Category: Aaron

A Week of Love!

Bromantic couple!

Background:

While researching and composing this post entry, I encountered this word: exogamy. To my knowledge, I have never I have seen it before, not have I ever fingerspelled it manually. The definition is: exogamy: marrying outside the family, tribe, clan, culture or other social unit.

A Week of Love:

Exogamy essentially describes and/or identifies my marriage. Aaron, my spouse, is Black, I am White (race). He is Canadian, I am Greek (nationality). He is hearing, I am Deaf (differing ability). He is Roman Catholic, I am Greek Orthodox (religion).

On a positive notation, we are both very much proud bare practitioners. Also, we are both very much in love with one another. Sometimes, love works best when there’s at least one shared aspect! We both are dedicated to the sharing of our nakedness! Hence, the existence of both our marriage and this site, ReNude Pride.

This year, Valentine’s Day is middle-of-the week, a Wednesday. This inspired me to create this post entry in honour of A Week of Love. After all, since my spouse and I are both exogamists (finally, I utilized my new vocabulary discovery)! We can take the entire week to commemorate our new classification label!

Very much love!

Despite all the abuse, hatred, killing and violence happening all too often in our world, we can take advantage of this Week of Love to remind ourselves and others that bromance (love between two men) exists! Therefore, all hope is not lost forever! Please join with us as we celebrate love!

Regardless of our exogamy status, Aaron and I share our love together. We both hope and wish the same for all of you!

“Love” can mean many things to different people. It is an ambiguous word that encompasses familial love (loce between members of the same family); it also includes bromantic love or intimate love (love that involves physical contact: groping/touching, kissing and/or sexual union) and platonic love (strong affection and caring between friends). We also need to keep in mind that there are varying degrees (levels) of love within each distinct category. It is usually very different and very unique in almost every situation.

Loving together!

With all the variations of love available, A Week of Love offers the majority of us an opportunity to share some aspect of kindness and/or love with at least one other person. We have the entire week to do this simple task. It can include just giving a smile to the person standing beside you on the subway platform or a kiss-on-the-cheek to an elderly aunt. The little acts of kindness that we share can range from the picking up of a soft toy a child may have inadvertently dropped to the help we give an elderly neighbor in scraping the ice/snow off his automobiles rear window. The effort and gesture are our deserved reward.

Chances are, more than likely, you’ll feel better about yourself! As a special gift, someone else will feel good bout you, too!

Rendering a love tap!

The image above exemplifies three distinct classification of love. The first one is familial love (as in egocentric or self-focused). Both men are comfortable being bare with one another. The second is platonic love (love between friends). It is obvious that as friends, they share affection and respect for each other. The third exemplification is bromantic or intimate love. The proximity of their nakedness together is very suggestive of this happening in the either the pre-intercourse or the post-intercourse moment.

Please enjoy your very own Week of Love!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Wednesday, February 14, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Valentine’s Day!”

S’Naked Simply!

Leaping above the snow!

Prologue:

Snow + Naked = S’Naked!

This is precisely how an online acquaintance defined the meaning of this term to me. The year was 2008. We were in a chat room dedicated to same gender loving (SGL) men who were enthusiast of body and clothes freedom. I honestly can’t remember the name of the chat room nor my acquaintance’s screen name. But I do recall that he typed to me that he lived in the state of Massachusetts, USA. Some details one must never forget!

Growing up, Alex (my identical twin brother) and I both lived with an aversion to cold weather. Neither of us had any desire or dream of ever being bare outside in the snow! Until I was in the chat room that day in 2008, I had never acknowledged publicly that I had no experience being outside in my nakedness in the snow. As an erstwhile advocate of social nudity, I was simply too embarrassed to admit my innocence in the matter.

Yours truly, a inclement weather innocent!

S’Naked Virgin:

Even though I publicly “owned” my snow virginity while chatting with my friend in 2008, I refrained from publicising my status. True to the perpetual wisdom of the adage: “Old habits die hard!”

When I met and fell in love with my spouse, Aaron, in May, 2010, my s’naked virginity remained intact. The reasoning? Genetics.

“Twin” (that’s how I address my sibling, Alex) and I are both “heat and humidity” men. Centigrade or Fahrenheit, it makes no difference. The higher the temperatures, the greator our comfort and relaxation. Therefore, it must be in our genes. We have three older brothers and three younger brothers. Temperature preference, we are all eight the same!

Me, wondering what Aaron is preparing to do!

In December, 2010, we had an early snowstorm. Aaron and I had been living together for about six months. He, unlike me, was no innocent in being s’naked. He insisted he needed to preserve this opportunity on film, hence the images posted today.

