Category: history

On Clothes!

Clothes free, naturally!

On Clothes

by Kahlil Gibran

And the weaver said, “Speak to us of clothes.”

And he answered: “Your clothes conceal much of your beauty, yet they hide not the unbeautiful.

And though you seek in garments the freedom of privacy, you find in them a harness and a chain.

Would that you could meet the sun and the wind with more of your skin and less of your rainment?

For the breath of life is in the sunlight and the hand of life is the wind.

Some of you say,

“It is the north wind who has woven the clothes to wear.”

But shame was his loom,

and the softening of the sinews was his thread.

And when his work was done he laughed in the forest.

Forget not that modesty is for a shield

against the eye of the unclean.

And when the unclean shall be no more

what were modesty but a fetter and a fouling of the mind?

And forget not that the earth delights

to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.

Kahlil Gibran, 1913, author, philosopher, poet and visual artist!

In this poetic offering, Kahlil Gibran, shares with us his express appreciation of being bare (clothes free, naked, nude) and his distaste for the concealment of the human body with clothing. The “father” of bare practitioners!

He was born on 6 January 1883 in Bsharri, