Stop! Confusion!

Halt! Stop!

Important Notice:

Before progressing it is necessary to inform all the reader’s here that ReNude Pride’s author – myself – has made a stupid error! After publishing my previous post entry here this past Monday, I became consumed with composing Bare Modesty? for today. An overly ambitious but also grave mistake by me! There is no one to blame but myself!

Although on holiday from university, I lacked the ability, the energy, the expertise, the skill and the talent to complete the intended posting. I became confused, distracted and totally helpless! It soon became obvious that I was unable to continue on the Bare Modesty? topic and meet the publication deadline. I am setting the entire project aside for the moment. I will publish it – revised – during next month.

I sincerely apologize for inconveniencing you. I ask for your forgiveness and understanding. I am truly sorry for having confusing you like I have been confused. In summation, I offer the old adage: “Two wrongs do not equal one right!”

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

Offering directions!

Now let’s direct this idea forward. Today’s substitute entry will approach the topic of modesty but from a completely different angle. Hence, the choice of the header image just below the article title to this – my blunder! This photograph depicts a bare practitioner using a fig leaf with his outstretched palm, indicating “stop!” His genitalia is theoretically “covered” by the proverbial fig leaf, yet his nakedness remains implied, obvious and understood by all.

Instead of concealing his penis, the fig leaf has the exact opposite effect. It directs our attention and focus on his state of being bare – body and clothes freedom – and not the usefulness of the fig leaf itself: covering. Hiding. Disguising. Concealment.

A very inefficient and poor attempt to satisfy one’s intention: modesty!

Also, an excellent and opportune linkage of this, a substitute composition, to the intended topic of modesty itself! Completely unplanned and yet a total coincidence! At least, this provides me the chance to offer this substitute entry as an “introductory prologue” to the upcoming publication of the original planned topic of Bare Modesty?

I earlier published here regarding the fig leaf and censorship. Please click the title below to visit that posting:

Lose The Fig Leaf!

Ineffective covering!

The utilization of the fig leaf for modesty is biblically referenced but lacks any proof or additional notation of supposed divine inspiration. The practice actually gained acceptance and notoriety later when artistically inspired to comply with popular religious developments to disguise the profusion of nudity in ecclesiastical artifacts: carvings, icons, portraits and statues.

This concept grew in both popularity and practice even though it became identified as a means of including blatantly naked representation within acceptable sacred approval.

Thus, church censorship and elimination of offensive – therefore unholy – nude depictions in ecclesiastical facilities and possession inadvertently preserved the evolution into the pornography business today.

There is no wonder of the obsession of the clergy over the current excesses of pornographic material! They have no one else to blame for it’s prevalence besides themselves or rather, their own professional forebears!

Confused!

The sense of confusion undergoing the ecclesiastical elite is comprehensible. They are the responsible authorities who defiled and determined that a creation of their deity was indecent, offensive and unfit for public exposition!

Not only did they endorse the concept and practice of social nudity by decorating it with a fig leaf; they also encouraged the growth and popularity of the ideal! Basically and essentially they had canonized both the fig leaf and the state of public nakedness! Their actions (or inactions) created a shared bonding of the fig leaf and naked as one common and united factor that has become body and clothes freedom: a movement that advocates and supports social nudity both privately and publicly everywhere.

As a bare practitioner, does this mean that my spouse, Aaron, and I are now sanctified? I already know that we are both saints but this status carries us into an entirely higher level of church endorsed responsibility!

Felipe Ferreira poses with an enlarged fig leaf!

The association of the fig leaf with nakedness introduces an entirely new relationship into the purpose of and the definition of modesty. From this perspective, fig leaf and nakedness and modesty itself now become a synonymous dynamic. Fig leaf implies cover (hide). Nakedness implies nudity. Modesty implies cover (hide). Therefore, nakedness or nudity are identical and/or synonymous throughout.