While taking my pictures, Aaron “plucked” my snow virginity! He rolled handful of snow into a snowball and threw it into my bare, virginal buttocks not once but twice! One right after the other! In all honesty, I was shocked! My bare buttocks having intimate contact with snowballs – all without warning! Author’s note: that was not all he took from me that year!

Does that make me a s’whore? Snow + whore = s’whore. Do I qualify for spousal abuse?

Yours truly right after being “plucked!”

In the years following Aaron’s “plucking” of my s’naked virginity, I have engaged in being s’naked many times. I now readily admit to being recognized for my exclusive label of being a s’nudist (snow + nudist = s’nudist! Despite my s’naked status, I do wear boots while in the snow. I may be a fool for being s’naked but I am no idiot!

In addition, I shave my head hairs daily. Therefore, I wear a knit head cap in order to retain some body heat.

Experience and familiarity have served to increase my s’tolerance (snow + tolerance = s’tolerance)! Granted, the boots and knit cap have aided in this condition! My s’endurance (snow + endurance = s’endurance) – the length of time that I am able to spend s’naked is now increasing!

My s’endurance factor may be very temporary. The recent years have not provided us with snowfalls to justify being s’naked. The last snow that was of any convenience was in 2021. It has been cold, simply without substantial amounts of snow!

Perhaps I should file a s’lawsuit (snow + lawsuit = s’lawsuit). A s’naked slawsuit against the federal government for failure to present us taxpayers with a sufficient supply of snow for our s’naked adventures!

However, I’m not a snow-bunny just yet!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry is planned for here for Monday, February 12, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “A Week of Love!”

NBHAAD: Part II!

NBHAAD!

In 1999, alarmed over the statistics reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the effects of HIV/AIDS on the African-American community, the CDC and the U.S. Public Health Service convened a meeting with representatives of organizations serving Black Americans and persons of faith to address concerns over rising infection rates. Other organizations participating included Concerned Black Men- Philadelphia, Health Watch Information and Promotion Services, Jackson State University, Mississippi Urban Research Center, National Black Alcoholism and Addiction Council and the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS along with the heads of several African-American communities of faith. The National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was conceived by these organizations and the official name agreed upon.

February 7, annually, was decided as the date of observance and the very first observance was announced for the following year: February 7, 2000. The event would be sponsored by the Strategic Leadership Council (SLC) – created specifically for this event – and the membership was determined and terms of office set.

The popularity of the Red Ribbon for the efforts towards HIV/AIDS awareness was noted by the SLC. At the time, awareness ribbons for a multitude of charitable causes were very important in focusing attention to the cause represented and to encourage support. This inspired the creation of an awareness ribbon for the purpose of support of the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day efforts.

NBHAAD Awareness ribbon!

Four Key Components of the NBHAAD Campaign:

The SLC of the NBHAAD campaign mandates four (4) key elements for an inclusive and successful campaign. Each component is designed to build both individual and community strengths in combatting HIV/AIDS for all people.

The four elements and a brief summation are as follows:

Get educated: Know the facts about transmission and prevention of HIV/AIDS.

Get involved: Learn about opportunities available in individual and community prevention efforts and become an active part of those efforts.

Get tested: Know your status and encourage others to do the same.

Get treated: Receive proper healthcare and support to successfully live with HIV.

Dedication!

Analysis proves that people learn and retain knowledge most effectively from people they perceive as most like themselves. NBHAAD is an African-American focused organization, based within the community, to provide direction, guidance and information to the Black population specifically but not exclusively. It represents a resource that is both accessible, authentic and dependable.

Explore your options (choices)! Take back the control of your life!

An important message to share with others!

If your viral load (amount of HIV in your blood) is undetected, then sexually, your HIV is untransmittable!

This message is vital as it advises everyone of the significant benefits of not only getting tested for HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) also for seeking treatment for living with HIV. This enables persons to experience a healthier, longer and more productive life.

Knowledge is power!

HIV/AIDS Basic Facts:

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.

AIDS is a result of HIV infection.

HIV is not spread through everyday casual contact.

Only a doctor can diagnose AIDS.

Arthur Ashe, Wimbledon Tennis Champion and AIDS educator!

Throughout the year, NBHAAD has sponsored innumerable locally-oriented activities and events to provide information and involvement on community issues and needs. This level of action increased general awareness and support for both prevention and treatment of the disease.

