Elizabeth Jennings Graham was born Elizabeth Jennings in New York City in March 1827 (date unknown). She was destined to become a teacher, an early civil rights activist and organist at her church. By 1854, she was a teacher at the private African Free School.
By the 1850s, the horse-drawn streetcar on rails was a common transportation option in New York City. They were operated by private companies and their access was often barred by race.
On Sunday, 16 July 1854, Elizabeth Jennings was going to work as organist for the First Coloured Congregational Church. She boarded a streetcar of the Third Avenue Railroad Company. The conductor ordered her off. She refused and the conductor and a police officer ejected her off the streetcar. She was injured and her clothes were soiled and torn.
The incident was reported by Frederick Douglass in his newspaper and resulted in an organized movement by Black New York City residents to end racial discrimination on streetcars.
Her father filed a lawsuit against the Third Avenue Railroad Company and the conductor in Brooklyn, where the company office was located. She was represented by the law firm of Culver, Parker and Arthur. Her case was argued by the firm’s 24 year-old junior partner, Chester A. Arthur, a future president of the USA. He filed the suit in 1854 and in 1855, the court ruled in her favour.
The judge, William Rockwell, determined “Coloured persons if sober, well-behaved and free from disease, had the same rights as others and could neither be excluded by any rules of the company, nor by force nor violence.” The jury awarded Jennings damages in the amount of $250 (roughly equivalent to approximately $8,400 currently). The very next day, the Third Avenue Railroad Company ordered all of their streetcars desegregated.
A century before Rosa Parks gained fame in refusing to move to the back of the bus, Elizabeth Jennings Graham attained justice in fighting for her rights on transportation. What happened in Brooklyn, New York City, occurred before the US Civil War ended the practice of slavery in the USA!
Nice job, Elizabeth Jennings Graham!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Wednesday, February 25, 2026, and the proposed topic is: “Bonus Post: Bare Celebrity Review!”
SGL, as repeatedly referenced here, is the anacronym for same gender love (bisexual or gay). SNL represents the popular USA television series: Saturday Night Live, a show that forcefully, hilariously and magnanimously ridicules and rebuffed the sorry state of affairs of American culture: actions, attitudes, beliefs, concepts, prejudices and values. Race Cooper confidently, defiantly and proudly does the same here for ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Race Cooper: Our Man:
Race Cooper (left) kissing co-star, Shay Michaels!
Prelude:
“Canadian-to-his-core (soul)!” is an ideal description of loyalist Race Cooper, now retired SGL and nakedness adult film industry role model and star. Race Cooper is his professional (stage) name, his birth and legal name is Joseph Ross Anderson. He was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on 5 December 1973. He received his introduction into the US gay adult film industry as a casting director at the studio office and worked diligently for a number of years. Then, in 2009, at the tender age of 36 years old, he performed his first role in front of the camera and graciously offered his buttocks to the world!
While pursuing his growing popularity while acting, he simultaneously became an advocate for film actors regarding studio executives, management and film investors concerning gross racial and ethnic disparities in practices, roles, pay scale and other matters. In his time working at the studio, he observed discrimination and marginalization against Blacks, Hispanics and surprising, fellow gay employees!
The purpose of reminding everyone of the dire need of review of the discriminatory protocols some of our same gender loving (SGL) and nakedness cohorts in the adult film industry allow, through the observations of “industry insider” Race Cooper (one of our own community and culture) is that before we point fingers outward, we all need to look inward and ensure that we are on the platform of equality, freedom and justice. Our need for respect and understanding enables us to search for accountability and truth everywhere – even among ourselves!
We need the insight of our fellow bare practitioner, bare celebrity Race Cooper, to lead us from the darkness and into the light!
“Racismand discrimination take many forms and our focus and thoughts on racism, sexuality and nudity need to change.” ~ Joseph Ross Anderson (Race Cooper) The Pink News SGL News Service, London, UK, 10 June 2020
Race Cooper, interviewing for The Pink News, London, UK 10 June 2020
Footnote:Race could not appear fully nude for his interview. Instead, he conducted the session shirtless, as close to nakedness as possible!
The examination and exploration of the topic of “race” extends beyond the limited concepts of of just Black people and White people. It includes all of us, no matter our skin tone, ethnicity, or racial heritage. “Race,” unfortunately, is also aligned with community, culture, politics, religion and value systems.
Regrettably, racism (racial bigotry and/or hatred) is a “learned” (taught) behaviour passed from one generation to the next – often without any basis of proof or scientific fact. Unchallenged, it is frequently misunderstood as the “norm” (normal) – the regular routine standard.
My spouse, Aaron, and I both offer this posting in the hope of overcoming our need to be reminded of the importance of fact and reality in our lives.
Race Cooper, The Pink News
Introduction:
Joseph R. Anderson (Race Cooper) didn’t begin his film career until 2009 at the tender age of 36 years! An age when most openly bisexual or gay porn film actors are ready to retire from performing live! His acting career spanned a total of five years. He retired from the industry in 2014.
In the same year that he started live acting, after years in the studio’s casting office, Race started publicly blogging on blogger.com, promoting his acting career and sharing information about fellow porn stars and their preferences. He swiftly acquired notoriety as “a-man-who-tells-it-all!” He also began to encourage and endorse the expansion of the “alpha” (top-man) and the “beta” (bottom-man) SGL identities to include “versatility” (both traditional SGL sexual positions)!