Or perhaps I have created even more confusion in this ambiguous post entry. Only time will reveal the truth. However, this remains as my prologue to Bare Modesty?

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, January 15, 2024, and the proposed topic is: ” MLK’s Legacy!”

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?”

Footnote!

Footnote Friday!

It’s the first Friday of the new nude year, 2024. Depending on perspective, it could possibly be the nude new year, 2024! There is always a second opinion as to what is acceptable and proper and what isn’t. That introduction brings us directly to the purpose of today’s post topic: “footnote!”

No, it most certainly isn’t a note written to ourselves on our feet!

A gentle yet not-too-subtle reminder that my traditional publication days here on ReNude Pride are Mondays and Fridays. Hence the footnote for today. It’s a Friday, the first one of 2024. Therefore, we can all remind ourselves that it is officially – at least – a footnote day!

While we are covering the subject of footnote, it is appropriate that we include the reality that this site advocates in favour of, encourages and endorses nakedness! We’re bare practitioners – same gender loving souls who practice body and clothes freedom whenever and wherever we are able. We are not obsessed with fashion although we are very fashionable when we’re wearing nothing but a smile!

Gio Dell: bare practitioner!

The overwhelming majority of us bare practitioners accept, respect and understand that there are varying levels of comfort with all of us and our nudity. Some of us may appear “bold and brave” without clothing and others among us may be very discreet and modest. There is no predetermined or set standard of acceptability of our being bare. What is good for one may not be for another.

As with any cultural or social group, individuals may and often do react differently, depending on the circumstances. All of us feel and respond in our own way in whatever situation we find ourselves. There is no magical formula that is applicable to us all!

Our reaction to our nakedness is no exception. Some of us appear unconcerned about appearing in front of others completely nude while there are others who are very discreet when naked among others. This is typical among all people, bare or textile. Some are confident, some are less confident and reticent. Human nature at our best!

Bare confidence!

The diversity of our reactions to our personal nakedness depends of factors that happened during our lives. Some of us were raised in families with no restrictions on nudity and no cause for discomfort or shame about sharing our clothes freedom with others, no matter of the clothing status of the others. Naked is “natural” therefore no reaction is needed nor obliged.

Some of us were brought up in families where naked was frowned upon and seen as indecent. Yet they developed no negative judgments or views on being bare either alone or in the company of others. This indifference towards clothes freedom was simply a natural reaction to what they consider a natural situation – no cause for discomfort!

The Shoneye Twins: proud (left) and modest (right)!

There are also those who grew up in households where bareness was acceptable and allowed/encouraged yet have no interest in being without clothing in any situation. Another example of the development of personality independent of any special interest. The human preference and spirit varies from individual to individual and isn’t entirely based on how one was raised.

One of the greatest misunderstandings is the generally accepted belief that bare practitioners have no sense of modesty. This is a concept that many assume is fact but is many times proven to be fallible. There are numerous incidents where the advocates for body and clothes freedom often are the ones who place restrictions on social settings where they are comfortable being nude. Again, this is based on individual preference and not determined by any obligation or rule about what is or is not allowed.

It is important that rather than judging a person on their comfort/discomfort with appearing bare among others – clothed or unclothed – we take into account their respective reasoning and allow them the freedom to practice their respective levels of acceptance and their individual comfort level of nakedness. All of us deserve the right to be exactly what and who we are!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, January 8, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “ReNude Pride: Seven!”

BBF’s!

Best Bare Friends!

January 3, 2009: a Saturday. Mr. Obama still retained the official designation of “president-elect” for about another two weeks. Jay (my soon-to-be BBF) and I arrived separately at the Naked Happy Hour (nude cocktails) event in downtown Washington, D.C. We stripped off all our clothes in the second floor men’s room with over 100 other guys. We proceeded downstairs (clothes free) to the bar area and that’s where we met. We’ve been BBFs (bare best friends) ever since then; exactly fifteen (15) years ago today!