Personal Involvement:

I served both the City of Alexandria, Virginia Chapter of the Red Cross and the Arlington Red Cross Chapter as a volunteer (not paid) instructor trainer in three HIV/AIDS curriculums: Basic, African-American and Workplace. My responsibility was to teach others how to conduct community prevention education sessions within the curriculum they had elected to enroll. As a Greek man, I always had an African-American co-instructor with me. As a Deaf man, I always had a sign language interpreter with me.

Each class that I taught involved 36 hours of training and a passing score of 85 % on the final examination. Upon completion of each class, a certification was given to each student in recognition of becoming a Red Cross instructor.

Personalities:

Importantly – and fortunately – there are among all of our cultures many who are bold and brave enough to act and think for themselves. Their individual uniqueness is one aspect among the qualities that make life bearable (bare-able) for those of us who live around them or are influenced by them. Ideally, their insight and worldview makes a difference in the lives of others.

The two persons presented here I met through my volunteer position with the Red Cross African-American prevention education curriculum. Both of them are/were same gender loving men and African-American.

Rodney Lofton

Rodney Lofton!

A native of Richmond, Virginia, and a student of mine who also became a volunteer with the Red Cross. We taught a teen peer education weekend-long seminar together three consecutive years. Rodney was the first Black deputy director of the GLBTQ+ community advocacy group: Diversity Richmond. In 2015, he received the Equality Virginia OUTstanding Virginian Award. For many years he served on the organizing committee of the NBHAAD function with the City of Richmond. He was the author of two books on growing up both Black and gay in the City: The Day I Stopped Being Pretty: A Memoir (published 2007) and No More Tomorrow: Two Lives, Two Stories, One Love (published 2009). He died in March, 2022, and is survived by his husband, Faron Niles. Rodney was first diagnosed as HIV+ in 1993.

Rodney’s first book!

*************************

Kory Mitchell

Kory Mitchell

A mixed-race man born in Germany of an African-American father in the military service and a German mother. He grew up and attended schools in both Germany and the USA. As a young adult he achieved the role of actor within the gay pornography industry and starred in more than three dozen films. He was diagnosed as HIV+ in the early 1990s. When he learned of his status, he became a student of the Red Cross African-American curriculum and after receiving his certification he began teaching HIV/AIDS prevention education to others working in the gay porn industry. He appears at numerous NBHAAD campaign benefits and events and is affectionately known as the unofficial “Magic Johnson of gay porn!” When he became a celebrity, he had “blessed” tattooed across his shoulder and a cross tattooed on his abdomen to remind fans that he is a Christian. Shortly after his HIV+ diagnosis, he had the message “hope” tattooed on his neck. Instead of the letter “o” in hope, he had the red AIDS awareness ribbon placed there.

Kory’s “Blessed” shoulder and neck of “hope!”

Remember, it’s not who we are but it’s what we do that puts us at risk for HIV/AIDS!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next planned post entry here is planned for Friday, February 9, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “S’Naked Simply!”

USA: Black History Month!

Origin:

In the USA, the entire month of February, annually, is observed as Black History Month (now referred to as African-American History Month). It was started in 1926, when the noted Black historian, Carter G. Woodson (now remembered as the “Father of Black History Month) and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) jointly announced the second week of February to be Negro History Week. This particular week was chosen because it contained the birthday (February 12) of the late president, Abraham Lincoln, who issued the Emancipation Proclamation that freed the slaves held in the rebellious south during this country’s civil war. It also contained the birthday of Frederick Douglass, the noted Black abolitionist and influential leader (February 14).

Carter G. Woodson, “Father of Black History Month!”

The very first commemoration of Negro History Week was featured in segregated public schools in three states (Delaware, North Carolina and West Virginia) and the Black schools in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Frederick Douglass, Abolitionist and Black leader

Up until the commencement of Negro History Week, throughout this country, the most that anyone was aware of African-American history was when the topic of slavery was discussed. Otherwise, there was practically no mention of any achievement or contribution of any Black person in the history of the USA. Black people were largely viewed as nothing more than “second-class” citizens throughout this nation. Discrimination and segregation were practiced everywhere and severely hindered the recognition of any notable African-American leadership.

Black History Month encourages honouring persons of the African Diaspora!

Black educators and Black United Students at Kent State University in Ohio first proposed a month-long celebration for Black History Month in February, 1969. It was approved and first observed from January 2, 1970 through February 28, 1970.

President Gerald Ford first recognized Black History Month in 1976 during the USA bicentennial. He urged people to “seize the opportunity to honour the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavour throughout our history. He may have been the first president not elected for the job but he became the first one to publicly recognize the Black History Month celebration.

Looking for his past!