Race Cooper: “the-man-who-tells-it-all!”
Vital Statistics:
Height: 6′ (183 cm)
Weight: 180 lbs. (82 kg)
Hair: head – shaved; body – armpit, pubic
Penis: 8″ (20 cm) circumcised
Sexuality: gay
Sexual position: versatile (preference: beta (bottom-man)
Clothing status: bare (naked,nude)
Porn Career: Mid-level management (casting); live (2009-2014)
Race Cooper: publicity pose (frontal)
“I’m an African-Canadian. Growing up in Toronto, I got to see how lots of White Americans reacted to Black people, from Canada or the USA. Working in gay pornography, I personally saw how Black men were treated by White men with no difference between gay or straight.” ~ Race Cooper ~ The Pink News 10 June 2020
Race, based on his own experience, views racism as “a daily constant in the USA.” He acknowledges that he – at first – was paid considerably less than his Caucasian colleagues and regularly and repeatedly had his work ethic and intelligence questioned. He honestly believes that he was only hired initially in order for the studios to appear “less racist.”
“Homophobia and racism in the USA is the reasoning for discrimination and prejudice. It is part of the legacy of institutionalized slavery. In Canada, race is just a difference. You shave your pubic hair, I let mine grow naturally. We’re both gay men,we’re justdifferent in some ways.” ~ Race Cooper ~ The Pink News 10 June 2020
Canada had slavery in the 1600s only. It was never a permanent social institution like in the USA. As a slave, you were bought, you worked a couple of years, earned your freedom and then you moved on. Like an indentured servant. Enslavement was never a source of distrust, mistreatment and hatred. You worked, earned freedom and then became a neighbour – equal -not inferiour or subserviant.
Race Cooper: another movie pose!
“As a Black gay man, I know and have witnessed bias, hatred and prejudice because of nakedness, race and sexual orientation. It is unfair and unjust. It is wrong. As a performer in the porn industry, I’ve never experienced criticism for being publicly or for being socially naked. But I do know of fellow nudists who are judged because of their nudity. Clothes freedom is part of who we are. Just like race and sexuality, we don’t have a choice.” ~ Race Cooper ~ The Pink News 10 June 2020
Race was interviewed by The Pink News, a SGL news service in London, England, United Kingdom on 10 June 2020 for his views on racial inequality in the bisexual or gay film profession in light of the killing of the late George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement. He also wants the porn industry to openly admit that many White men – straight – have been cast into roles catering to SGL African-American audiences instead of actual Black gay men.
As a path forward, he’d like to see studios hire “diversity mentors” to help with casting and hopefully these mentors could advance the careers of porn actorsof colour. He also advocates the ending of “gay-for-pay” and an immediate end to the shunning of HIV+ porn actors.
All of us welcome and embrace Race in full nakedness as a man of our community and culture! His attitude that true equality is a basic human right for us all is one we can all agree!
Our man who reveals all: Race Cooper!
Thank you, Race, for your honesty and integrity!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, February 20, 2026, and the proposed topic is: “Bare + Black = Queer!”
It is now what is known to many as the “season of the passion!” The week in the month of February of each year that includes the designated day of the kiss: St. Valentine’s Day! Not officially observed as a public holiday in any country, it is a day recognized by multitudes as a day of bromance (same gender romance) and love!
A day for us to celebrate being together and to enjoy the camaraderie of sharing ourselves with one another and without any fear, guilt or shame!
Not only was the same gender affection and bromance deemed offensive and criminal, the fact of physical interaction between two persons of different races was actually illegal in a total of seventeen (17) states and the District of Columbia.
Prior to SIR, it was considered illegal for two individuals of the same gender to show affection for one another in public. Holding hands was grounds for arrest. Kissing was viewed as degrading, immoral and worse!
Fondling and/or any intimacy with a person of the same gender was seen as indecent and obscene in 49 of the 50 states. Illinois was the “progressive” (permissive) state!
In private clubs and private homes, same gender love was a perversion and those engaging in the activity were publicly ridiculed as known perverts!
The sky offers a natural background for a couple showing their passion as the above men are doing. Such a scene would be considered as pornographic until the Stonewall Inn Riots and the explosion of our movement for the determination and freedom of our right to be same gender loving (SGL)!
As we make plans and preparations to celebrate the St. Valentine’s Day this year, we need to recall the efforts of those who came before us and helped to create the way for our freedom to be ourselves!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, February 13, 2026, and the proposed topic is: “Bare Celebrity Role Models #6: Identity!”
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is tomorrow, 7 February. In anticipation of this commemoration, this post entry is published today.
Background:
In the early 1980s, mysterious and unusual health conditions began appearing globally, and by the middle of the 1980s, this new condition was named Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome – AIDS. The transmission (spreading) capability of this rapidly growing condition was identified as the human immunodeficiency virus – HIV. The alarming rate of infections of HIV and the rising fatalities from complications with AIDS soon became a priority focus of the public health services worldwide.
Under the mandate of the United Nations (UN), the World Health Organization (WHO) soon created an independent agency to address this international health crisis. This situation resulted in the launching of World AIDS Day on 1 December 1988 with the accompanying red ribbon campaign for awareness.