This day was more than a full year before Aaron and I met one another. As a matter of fact, Jay was very encouraging to Aaron and myself and was the singular “honourary” best man for both Aaron and myself on August 15, 2015, the day that we got married. Fortunately, over the years, Aaron and Jay have also become BBfs together!

For the past four years, Jay’s bromantic partner is Raheem. Ever since we’ve met him, Raheem has been an integral component of our now BBF foursome. He fits as an appropriate “odd man” as he’s the only one of us who “wore” clothes until he met up with Jay! His unofficial designation (in jest) is as our “token textile convert!”

Despite our often laughing at Raheem’s “novelty” nudity status, we’ve welcomed him into our clothes free world. Amazing, he does have an enthusiasm for social nakedness and enjoys our outings among others as well as among ourselves. Jay often has a “new” Raheem tale of “naked energy” to share with us. It is rewarding to be with another who is enthralled with body and clothes freedom.

Over the 15 years of our “best bare friendship,” Jay and I have both considered not only the timing of our meeting one another but also the chronological implications. It was very early into a new calendar year, the actual third day of January, 2009. The day held promise and excitement. To start with, it was a very moderate day temperature-wise, I wore shorts and sandals to the planned “naked cocktail” event. An unusual occurrence for January of any year in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The unseasonably warm outdoor temperatures contributed to the exceptional crowd gathered for the bare “happy hour” gathering!

The crowd was one of the reasons that Jay and I met. I was looking over the attendance for a place to sit. Jay was seated at a “table-for-two” and had no one in the opposite chair. I approached him and…voila, we met! We shared the same table for a couple of hours, exchanging notes with one another and Jay practicing his American Sign Language (ASL). Before parting as the naked cocktails event ended and “textile cocktails” (clothed cocktails) began, we shared email addresses and agreed to keep in touch with one another.

We sent emails throughout the week following our meeting and were both very excited about Obama’s upcoming inauguration and the commencement of both change and hope for all of us living in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. We discussed meeting for a lunch during one of the upcoming weekends but were unsure of the throngs of people anticipated before the swearing in of the new president. One of the suggested dates was to wait until after the president’s event and people returned home.

We didn’t have to delay our next encounter together. The following Saturday, nor January 10, 2009, we surprised one another (again) by eventually realizing that we were both shopping inside a bookstore in Arlington, Virginia. The confusion was based on the fact that neither one of us recognized the other because we were wearing clothes. We only knew one another through being naked – not under the disguise of garments!

Unfortunately, we didn’t recall one another until we were leaving the booksellers. It did provide us both with laughter as we realized this would probably be the contact incident that would permanently seal our friendship!

“Sorry! I didn’t recognize you wearing clothes!”

Naked friendships cause less confusion than one might think!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, January 5, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Footnote!”

2024!

Keep it simple, keep it bare!
Here’s to 2024!

Happy New Nude Year, 2024, to one and to all!

This is the only holiday in the entire calendar year that is celebrated, commemorated, and observed, internationally and universally! The welcoming of a new year into all of our lives is the same for all of us. This day is the same in every language that is communicated and in every dance that can be motivated!

Stripping and dancing!
Dancing while stripping!
Being bare together is so much fun!
Bare friends are good friends!
All together!

“For all of us, as same gender loving people, we must remember that as members of a distinct minority community and culture, it is incumbent on us to recognize that our pride ourselves is based on our self-acceptance and our self-confidence of both what and who we are. Guilt and shame have no place in our lives. We need to let them go and move forward in patience and tolerance for all. Love and respect are the keys we need. Hate and ignorance are not.”

~ Roger Poladopoulos ~ June 16, 2023

All bare together!

If we all joined together, today is the day that all over, we would be united in a bare spirit of anticipation and hope for the future! Content with our dream of harmony, peace and tranquility!

Enjoy naked friends!
Becoming comfortable!
Montgomery becomes comfortable!