Personal Recollections:

As a child of Greek immigrants, I have very limited knowledge of what it was like to grow up in what was perceived by many to be a White man’s world. I do have some insight into the most definite deficiency of historical information concerning African-American history.

When my parents arrived in Richmond, Virginia, during the second presidential term of Eisenhower, the only home they could purchase was in a primarily Black neighborhood. The city was the capital city of the Confederacy during the Civil War and “old habits die hard (they were, after all, immigrants). Fine. The street that we lived on had a Greek Orthodox Church on one end, an Armenian Church in the middle and an African Methodist Episcopal Church on the other end. A celestial highway!

My oldest brother remembers the controversy surrounding the televised release of Alex Haley’s Roots. For many die-hard Confederate descendants, it was absurd and unforgiveable that White Confederate characters and their offspring were shown as evil, dishonest and violent. I imagine the truth does sometimes hurt.

Alex, my identical twin brother, and I are both Deaf but that didn’t prevent us from having Black friends in our neighborhood. Children don’t need an official interpreter to communicate between Deaf and hearing. We had several Black friends who shared with us in our nakedness (with enthusiasm).

Our motto!

Our neighborhood bordered the south side of the James River in Richmond. As we grew into our teenage years, Twin and I and our neighborhood friends frequented the James River during our summer school holidays. On one of those excursions, we discovered an area within the park very popular with the local same gender loving (SGL) people who were also active nudists. This resulted into an entirely different educational and enlightening world for all of us! The doors to bare practitioner manhood were opened – at last – and remain opened until this very day!

One of my neighborhood friends is named Paul Turner. We have become lifelong friends and have kept in contact with each other since our early teen years. He’s three years older than me and is also gay and a self-admitted bare practitioner co-founder and cohort! We jointly enjoyed and explored the SGL naked area of the James River Park almost daily. We continue to exchange laughter and memories of those summer “retreats” into our nakedness, our SGL identity and all the adventures and pleasures we had while maturing together! This past summer, we took a reminiscent hike to the riverfront park and our “classroom” of education into reality.

Paul and his partner have been a live-in couple for twenty-two years now. They’re both active in Richmond’s Black gay community and are very good friends to my spouse, Aaron, and myself. The four of us are exploring and negotiating the collective composition of a perspective of bare practitioner in today’s world. Our goal is a 2025 publishing.

Nudist friends are the best friends!
Black History

Happy Black History month to everyone! Enjoy the time that we all share together!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for tomorrow, Friday, February 2, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “A Dream Comes True!”

Anticipation!

Anticipation!

We are currently approaching the ending of the very first month of a very new year – 2024! The doldrums of the winter season, which began on December 21, 2023, are now being felt throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere. Many of us are familiar with the above featured individuals who are obviously very ready for a return to more tolerable outside weather!

The most comforting thought is that we are now about to enter the final full month of this year’s winter season – which is also the shortest month of our calendar year. A sobering thought is that the change from winter into spring doesn’t happen overnight. Once the spring season arrives, a vast majority of us will experience winter-like weather well into the transition of the seasons.

Aaron, my spouse, and I readily identify and relate to the couple pictured above. Since we entered the winter season, the both of us have longed for a return to moderate temperatures outside. To be totally honest, we were eager for comfortable weather from the beginning of the autumn, 2023, season! Neither of us especially enjoy the colder and nastier weather conditions.

Bare friends!

Fortunately, Aaron and I are not the only couple who feel this way. There are others among our bare practitioner community and culture who share our preference. There are also others within our very same community and culture who actually thrive during the winter season. Variety enables diversity not only within individuals but within our communities, too!

A benefit that we are all able to obtain from the limitations of the winter season and weather is the freedom to examine and explore the opportunities available when the 2024 springtime does arrive. We can compare experiences we’ve learned from acquaintances and friends as well as look into promotional materials provided from nudecentric (clothes free focused) destinations in order to create, design and to plan different adventures to undertake for the renewed (renude) season coming our way.

This affords us a chance to enrich our free time and to broaden our horizon on advantages/disadvantages available to our community and culture. We all know that no two experiences are guaranteed identical, however, a new experience can expand knowledge and develop new resources.

An often ignored reward for suffering through the winter each year are the derived pleasures enjoyed the following spring and summer seasons! If not the actual experience, the dream this exploration may produce is also a just reward!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Wednesday, January 31, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Bottoms-Up! January, 2024”

Resolutions Reminder!

Felipe Ferreira: resolutions humour!

For multitudes of people, both those bare and those textile (clothed), the beginnings of a new calendar year encouraged them to adjust their lives in different ways. This led to the union of a new year with the practice of resolving (changing). Hence, the custom of “new year’s resolutions” as a tradition that soon became identical to a one word description: failure!