Disproportionate Impact:
At the arrival of the 21st century, African Americans constituted approximately 13% of the population in the USA yet they represented almost 50% of all categories of infection rates in HIV/AIDS related statistics reported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The overwhelming statistics of HIV infection rates within the African American population indicated severe obstacles, intentional or unintentional, in relaying information on disease prevention as well as general factual material to the Black communities inside the USA. The distrust between the US public health services and Blacks had only recently been publicized through the Tuskegee experiment. The residual discrimination and racism practices were another barrier reason.
There were now growing public criticism of the health agencies and departments in making HIV/AIDS prevention information available to the infected community. This concern now crossed both political and religious differences and even the presidential office demanded resolution.
In 1999, seriously alarmed over the staggering effects of HIV/AIDS on the Black community, the CDC, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the entire US Public Health Service, representatives of organizations serving African Americans, medical and research professionals, communities of faith and entertainment, musical and sports celebrities met to address concerns and solutions over the rising infection rates of HIV/AIDS. One of the results of these conferences was the decision to observe, annually, 7 February as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) not just in the Black community but nationwide for all Americans.
The very first NBHAAD was commemorated on 7 February 2000.
HIV/AIDS Basic Facts:
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS.
AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a result of HIV infection.
HIV is not transmitted (spread) through everyday casual contact.
Only a physician (doctor) can diagnose AIDS.
NBHAAD Key Components:
Get educated!
Know the facts about prevention and transmission of HIV/AIDS.
Get involved!
Learn about opportunities available within your community for prevention efforts.
Get tested!
Know your status and encourage/empower others to do the same.
Get treated!
Receive proper healthcare and support needed to successfully live with HIV.
The four Key Components are essential criteria for all NBHAAD activities and community outreach efforts. They emphasize the “unity within the community” approach to combatting HIV/AIDS. The Get educated component is the foundation for all NBHAAD presentations and is combined with either another component or offered as the sole resource.
NBHAAD urges the discussion of HIV/AIDS!
Analysis proves that people learn and retain knowledge most effectively from people they perceive as most like (similar) to themselves. This is one of the guiding philosophies for the organizing and the support of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day!
Celebrity Involvement:
Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers, National Basketball Association (NBA)
“Magic” Johnson is a retired professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers team who is often viewed as the greatest point guard of all time. He retired abruptly on 7 November 1991, when he announced publicly that he was HIV+. He played in the 1992 NBA All-Star Game winning the All-Star MVP Award yet completely retired after fellow professional players protested having to play with him and risking themselves for becoming infected.
He was actively featured and involved in the first annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day activities and continues to do even today.
Kory Mitchell, Gay Adult Film Actor and HIV Prevention Advocate
Kory Mitchell, a popular and versatile gay adult film industry actor and casting director for Lavendar Studios tested positive for HIV in 1991. He became certified as an HIV/AIDS prevention instructor by the Red Cross and became an advocate in prevention education in gay related film studios.
He retired from filming but remains active in advocating for education and prevention efforts at the major gay film studios. He was active in the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day planning events and in the observances from the very first through today.
Our Unofficial Official Spokes Model, Phoenix Fellington!
Our very own celebrity, our unofficial (unpaid) spokes model, Phoenix Fellington, has promptly responded to interview questions regarding his engaging in the gay adult film industry.
“Why do I do gay porn? To teach men how to have sex. Responsible and safely!” ~ Phoenix Fellington ~
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, February 9, 2026, and the proposed topic is: “Locked Lips!”
The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the first African American…
to be honoured with a memorial along the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
to be recognized nationally as a hero by the majority of Americans
to bravely stand for true freedom for all
to challenge discrimination, oppression, prejudice and racism through justice and liberty for all!
Then-President Barack Obama dedicating the Dr. King Memorial\
The Reverend Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Memorial on the National Mall was dedicated by then-President Barack Hussein Obama, the first African American elected president, on 22 August, 2011.
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More than a century after the USA Civil War ended the legality of slavery, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., championed the struggle for equality, freedom, justice and liberty for all Americans in general and for Black Americans in particular. His courage and determination inspired the country and political leaders to reject hatred, marginalization, oppression, prejudice and the suppression of human rights.
As we commemorate and honour the courage and diligence of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we offer tribute to all the millions of persons who suffered enslavement, injustice, murder and torture based solely on their origin and their race. Their innocence and sacrifice must never be forgotten!
Background:
Dr. King was born on 15 January 1929. At birth, he was originally named Michael J. King, Jr., the son of his father, Reverend Michael J. King, Sr. and his wife, Alberta Williams King. His father was an ordained clergyman.
After attending a religious conference in Germany in 1934, his father legally changed their names to Martin Luther King as an honor to the anti-Roman Catholic dissident who initiated the protestant movement against the Roman Catholic Church.
After college and seminary, he married Coretta Scott. Together, they produced four children: Yolanda, Martin Luther III, Dexter Scott, and Bernice. Reverend Dr. King, Jr., founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957 and directed the campaign for civil rights and equality until his assassination in 1968.
He organized the National March on Washington for Freedom and Jobs that occurred on Sunday, 28 August 1963. At this event, he delivered the keynote address, his world famous I Have A Dream speech. More than 120,000 people attended this gathering. At that time, it was the largest political rally ever held on the National Mall.