In the Northern Hemisphere, it is now winter and inside our homes we can strip off our clothes and invite our guests to do the same. This way, we can offer a natural greeting to our new, 2024 calendar!

Southern Hemisphere beach time!

Our fellow bare practitioners residing in the Southern Hemisphere, it is now the summer season and we can conveniently strip off our swimsuit and greet the new nude year with a skinny-dip (naked swim)!

On this day, all throughout this world, our nakedness is an experience that we can all offer to ourselves and to one another. A tribute that we can engage in and enjoy!

Happy new nude year, 2024, to everyone!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Wednesday, January 3, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “BBFs!

Bottoms-Up! December, 2023!

Summoning us all together!

Come one! Come all! We’re joining in together to close out 2023, and the month of December! Now, we join with Mr. Francois Sagat in baring our buttocks to bid “farewell” to the old and to “welcome” the new!

Francois Sagat: live and in reflection!

Nice bottoms-up! you have, brother Francois!

Thank you, 2023!

It was a fun year! The memories will be with us all for quite a while!

Bottoms-up! in triplicate!

Bare buttocks and the blue sea! A rewarding way to welcome 2024!

Bottom’s-up! development!

Our Equatorial bottom’s-up! features a pyramid of booties that rival the classic structures of the ancient Egyptians!

A Bottom’s-up! pillow for the weary!

The above Bottom’s-up! opportunity allows us to offer comfort for those who are fatigued or weary!

A temptation!

And to energize ourselves in order to share our bottoms-up! appreciation!

A 2024 welcome!

A well-earned greeting for 2024, the new year!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for tomorrow, Monday, January 1, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “2024!”

Boxing Day!

Boxed!

Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated the day after Christmas (unless it is a Sunday). It was originally a day to give gifts to the poor people or to service (domestic) staff. The observance began in Great Britain in the 1700s and today is honoured in the UK and especially nations within the Commonwealth. For many, it remains a time to remember all those considered the less fortunate.

A boxed gift for Boxing Day!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Sunday, December 31, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Bottoms-Up! December, 2023!”

First Day of Winter, 2023!

Winter!

Today is the first day of Winter, 2023! Sunglasses and sunscreen? Where is the sun?

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Tuesday, December 26, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Boxing Day!”

Season’s Greetings!

Happy holidays to everyone!

ReNude Pride appreciates you as a bare practitioner and your support for this, our site!

May your Winter Holidays be filled with both happiness and safety for you and all those that you love! Best wishes and naked hugs for each and every one of you!

Juggling for fun!

If at all possible, make an effort to share some of your holiday spirit with someone less fortunate!

Exercise for fitness!

Take care of yourself, emotionally, mentally and physically!

Bright lights for you!
A dancing elf to bring you joy!
A surprise usually always earns a smile!
The only way to travel!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The nest post entry here is planned for Thursday, December 21, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “First Day of Winter!”

Schedule!

Lecture Hall!

The university’s Autumn, 2023, semester has officially ended; all examinations have been conducted, results documented, reports submitted. My professional obligations are through for the remainder of this calendar year!

Celebrating!

“It is a very festive and social time of the year, even though the bleak winter season is here!”

Our dancing bare practitioner is already in the mood for the 2023 Winter Holiday season. He’s absolutely got the bounce, the look, the moves and the rhythm as he allows it to flow through his body while flaunting his nakedness!

His confidence and pride is vying for the first place spot as his spirit inspires us all! He even brought his back-up “dance” circle with him to liven our mood and to endorse his good cheer!

Back-up circle dancers!

Below is the ReNude Pride post entry schedule for the remainder of December, 2023:

Monday, December 18, 2023: Season’s Greetings!

Sunday, December 31, 2023: Bottom’s-Up! December, 2023!

Monday, January 1, 2024: 2024!

Dancing with his reflection!

Enjoy all of your Winter Holiday endeavours! Remember to return on Monday, December 18!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry is planned for Monday, December 18, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Season’s Greetings!”