About 30 naked cyclists took part in World Naked Bike Ride Day Saturday, featuring unclothed riding in cities around the world, including six in Canada, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

The Halifax ride was held in coordination with the Bluenose Naturist Club, the CBC said.

Organizer Tom MacDonald said the ride was intended to highlight bicycling as an alternative to cars and other oil-consuming methods of travel.

Doing it naked generates attention, he said, and makes people feel good at the same time.

“There’s nothing like it,” MacDonald said. “It’s the wind on your face, the realization that your body is beautiful, no matter what it looks like, and that everyone will accept you for what you look like.”

World Naked Bike Ride day has been observed in Halifax for the past three years, the CBC reported.
2010.06.16 / no responses / Category: Nudist News
Naturism More Popular Than Ever At Thriving Sun Club

Roni Fine, 54, had never thought of getting her kit off, for fun, in front of lots of people. That was until she met her now husband electrician Deane, 51.

“He brought me to the club at this time of year when all the bluebells were out and it was lovely.

“I thought… I could use that pool.” She hasn’t looked back and after just six months of joining the Blackthorns Sun Club, became a public relations officer along with her husband.

Founded in 1959, the club has been developing its current site near Sharnbrook since 1969 and it now boasts more than 114 units of members (individuals, couples and families).

Its popularity has increased over the years, to the extent where some people have even moved nearer to the club to enjoy more time there.

Roni puts it down to the community feel, social environment and of course… the pool.

“Our members are all ages and come from so many different walks of lives. We have plumbers, doctors and even a 94-year-old who have joined.

“It’s a good mix of people who come together who wouldn’t necessarily normally meet up.

“People are interested and intrigued about it.” Deane, who joined back in 2000 after finding the club on the Internet, enjoyed being naked from a young age.

He said: “Back in the 70s I didn’t really know about naturism but streaking was going on at the time and I tried it with a friend and it felt nice.” He also enjoys the equality of the club.

“You don’t have to dress to impress.

“The social barriers disappear and so you know if somebody’s a dustman or a lord.

“People think that when you are taking your clothes off it’s sexual but it’s not.

“In fact when people put their clothes on they say they find people more sexual.” As well as the social benefits, the club also offers wonders for your health.

‘Anyone for miniten?’ A game unique to naturistsRoni, who often goes there after a hard day at work to unwind, says: “It’s very destressing and not to mention the amount of vitamin D you get.” There is a range of sports played on the site including Miniten – a version of tennis and exclusive to the naturist world.

The rules are the same but the court is much shorter and narrower than a full-sized tennis court and instead of a racquet, players’ use a ‘thug’ which is a wooden box with an internal handle.

As well as hosting the National Miniten contest next month, the club holds the National Petanque tournament every four years.

Petanque is a form of French boules where the goal is, while standing with your feet together in a small circle, to throw metal balls as close as possible to a small wooden ball, and is very popular at naturist clubs. Over the bank holiday weekend at the beginning of May, 52 couples from all over the country came to the Sun Club to compete.

Like the sports that it plays host to, the club appears to be just like something else (a holiday camp) but it has a twist – everybody at the holiday camp likes taking their clothes off, weather permitting of course.

Once you get past the initial shock of seeing so many naked bodies, you realise what a relaxing and enjoyable retreat the club is.

So the next time the sun is shining, just think you could be catching an all-over tan next to… an outdoor pool.
2010.06.08 / no responses / Category: Nudist News
Naked Hiker Free As He Likes

The man dubbed the “naked hiker” has been acquitted after a court in the canton of Appenzell Outer Rhodes found the 47-year-old not guilty of indecent behaviour.

The walker had refused to pay a 100 franc fine after a woman complained about him walking naked along a path near Herisau.

Unlike Appenzell Inner Rhodes, naturist walkers are not banned in Appenzell Outer Rhodes.

The state will have to pay the 2,000 francs in court costs.
2010.06.04 / no responses / Category: Nudist News
Skinbook Exposes Nudists To Social Networks

Almost everything has gone digital. So it was just a matter of time before the nudist colony got its own social networking site.
Welcome to Skinbook.

You put up a profile, send messages and join groups, just like Facebook. But there’s one tiny exception — everyone’s naked.

Moderators do, however, try to keep it clean.

Members aren’t allowed to have headless torso shots, and are encouraged to boot out any “creeps or voyeurs.” Rude comments are also banned.

25-year-old co-founder Karl Maddocks tells Time Magazine only 10 percent of the 200 or so people who try to sign up each day are accepted. That’s due to the x-rated nature of some attempts.

The average member age is between 35 and 40 — and falling — while nudist club members are often 60 and older.

Maddocks says he got the idea after bumping into friends on a clothing optional beach. They were embarrassed to post the pics just anywhere, so they created Skinbook.

So far, the site has about 9,000 members and its Facebook fan page has over 2,600 followers.
2010.06.02 / no responses / Category: Nudist News