He was assassinated on 4 April 1968 and buried following a state funeral on 7 April 1968.
Honours:
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize by His Majesty, the late King Gustaf VI Adolph of Sweden on 14 October 1964.
Civil Rights advocate
Non-violent protest activist
Ordained clergyman
Husband/father
Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumous award 1977 by the late President Jimmy Carter
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Founder 1957
Thank you, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, January 23, 2026, and the proposed topic is: “Annual Examination!”
When it was originally observed, HIV/AIDS was an almost completely fatal diagnosis with countless deaths following varying periods of immense misery and suffering. Since that time, enormous progress has been made in medicine, and the disease is no longer considered synonymous with death. Although there is still no known cure for the virus, there is now hope that one is possible within the foreseeable future.
The virus that causes the condition known as AIDS was first identified in the middle 1980’s decade. For decades, it was considered an exclusive “gay” disease or else a disease of intravenous drug users. This led to excessive discrimination against those two communities. Massive prevention education efforts globally resulted from the stigmas surrounding the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. AIDS is a result of HIV infection. Two basic facts that remain true, still today.
“It’s not who we are, it’s what we do that puts us all at risk of HIV infection!” ~ Red Cross HIV/AIDS Prevention Education curriculum ~
The above quote appeared in the numerous versions of the Red Cross HIV/AIDS prevention education curriculum. This essential fact was vital in combatting the bias against certain persons and communities.
What Is World AIDS Day?
“World AIDS Day is a global movement to unite people in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Since 1988, communities have stood together on World AIDS Day to show strength and solidarity against HIV stigma and to remember lives lost.”
“In the UK, more than 105,000 people are living with HIV. Globally, an estimated 38 million people live with the virus. More than 35 million people have died of HIV or AIDS related illnesses over the past 40 years, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.”
Click on the above link to visit the official website.
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The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) weakens the body’s immune defenses by destroying CD4 (T cell) lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that usually guards the body from bacteria, viruses and other germs. With a severely compromised immune system, the body is unable to protect us against unwanted diseases, infections and illnesses.
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World AIDS Day 2025 Theme:
“Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response.”
Focus on the need to renew the international commitment to addressing HIV/AIDS challenges globally. These challenges often include numerous aspects of our lives, such as social, political, religious, educational, economic, personal and/or public. The situations may vary but unfortunately the causes frequently remain the same: bias and discrimination. Prejudices are “learned” behaviours that are based primarily on fear and ignorance.
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Designation Clarifications:
To refresh one’s memory of the status determinations applied for HIV/AIDS.
HIV Negative (HIV-): means that one has tested negative for the human immunodeficiency virus HIV. After the initial testing, the counselor administering the test will recommend a repeat test to confirm the results.
HIV Positive (HIV+): means that one has the human immunodeficiency virus HIV. A counselor will discuss the test results and provide information regarding services available.
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The Beginning of World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day (also known as World HIV Day) was initially conceived by James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter, two public information officials for the Global Programme on AIDS at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland. They jointly introduced the idea and concept to Dr. Jonathan Mann, Director of the Global Programme on AIDS (now known as UNAIDS) in August, 1987. Dr. Mann liked the idea, approved it and the date of 1 December 1988 was selected as the initial observance.
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The Red Ribbon Campaign:
The awareness ribbon strategy was adopted within a few years of the World AIDS Day commemorations. The Red Ribbon Campaign received immediate international recognition. The campaign soon expanded beyond just the World AIDS Day occasion and the red awareness ribbon became synonymous with HIV/AIDS awareness. The red awareness ribbon continues to designate HIV/AIDS awareness as well as knowledge of the disease, the prevention of infection and compassion to persons living with HIV.
The colour of red is noted as representing “life.” This was a deciding factor in choosing the design of the HIV/AIDS awareness ribbon and campaign.
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The Condom:
The use of a latex condom remains, even today, as the most effective tool in preventing the transmission (spreading) of HIV during sexual engagement. With all the advancements in prevention strategies and treatments, a latex condom is an essential element in stopping the spread of HIV during sex.
Allergic to latex? Not a problem. Consult your physician, pharmacist or trusted HIV counselor.
Footnote #1: The colour of the condom pictured above is red. Please understand that the colour of a condom has no determining value in the protection offered.
Summary:
HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is today a very manageable and treatable infection that no longer imposes the outcome of suffering and death it originally produced. With the medicines and treatment strategies currently available worldwide, persons infected with HIV (HIV+) are now able to enjoy long and productive lives while undergoing care and/ora treatment programme.
A gentle reminder that at this time, there exists no known cure for HIV. However, testing, knowing one’s HIV status and receiving care and treatment options if HIV+ permit many unlimited hopes for a full life!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, December 5, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “December Observances!”
For years, the official name of the October federal (national) holiday was always “Columbus Day” – honouring Christopher Columbus, the Italian navigator/sailor who led the naval expedition to discover a new route to India and the East Indies from Spain. In attempting doing this task, he “discovered” the New World.
The legends surrounding Columbus sailing the Atlantic searching for a more timely/ faster route to the Far East often led people to believe that the new lands were barren and uninhabited – how else could he discover them? Also, as his day was supposedly a “national” holiday in the USA, where in this country did he land? He was an Italian sailing for the King and Queen of Spain. How did he rate a USA holiday?