The humour that accompanied this new year’s resolutions idea was based on the popular conclusion that all such goals were doomed to abandonment within less than a month. January 1: New Year’s Day. January 31: new year’s resolutions discarded! Simple?

My personal experience with the unsuccessful new year’s resolutions syndrome and reality is based on timing. In the Northern Hemisphere, winter arrives on December 21, annually. The new year occurs less than two weeks later.

Factor into this situation darker days (less daylight/sunlight), colder outdoor temperatures, inclement weather conditions (ice, snow), health issues (colds, influenza, etc.) and other seasonal realities. There is no additional proof needed as to the predictable demise of new year’s resolutions success.

Snow + naked = s’naked!

In addition to the concerns addressed above, there remains one other personal reason for the collapse of desired changes in behaviour and routine for the new year. I am not amenable to the cold and inclement. Especially the cold; including beverages (year around: no ice) food (ice cream: never) and air conditioning/cooling is not necessary or needed. Heat and humidity is acceptable and preferred. As strange as this may appear to others, I am not alone in this predicament.

This (Washington, D.C. metropolitan area) is as close to the Arctic Circle as I will ever live. I do value my convoluted sanity! I know my strengths and weaknesses and frigid conditions are not on any list of change! Aaron, my spouse, is in complete agreement with me on this matter! If “intolerable” were a word used to describe either of us, it would be applicable here with our reaction to winter!

Another widespread excuse offered for the lack of success of new year’s resolutions is that people resist change, both negative and positive. “Old habits die hard!” is a popular expression often used to identify situation. This outlook (point of view) is common globally.

Stripping or clothing removal!

Once a habit/routine is acquired/learned, it then becomes difficult to alter (change). A prime example to illustrate this reasoning are bare practitioners! When clothes freedom is attained, that becomes the basic, essential procedure. This routine then evolves into what is customary (normal) for this community of individuals. This standard is virtually impossible to change. Simply ask this of any bare practitioner that you personally know! Aaron and I, among many others, are two who enthusiastically verify this fact!

Now we expand our considerations listing to include the lack of commitment and/or indifference. Far too many persons, regardless of their clothing status, enter into the new year’s resolutions context just due to the availability and convenience of the option. Numerous acquaintances perhaps are discussing this topic socially as January 1, approaches each year. In order to actively engage in the conversation, the “indifferent” may only randomly mention a remote adaptation that they may or may not wish to change. Then they may repeat the episode should the need arise.

Given this circumstance, if this decision receives even a secondary thought it should be looked upon as miraculous and obviously doomed for complete failure. This lack of serious commitment reduces any chance of success! Add the inconvenience of the temperature and weather realities and a winter resolution becomes even more synonymous with failure.

Optimism!

The arrival of the Spring season, annually, offers more promise of achievement and development of any alteration of behaviour and/or routine. The approaching improvement of external environmental conditions and the optimistic attitudes that generally accompany this often make people more receptive to introducing changes into their daily practices. Of course, we all know that there are no immediate environmental alterations between winter and the Spring season. However, just knowing that an end to the cold and inclement is in the future often helps in a mental adjustment that enables an improved attitude.

This development reduces our resistance to adopting change and affords many of us an increase in the success of our resolutions!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, January 26, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Perceptions!”

ReNude Pride: Seven!

Bare practitioners exchanging kisses!
A lofty goal!

Essential truth!
Bare compatibility!

One of the multitude of inspirations for creating and publishing ReNude Pride – both “back-in-the-day” in 2017 and still current in 2024 – has always been to offer a space for same gender loving (SGL) naturists/nudists to celebrate and collectively explore being ourselves. In reality we are a distinctly minority community and culture that is often forgotten, ignored and overlooked by both the general gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer + (GLBTQ+) culture as well as the general body and clothes freedom (naturist/nudist) culture.

For many of us, my spouse, Aaron, and myself included, all we desired and sought was a simple place to feel “home.” Free from judgment; safe and secure.

Hence the word-game (word-play) in the title here: renude is for renewed – a “rebirth” of our initial pride (confidence) in being our true selves. Bisexual or gay nudists. A brief glimpse of this site’s history, repeated in honour of this anniversary occasion!

One other historical reflection to share with you at this time. My first solo blogging experience here on wordpress.com began in 2012 and was entitled A Guy Without Boxers.

