World AIDS Day turns 30 years old today. The very first global commemoration to raise awareness of the HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) was observed on December 1, 1988 – seven years into the struggle against HIV/AIDS. Normally, this type of anniversary would be a cause of celebration. However, the fact that humanity still suffers from this disease is no reason for jubilation. Yes, we have had a few remarkable successes in fighting this pandemic; but the fact remains that we continue to lose both lives and talent.
Category: history
Armistice Day, Remembrance Day, Veteran’s Day, 2018
One hundred years ago today, at 11:00 a.m., November 11, 1918, the Great War (World War I) came to an end as the fighting on the Western Front (northern France) ended the hostilities with the signing of the armistice (cease-fire). The Treaty of Versailles, officially ending the war, wouldn’t be signed until June 28, 1919. The more than four years of fighting resulted in the highest number of civilian and military casualties ever recorded and continues to reverberate our history still to this day.
Continue reading Armistice Day, Remembrance Day, Veteran’s Day, 2018
Friday #4: Bare GLBTQ History Month
Today is the final feature in this series, GLBTQ Bare History Month, a part of the celebration of October as GLBTQ History Month here on ReNude Pride. As promised in the first installment of this series, this week’s theme is Skinny-Dipping (swimming naked). There are just some things in life that always withstand the tests of both time and generations and skinny-dipping apparently is one of those activities. Skinny-Dipping or nude swimming or natural swimming is one of those bare activities that is enjoyed and practiced all around the world.
Friday #3: Bare GLBTQ History Month
This is the third installation published on ReNude Pride in honor of October as GLBTQ History Month not only in the USA but also in Australia and Canada. The theme for this week’s featured series is Gay Photographer, Gay Models. This post offers a departure from the earlier postings in this series as both the photographer and his subjects were gay at a time when simply acknowledging being same gender loving was illegal throughout the world. The were no “safe havens” from the law or prosecution.
Friday #2: Bare GLBTQ History Month
Today is the second Friday of October, 2018, Bare GLBTQ History Month for those reading or visiting here at ReNude Pride. If anyone missed last Friday’s installment, we’re taking a step back in time and examining photos of what could perhaps be gay/bisexual bare history. Clothes-free men enjoying the camaraderie of being naked together and having fun. Some people mistakenly believe that the practice of going bare (naked, nude) is a very recent phenomenon and don’t realize that humans have been bare practitioners since the beginning of time.
October 11: Coming Out Day
October 11, annually, is Coming Out Day a time for all gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer (GLBTQ) people to open the closet (secret hiding place) door and step out into the world as a proud member of the GLBTQ community. National Coming Out Day is observed on October 11, in the USA and is also celebrated on October 12, in other countries throughout the world. The term “coming out” is used when persons who are GLBTQ take the steps to let others know of their sexual orientation.
USA: Columbus Day Holiday
The second Monday of every October is the observed Columbus Day Federal holiday in the USA. It is a national (federal) day set aside to honor Christopher Columbus and the beginning of the colonization of the Americas, both North and South. It is commemorated in some of the individual states in the USA and disregarded in others. It is a controversial observance in that originally it credited Columbus with “discovering” the “New World” when, in fact, all he did was introduce the indigenous populations to exploitation, greed, disease, famine, oppression and theft.
Friday #1: Bare GLBTQ History Month
A mad and enthusiastic race to be the first man to skinny-dip (swim naked) in the inviting ocean is the 2018 featured image to headline this year’s Bare GLBTQ History Month series during October here at ReNude Pride. The headline image for the 2018 series of this feature is of a group of men, already stripped out of their clothes and racing to be the first to skinny-dip into the ocean. The last Friday of this month showcases photos of men skinny-dipping, either alone or with friends.
USA: October Is GLBTQ History Month
In the USA, October is celebrated as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (GLBTQ) History Month. This observance is a time when many educators use the opportunity to share highlights with their students of personalities and events throughout history, both contemporary and from the past, that involved or were affected by members of our community. In some instances, the lives of some of the persons featured are historic simply because of their accomplishments and achievements. This observance helps to eradicate the myth that our community is simply a modern phenomenon.
New Class This Year!
The new academic year began for me almost weeks ago. A new journey with new faces and new students to enlighten and to inspire (hopefully). It is also exciting for me, personally and professionally, as I am one of a team of three professors collaborating on a new class being offered this semester. As this upcoming November 11, 2018, marks the centenary of the signing of the armistice that ended the Great War of 1914-1918 (World War I), this particular class offers a retrospective on that event, the “war to end all wars.”
ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers! 