Even more confusing, why was there no national holiday honouring the peoples who already lived in this newly “discovered” land? In addition, the Norse Vikings had previously established settlements along the coasts of what is now Canada. These settlers predated Columbus by more than a century.
Too much credit was given to Christopher Columbus for tasks not in his original mission. Also, successive Italian immigrants to this New World celebrated Columbus as the “godfather” of the New World. If not for his voyages, there would have been no deluge of immigrants from Europe into these new lands! The entire history of the whole world would be altered.
Indigenous= native!
All the attention and praise on the accomplishments of Columbus and the immigrants who stole the land of all the native peoples residing in this “new world!” No one bothered to offer the disastrous impact of the enormous slave trade or the ravages of imported diseases on the inhabitants of the Caribbean islands and both the northern and southern continents.
Wherever the European immigrants settled, the indigenous populations within that area were subject to the bias of the newcomers and their discrimination against the local natives. After all, they were bringing “civilisation” to this savage land!
Their civilized import prevailed, and this country began to celebrate “Columbus Day” exclusively. It remained that way until the people started to realize that we’re not giving any recognition to the earlier inhabitants here who preserved the lands, the livestock and the environment that thrived until immigration began.
Beginning in the early years of the 21st century, calendars are now listing the traditional “Columbus Day” holiday as “Columbus Day/Indigenous People’s Day.” Currently, calendars are now printed listing only the Indigenous People’s Day designation. Since Christopher Columbus didn’t actually “discover” a New World, he no longer needs a special honour. As the Italian people didn’t sponsor his voyages to the west, they made no contribution in exploring the new shores.
On this day, it is especially important to remember to honour, salute and pay tribute to the Indigenous Peoples of this site, ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers! A very special commendation to allbare practitioners!
Happy Indigenous People’s Day to everyone! We’re all indigenous to some region on this planet!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Thursday, October 16, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “Spirit Day, 2025!”
An Examination and Exploration of Our Community and Our Culture of Same Gender Loving Nakedness! #3
Identical Twins: Double the Nakedness, Double the Fun!
Preliminary:
As promised at the beginning of this series, this final offering for this publication was guaranteed prior to the end of the summer season as my personal perspective. Just a reminder that this post entry also includes that of my own identical twin brother, Alex. Sometimes, the sharing of our ideas, inspirations, memories, reactions, recollections, thoughts, etc., become blurred and riddled with questions. However, the experiences are shared and together as they involve us both – guilty and innocence – together!
We, Alex (Twin) and I, are identical; our births barely two hours apart. Therefore, we share our personal experiences in nakedness – the comfort, joy, and preference for living, as much as possible, our lives without the burden, duty and/or obligation of clothing/concealment!
Footnote: For this series, I use pictures of identical twinsfrom online. Our brothers prefer I not use any from our childhood.
Identical and Serious: together!
Introduction:
Our family name is Poladopoulos and we are identical twin brothers born almost two hours apart. Alex – the “first-born” – is also Deaf, same gender loving (SGL) or gay and frequently confused with me, Roger, the author of this blog and the “second-born” of this twin team!
Our parents were born in the Kingdom of Greece during the time of the German invasion and occupation during World War II. They married and began their family there before immigrating to this country in the early 1950s. Neither of them became citizens here and they returned to Greece in the 1990s. We (Twin and I) have three (3) older brothers and three (3) younger brothers. That makes the both of us the exact “middle-child” in our family.
Our family household being predominantly male has caused many to assume our nakedness wasn’t a major issue.
A very false and unreal assumption!
Our infancy and early childhood progressed along the same pattern as that of our older siblings with the exception of our diagnosis of being Deaf. Otherwise, we were “normal” until our parents and older siblings decided to teach us to properly adorn (wear clothes) ourselves. Our “moment” to establish our true identity! Our joint (shared) “declaration of independence” was upon us!
Bottoms-up! to yardwork!
Reality:
Our initial opportunity to proclaim our self-determination (identity) happened when the decision was made to instruct us on the process of how to dress – put on clothes. At last, a chance to demonstrate (show) precisely who we really are! Twin and I are unable to exactly recall the experience, so this episode is best described by our surviving parent (mother) and older siblings.
The miraculous fascination that Twin (our familiar reference name for ourselves) and I had for learning how to decorate our bodies with clothes was that it also gave us the knowledge of how easy and simple it now became for us to remove (discard) our clothing!
The proverbial adage, “practice makes perfect” was the result of this lesson. Easy to put on, easy to take off! Our parents were amazed at the both of us getting dressed in garments and then removing them immediately! The essence and introduction into our world of “guys without boxers!” No underwear equals no clothes!
Needless to elaborate, but this basic logistic created an enormous amount of frustration within our family household. Our desire for freedom from clothes soon reached epic proportions that continued throughout our childhood. This conflict in nudity versus textile (clothes wearing) was compounded by a communication issue: our being Deaf against the fact that everyone else was verbal (hearing). At the time, the tensions in our family, along with the births of our younger brothers, made happiness and tranquility seem impossible!
Luckily, Twin and I shared a bedroom. Perhaps “identical” is synonymous with “shared!” Soon, our parents conceived of a compromise: we could be naked inside our bedroom if we agreed to wear clothes while elsewhere in our home. Our older siblings joined in this project, and while some awkward occurrences happened, tranquility returned to the Poladopoulos residence.