“A Guy Without Boxers” header image, 2012 – 2015

A Guy Without Boxers was created and designed for the purpose of acknowledging the existence of the gay nudist movement in our world. Aaron and I were just an ordinary gay couple at that time as marriage equality wasn’t legally established when we began. This initial blogging enterprise was abruptly cancelled and eliminated by wordpress.com arbitrarily in early autumn, 2015. To this date, wordpress continues to “stonewall” (ignore) any justification for this action. I guess actions are stronger than words!

Notation: “A Guy Without Boxers” remains my very favourite name for a blog espousing the nature of being a bare practitioner!

It was with extreme caution, distrust, and reluctance that we returned here in early January, 2017. We both enjoyed the blogging experience and felt a genuine need for an outlet for our SGL naturist/nudist community and culture. ReNude Pride was born at that moment in time.

There was another essential inspiration for the launching of ReNude Pride in 2017. That was the introduction and education of the label (term) bare practitioner as identification or name for our community and culture. The words “gay,” “naturist” and “nudist” invoked too many negative and unpleasant connotations in the minds of many and it was considered that a neutral identification – bare practitioner – would eliminate derogatory associations and negative imaging.

Hopefully, the use of the bare practitioner identity would replace the misconception that bisexual or gay men utilized the naked or nude lifestyle as a means to satisfy their blatant sexual cravings and/or desires. The reduction of this myth is the reasoning for erasure of intimate sexuality implied by clothes freedom and orientation. Nakedness and partner preference are not synonymous with orgy obsession!

“ReNude Pride” gravatar, 2017 – present!

A result of this inspiration is the use of ReNude Pride as a site for the indoctrination of bare practitioner into the vocabulary of all body and clothes freedom enthusiasts. This encouragement is a single step in eliminating a source of mythology and prejudice against a misunderstood minority that simply enjoys having a good time without the restraints of clothing, whether alone or socially.

This site recently “adopted” the openness of nakedness preference of the popular and publicly gay adult celebrity, Phoenix Fellington (real name: Tre Larun Federson) as it’s “spokes-model” (representative) in honour of his frequent and numerous non-sexual appearances and poses. Phoenix isn’t compensated financially for this “unofficial” status and it is hoped that the publicity he receives will reward him personally. In the picture below, he demonstrates his obvious comfort in being bare along with his friends.

Phoenix Fellington (center) directing two of his colleagues!

One of the benefits of this image is that it reflects a totally non-sexual yet proudly bare interaction between openly SGL men who are indifferent (not focused on) to their social nakedness and their shared same gender attraction!

This specific situation with Phoenix Fellington is an example of the diversity of levels of acceptance and comfort with both nakedness and sexuality within our own community and culture of bare practitioners. Phoenix, our spokes-model, readily admits to his dual nature. He honestly and publicly identifies and proclaims his enthusiasm for being bare in both his personal life and his professional life (pornography). Body and clothes freedom, whether “on-the-job” or in his private life present no excuse or reason for either embarrassment, guilt or shame. But he does understand that his reaction to this aspect of himself is not the same for everyone. He encourages all of us to be mindful of this discrepancy in all our levels of comfort! Aaron and I both greatly admire and respect Phoenix for this attribute of his accommodation of us all!

Thank you, Phoenix, for your encouragement in being confident and proud of both what and who we are!

In order to conclude this year’s ReNude Pride anniversary observation on a celebratory and positive nature, I cordially invite each and every one of you to our home for an appreciation breakfast prepared by me!

Of course, bare practitioner status us required of all! Once you cross the threshold, removal of all clothing is mandatory!

Meal preparation is open for full inspection by everyone! No secret ingredients are allowed!

This anniversary is a joyful occasion! Feel free to share your enthusiasm and excitement!

Happy anniversary ReNude Pride! Aaron and I appreciate your support!

Please read my lips:

Aaron and I both “thank-you” for your support and friendship!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, January 12, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Bare Modesty?”

Perspective!

With fellow blogger, Adimu!

Background:

The Pentagon City Fashion Centre is a popular shopping mall/tourist attraction in Arlington, Virginia, located near The Pentagon and just south of the Potomac River which separates the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C., from the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is located very near the condominium where Aaron (my spouse) and I reside.

The incident described below happened almost a full year after I began publishing ReNude Pride back in 2017. We were both shopping in the mall during the winter holiday season. In reality, it was winter and we were both fully clothed in outerwear and our casual garments!

Aaron recalled this situation about a week ago and encouraged it as a “seasonal” topic to post here during this year’s holiday tradition!

I am using pictures of my fellow blogger, Adimu and myself to illustrate this posting as this was our very first time spent together when we took these images using a telephoto lens and adapter.

Adimu and Roger, riverside!

The truth is…

Early December, 2017 – it was a Saturday and Aaron (my h-u-s-b-a-n-d) – both legally and officially – and I exited the Metro Blue Line at the Pentagon City subway station. We entered the Pentagon City shopping mall for a particular item of clothing. What that was is as unimportant as the cost of a pair of sunglasses is to Rudolph (the red-nosed reindeer)!

Then, as now, we were both honest and open about our being bare practitioners (same gender loving naturists/nudists). We were probably publicly holding onto one another’s hands or walking arm-in-arm. President Obama had served his second term the previous January and his successor was now in office so we were most definitely in physical contact and completely clothed!

The winter holiday shopping frenzy was underway as we patiently progressed through the four shopping levels. We had all day and had ridden the subway; there was no need or reason to hurry. The only pressing item on our agenda for the day was to get home and return to our usual state of nakedness!

Somewhere along the way to wherever, Aaron stopped as he had been approached by another man – presumably alone. My spouse released my hand and immediately began using American Sign Language (ASL) as this man was addressing him orally. At the very least, I would be able to follow their conversation.

Adimu and I embrace!

From what we both recall from this encounter, the conversation began quite amicable, decent and friendly – initially. This man admitted to regularly reading ReNude Pride. He looked me “in the eye” as he complimented me on writing this blog and on our relationship (marriage). This wasn’t the first time someone had acknowledged our interracial gay status nor our being open concerning our preference for nakedness.

Suddenly, the conversation changed from pleasant to one of hostility. This man – name unknown – became increasingly emotional and he specifically accused us both as being insensitive to the fact that being gay was totally incompatible with being nudists!

Both Aaron and I remember his closing argument: “There is no way a gay man can be comfortable being naked among complete strangers!”

I was shocked and surprised! I couldn’t grasp his reasoning behind this exclamation! What triggered this exclamation? I was unable to even think of any response!

Fortunately, Aaron wasn’t in the same type of mental wasteland. He answered, calmly and simply: “Better to be naked with strangers than to be in costume among friends!”

He then grabbed my hand and led me away!

“A moment’s insight is sometimes worth a life’s experience.” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes ~ American jurist

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is for Friday, December 15, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Schedule!”

Holiday Travel!

Driving clothes free!

Thursday of next week, November 23, 2023, is the USA holiday of Thanksgiving. This is known as one of the busiest holiday travel events here. Many families will spend the Thanksgiving holiday with one set of family relatives and follow that with the Winter Holiday (next month) with the other set of family relations. The result is a boost for the airline business and a chronic disaster for a majority depending on the airlines to deliver them safely from one destination to another.

For those who lived a comfortable distance from their family home, an auto trip was a convenient alternative to dealing with the airport masses and disgruntled tempers. However, for an innumerable amount of years, the USA Thanksgiving holiday has held the notoriety of being the absolute worst day for travelling – period! Not just for transport by air, the distinction is applicable for highway driving situations as well. Traffic congestion on the roadways is equally frustrating and unsafe (vehicle accidents).

From kitchen into the sitting room, at home!

“Are there any other transportation options available?” my spouse, Aaron, and I frequently ask ourselves. Suggested alternative: perhaps extra consideration is necessary here. The best form of transportation during this “worst predicted travel time” designation period is maybe walking inside our own apartment/house from the abode’s kitchen to the sitting room after a trip to retrieve a can of Dr. Pepper soda from the refrigerator!

Personally, this option is the most appealing to me. As long as the ability to be clothes free is available, it works best for me. This completely eliminates the task of putting on clothing in order to simply walk outside the front door!

Using the underground (subway) automated stairs!

My spouse, Aaron, and I live in a condominium in the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area (specifically, Arlington, Virginia). Another option available to us is the local subway/underground public transportation system. At this moment, it is convenient, congestion-free and relatively safe. The only problem is that in our area, the wearing of clothing is a legal requirement when in public. My spouse and I both agree that a bare escalator ride to access the underground transport system would be a most welcome improvement!

Sitting on luggage in a crowded airport terminal!

Given the challenge of donning (wearing) a textile covering in order to go somewhere, Aaron and I are choosing a stay-at-home option for this year’s holiday travel season (the total period of time from the Thanksgiving holiday through the New Year holiday).

Relaxing at home!

As long as there is no threat of a family emergency in either one of our respective families, we’re both comfortable with our decision. This year has had a number of chaotic and hectic situations in the both of our families and so we’re both eagerly anticipating a relaxing option of being together in a calm atmosphere. Allow the airlines and the vehicle congestion experiences for others to endure!

Holiday guests!