Footnote: Now, today, as a family, we all laugh when remembering this drama in our lives!
Calm and peaceful!
As we matured, our late Father eventually acknowledged to us all that the “bedroom nudity compromise” was initially considered only a temporary adjustment. Both parents believed we would grow away from this behaviour and the nude insistence was a developmental “phase” of our lives that would eventually disappear.
Our oldest sibling, Nick, (who “came out” as gay while at university), readily admitted to our family that at his young age, he briefly thought Twin and I were “double trouble!” At the time of this incident, he viewed our being Deaf as synonymous with our penchant for nakedness!
Sometimes, a “temporary” compromise affords a very rewarding and significant solution!
A doorway of twins!
As to the communication concern: our family all learned to manually share (sign language) – both in English and Greek! A process that remains underway still today with the addition of in-laws (sibling marriages), nieces and nephews!
Summary:
Life experiences provided Twin and I with an opportunity to explore, firsthand, the world of nakedness. It afforded us a chance to examine and explore our perspectives, reactions and involvement! These same life experiences reinforced, both internally and in reality, our identical appreciation and commitment to nakedness that we both share!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, September 22, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “Autumn Adaptability!”
Since 2019, bare practitioners have observed today, 14 July, annually, as Bare Practitioner’s Day! A date that is not that widely known outside of our own community and culture but an occasion that has a growing base of observers. A single day for us to all be confident and proud of we are: same gender loving (SGL) and nakedness enthusiasts! Prior to 2019, this date was promoted as Gay Nudist Day.
The Gay Nudist Day distinction was adopted in the mid-1980s as the growing number of bisexual and gay nudist social clubs sought a separate observance from the discriminating naturist/nudist society. Some of the earliest bisexual/gay nude social clubs were: Males au Naturel (MEN) of New York City, Los Angeles Nude Guys (LANG), San Francisco Kindred Nudists (SKINS), Greater Atlanta Naturist Group (GANG) and Lambda Soleil of Washington, D.C.
This year, 2025, our day happens the day after the National Skinny-Dipping Day, the official final day of National Nude Recreation Week – a valid reason for us to extend our observation for at least an extra 24 hours! As if any of us actually require a reason for body and clothes freedom!
Same gender loving!
Following SIR (Stonewall Inn riots) in 1969, bisexual and gay naked participants experienced first-hand the very deliberate and obvious discriminatory regulations and rules adopted by the existing naturist/nudist facilities and organizations to discourage our participation. We also suffered similar reaction from our GLBTQ+ culture who were seeking to distance themselves from our “depraved” lifestyle of bare as opposed to being textile (clothed).
Directions for nudity!
In a brief summary: the naturist/nudist proponents rejected our nakedness due to our acceptance of ourselves as bisexual, gay or lesbian – the despicable species now claiming equality. Their homophobia forced them to reject us.
The emerging and growing bisexual, gay and lesbian movement, already militant in addressing challenges to their very existence, truly believed that our preference for nudity damaged their image of decency and normalcy.
In reality, we were social outcasts totally rejected and marginalized. No one wanted us!
Rather accept a double negative judgment, we instead remind ourselves of our very special and unique roles in being what and who we really are! On this day, 14 July, we commemorate our dual nature through being us!
Being ourselves!
Instead of continuing having to live with the bias and segregation of the broader naturist/nudist society and the general GLBTQ+ population conveniently “setting” us aside from them, we decided to celebrate this day in our own way by choosing among ourselves to honour ourselves by just simply being ourselves. Our choice to be us!
Thus, in creating our own solution to the problem, we completely avoided the issue altogether! We reacted and responded long before the need was even recognized. Therefore, nothing ventured, progress gained! Gay Nudist Day was inaugurated! Taking responsibility for ourselves as bare practitioners was an important step forward for us as a community and culture unto ourselves!
All together!
This year, observing Bare Practitioner’s Day/Gay Nudist Day, Aaron, my spouse, and I had family joining us in our home in Richmond, Virginia, for the weekend. My Twin, Alex and his partner, Dante; our first cousin, Michael and his partner, Ropati; and Aaron’s older brother Paul and his boyfriend, Sudhir. Our skinny-dipping excursion to the James River and our “unofficial” gay nude beach was a daily undertaking. We took advantage of the Bare Practitioner Day/Gay Nudist Day occasion and extended our holiday to include today and tonight.
Aaron took the day off from hospital and should the weather cooperate,another day of skinny-dipping in Alex and my “old” nudist resort (unofficial) – a public park located along the riverfront inside Richmond city. Monday evening, my bare practitioner buddy from my youth, Paul Turner and his new “significant other” are joining us for dinner and we’re watching an old movie classic from 1999 – “The Wood” – that features nothing same gender loving but it does have some naked fun! This film is a favourite of Aaron, Paul Turner, Michael and me!
“The Wood” Taye Diggs is modestly naked!
The film stars Taye Diggs who’s completely – but modest – naked in the above .gif along with his co-stars covered in only blue towels: Omar Epps and Richard T. Jones.
Although the starring trio are all (supposedly) heterosexual, their hosing antics in the clothes free scene above do cause us to wonder as to their bare practitioner status!
Taye Diggs appears to be comfortable with his nakedness!
The trio are friends from their teen years and have recently recovered Roland (Taye Diggs) from his disappearance prior to his wedding.
Hosing as punishment!
The decision to spray Roland (Taye Diggs) with a garden hose as punishment for disappearing is lost on me. It has been at least five years since I last watched the film in its entirety!
Eventually, Roland is perturbed over his outdoor “shower!”
The three naturists in the backyard scene have been best friends since growing up together in Inglewood, California – hence the movie title: “The Wood.” The comedy-drama deals with the peculiarities of young adult men and their issues.
Taye Diggs as Roland in his solo nude scene!
The irony of watching a bare heterosexual cast perform on bare practitioner’s day was duly noted by all when we came together.
Richard T. Jones gives Taye Diggs a final hose squirt!
I need to thank my friend, Paul Turner, for emailing to me the .gif clips from The Wood so that I could share them with all of you here!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, July 18, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “Excessive Evidence!”
The exterior view of The Stonewall Inn, Christopher Street, New York City, New York, USA, where history happened the evening of 27/28 June, 1969!
Background:
Friday, 27 June, 1969, was a very hot and humid day in New York City. Everyone was anxiously awaiting the approaching weekend and the freedom from having to struggle for relief from the oppressive weather.
At that time, the same gender loving people were known, at least in “polite” society, as “homosexuals” (a name now considered derogatory). The popular nickname was “homos.” This segment of the New York City population was not only oppressed by the weather but also by the bias, discrimination, hatred, marginalization and violence of the general population against all persons seen as homos.
There were laws prohibiting homosexuality socially on record in 49 of the fifty states of the USA. Illinois had repealed its anti-homosexuality legal restrictions in 1961. All segments of society: general, government, legal and religious were united against the “deviant” (homosexual) peoples.
It was unlawful for homosexuals to gather together in public. They were fired from their jobs for being thought of as being homosexual without any legal recourse. They were ridiculed and attacked publicly often without any consequence for those assaulting them. Simply being a homosexual was considered a criminal act.
Everyone was required, by law, to wear clothing appropriate to their birth gender. The only legal exception was for Halloween.
The Stonewall Inn:
The Stonewall Inn (it was never a hotel) opened as a bar catering to the homosexual community in 1967. Prior to that, it had been a stable (for horses), a French bakery, a tearoom and lastly a restaurant that had burned out of business. Upon renovation, it opened as a tavern (bar) on 18 March, 1967, under Mafia-affiliated management and owned by the Genovese crime family.
The establishment consisted of two main rooms, each with its own dance floor. The front room was popular with older clientele and the back room attracted the younger ones.
“The door of the Stonewall had wrought-iron bars across this little “peephole,” a little wooden thing that slid open. The man inside would look at you and, it you looked like you belonged there, he would let you in.” ~ Chris Babick ~ describing the entrance to the Stonewall Inn
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Friday evening, 27 June 1969:
Most of the patrons gathered inside the Stonewall Inn were looking forward to a night of dancing with their friends, relaxing with watered-down cocktails and enjoying a summer’s Friday night in New York City in a place relatively comfortable and safe for homosexual acquaintances. They had no idea that they were about to witness an historical event that would change their lives – and the homosexual world – forever.
Both the dance floors at Stonewall Inn were full of dancing homosexual couples. It was now just after midnight and 28 June, 1969, was now in its infancy. Suddenly, the music stopped. The lights that were dimmed to enhance the atmosphere came back on in a bright glare that caught everyone by surprise. Almost simultaneously, the realization dawned on the festive crowds: New York City police were raiding the bar!
The New York City Police Department was long familiar with conducting raids on homosexual bars (both female and male). Their process for the procedure was fairly routine and standard. They recognized homosexuals as a relatively compliant and passive crowd. For this reason, only one police transport vehicle (“paddy-wagon”) and one marked police squad car were involved in the raid.
Less than a dozen officers were assigned the task of managing and segregating the clientele, confiscating all the alcohol and arresting the Stonewall Inn employees.
Patrons outside Stonewall Inn, early evening, Friday, 27 June, 1969!
Early Saturday morning, 28 June, 1969:
“The police weren’t letting us dance! If there’s one place in the world where you can dance and feel yourself fully as a person and that’s threatened with being taken away, those words are fighting words!” ~ Tommy Lanigan-Schmidt ~ Stonewall Inn patron and participant
The arrival of the police raiding force caused pandemonium to erupt inside the Stonewall Inn. Customers searched in vain for an escape route or for a place to hide. The police immediately began confiscating both liquor and beer as evidence against the establishment and segregating the bar crowd: bar employees, cross-dressers (transgender persons) and the “regular” homosexuals.
The bar employees and cross-dressers were to be arrested for their individual violating the law. The “regular” homosexuals, once they showed officers their proper identification, were to be given citations and then permitted to leave.
The year, 1969, was at the end of a decade that had witnessed massive social unrest. The African-American protests for civil rights, the birth of the feminist and women’s rights movements, the anti-Vietnam war and peace demonstrations and the equal pay marches for primarily Latino/Latina immigrant farm workers were underway during this time. The homosexuals who had participated in some of these public unrests were energized and many wondered when their time for equality would happen. Little did they, and the police raiding the Stonewall Inn, realize that moment had arrived!