My spouse’s older brother, Paul, and his partner, Sudhir, plan to be our Thanksgiving visitors and stay with us through the weekend. Their travel here shouldn’t be too traumatic as they’ve used the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) method before and are doing so again.

Alex, my identical twin brother and his boyfriend, Dante, are planning to come here just prior to the Christmas holiday and are staying three/four nights.

Ideal for visitors during the winter holiday season, the Smithsonian Museums offer a decorative and interesting series of exhibits and holiday decorations. Conveniently located on the metropolitan underground/subway system, a terrific option for all visiting this area and a solution to the frustrations of traffic congestion!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, November 20, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “A Re-Visiting!”

“The Boys In The Band”

Teen boys in the band!

Introduction:

The above header (photograph) is in no way related to this post entry title. In the picture, they are indeed teenage boys posing and singing “in a band.” The actual title is in reference to the 1970 film, “The Boys In The Band” which is the subject here today. As this particular cinema movie featured actors who kept their clothes on, I felt the vintage image – depicting the teens posing playing musical instruments in the early 1960’s era was appropriate for the title and fitting for ReNude Pride’s theme (nakedness). Sorry if I’ve caused any confusion!

That’s the reason for this introductory explanation. I wanted that apology offered before anyone becomes too irate!

Actual poster: “The Boys In The Band” 1970 film.

Over our years together, Aaron (my spouse) and I have periodically shared that neither one of us has ever seen the movie, “The Boys In The Band.” We both acknowledged that we should view it, but we’ve never done so. My first cousin, Michael, located a copy of the original with excellent closed captioning. He purchased it for he and his partner, Ropati. Aaron and I borrowed the DVD and this past weekend, honouring GLBTQ+ History Month, we saw the show together – a first for us both!

Even though the characters onscreen were fully clothed, Aaron and I were in our typical and usual bare practitioner mode. This was simply one of our 2023 Bare Practitioner History Month observances! Keeping with ReNude Pride’s theme and tradition!

Background:

“The Boys In The Band” was the first major American film to deal directly with the topic of homosexuality (as it was then often called) where the primary characters actually referred to themselves as “homosexuals.” It was released in early 1970, less than a full year after the Stonewall Inn riots. It was directed by William Friedkin and produced by Matt Crowley, Kenneth Lilt, Dominick Dunne and Robert Jiras. The screenplay was written by Matt Crowley and is based on his off-Broadway play by the same name.

The cast consisted of Kenneth Nelson as Michael, Leonard Frey as Harold and Cliff Gorman as Emory. Also featured were Laurence Luckinbill who played Hank, Frederick Combs portraying Donald, Keith Prentice was Larry and Robert LaTourneaux as “Cowboy Tex.” Reuben Greene appeared as Bernard and Peter White featured as Alan, the token heterosexual. The running time for the production was approximately 2 hours.

The cast “The Boys In The Band”

The character’s pathos and self-loathing even in 1970, unfortunately, it was prevalent within the majority of the “homosexual” population at that time. The movie is historically significant as Hollywood’s first explicitly gay-themed film – ever. All the guests are gay and one is presumably “straight” (non-gay, heterosexual). Before the night is over, the conversation turns bitter and ugly – hilarious one minute and excruciatingly painful the next.

The Plot:

The action is set in New York City in the latter-half of the 1960’s decade, It is definitely the post-hippie period and quite obviously pre-Stonewall/gay liberation. Michael is an alcoholic-in-recovery who is hosting a surprise birthday party for his best friend, Harold. As the guests arrive, the atmosphere is upbeat and festive until Alan arrives and the mood dampens and the tensions mount.

Then “Cowboy Tex” a hustler and a “surprise gift” for Harold enters and words are exchanged between Emory and Alan. Michael begins drinking again and the guests continue to argue and to criticize. At this point, Harold makes a classic entrance for the party in his honour and the drama borders on turmoil. As the party ends and the guests depart, the movie ends with Michael sobbing his misery to Donald.

Being same gender loving in the 1960’s was no fun-filled picnic!

Summery:

The film, “The Boys In The Band,” did introduce some positive aspects to the new and growing gay identification for the predominately “closeted” (secretive) homosexual population. It also helped to bring the awareness and discussion of homosexuality into the national dialogue – although not always in the most positive manner.

It also introduced a new film genre into the motion picture industry.

In some ways, it helped to energize and fuel the gay liberation movement. Within the emerging community, it served as an identifiable reminder of the life no one wanted to return to. It also eventually radically changed the way society perceived same gender loving people.

Happy GLBTQ+ Bare History Month!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for tomorrow, Tuesday, October 31, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Bottoms-Up! 2023 Bare History Month!”