As the police began checking the identities of those inside the Stonewall Inn, those with proper credentials were released and herded outside the bar. Only this time, instead of simply leaving the premises, they congregated on the sidewalks and across the street at the Christopher Street Park. Once law enforcement attempted to disperse them, they grew confrontational and belligerent.
Unaccustomed to homosexual defiance, the police continued to press the order to vacate the area. The growing crowd, emboldened by their frustration with being treated as “deviants” and second-class citizens, began to chant and to empty nearby trash cans and hurl the garbage at the officers.
By this time, passers-by, curious as to what was happening, joined the upset homosexuals to express their dissatisfaction with the raid. The crowd outside the Stonewall Inn began to grow in both number, anger and curiosity. When word of what had transpired inside the tavern began to spread, even more homosexuals started to descend into the inn’s neighborhood and amass in the bar’s vicinity.
Angry crowd outside Stonewall Inn, early Saturday morning, 28 June 1969!
SIR: Stonewall Inn Riot commences:
By now, the police, trapped inside the facility by the large crowd outside, understood that the situation had gotten beyond their control. They tried to call for reinforcements but were unable to reach any source for assistance. They had secured the bar but were confined inside and the crowd outside was swelling in both size and fury. A few hundred bar patrons had now increased into an angry mob of several thousand and more were joining by the minute.
“You could hear screaming outside, a lot of noise from the protesters, and it was a good sound. It was a real good sound that, you know, you had a lot of people out there pulling for you.” ~ Raymond Castro ~ Stonewall Inn customer detained inside the bar under siege
No one in the New York City Police Department had anticipated the homosexuals, always believed to be “meek and mild,” would fight back. The years of abuse, neglect, oppression, and ridicule had taken their toll, and the frustration had now become revolution; the time for retribution was at hand. Unfortunately for law enforcement, the pent-up anger toward the police was now being released and returned in kind. They were now prisoners inside the Stonewall Inn.
Two hours after the raid was initiated, the raiders and their detainees were trapped and no immediate relief was available. The two-way communication devices between the raiding party and their office weren’t working and the only public telephone inside the tavern wasn’t able to connect with any local police precincts. The “passive” homosexuals had finally achieved a “first” in their spontaneous riot: the police were contained, surrounded and they were all very nervous. By now, the mob outside the Greenwich Village bar numbered several thousand with a full-fledged riot underway.
SIR: Stonewall Inn Riot!Multiple police attack a protester early Saturday morning, 28 June, 1969!
In an effort to relieve the inflammatory predicament, the isolated police decided to send the detainees and half the officers trapped inside the tavern, using the two police vehicles on site, to the closest local precinct. There, the detainees would be formally charged with arrest, and the officers could make arrangements for a police riot force to assemble and rescue the remaining law enforcement personnel. This relief effort finally returned to the bar and eventually dispersed the angry mob of homosexuals and curious onlookers several hours later.
Saturday evening, 28 June, 1969:
Despite damage to the Stonewall Inn, the bar opened for business (dancing and socializing) the following night, Saturday, 28 June. by then, word of the disturbance the previous evening had spread throughout the city’s largely closeted (anonymous) homosexual community (primarily by word of mouth). The city officials and law enforcement superior officers were hesitant to release information that would encourage more aggressive reaction.
A larger than usual crowd gathered both inside and outside the Greenwich Village establishment. Most didn’t expect a repeat raid of the night before and a significant number of those in attendance mainly wanted to inspect the damage. The police, however, had different ideas. They were strictly outside the facility in full force with a large number in riot gear. They had learned their lesson and were determined to remain in complete control should the patrons become unruly again.
The homosexuals and the neighbourhood residents had been empowered by the riot the night before and of the mindset not to bullied into submission again. As the large police presence attempted to disperse those gathered outside the Stonewall Inn, they were confronted by verbal insults and an array of street-savvy tactics that set law enforcement chase off onlookers, only to have them run around the city block and return again.
Silent obedience to uniformed policemen was no longer a fact of life for New York City’s homosexuals. They were tired of suffering abuse, disrespect, ridicule and treatment as second-class citizens.
A crowd lining the sidewalk on the Stonewall Inn city block watched by police, Saturday evening, 28 June, 1969!
The second night of the Stonewall Inn congregation wasn’t as aggressively disruptive as the previous night. No further damage was done to the tavern facility. However, an awakening consciousness was raised within the municipal homosexual community that would change the way society viewed them and – most importantly – the way they perceived themselves.
For the first time, the often assumed obedient and passive homosexuals joined together and defended their rights and demonstrated that they, as a community, had finally and long last, “had enough!”
“There was no gay pride before Stonewall. Only gay fear and gay isolation and gay distrust and gay self-hatred.” ~ Edmond White ~ American gay novelist and Stonewall witness
Our GLBTQ+ Progress Pride flag!
Footnote: This posting entry was from a research paper that I composed for class distribution that I taught at my university, 2015 – 2018.
Sources:
Bausman, Ann “Stonewall: Breaking Out for Gay Rights”
Doberman, Martin F. “Stonewall: A History”
Naked hugs!
Roger Peterson-Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, June 30, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “Bottoms-Up! June, 2025!
ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers! 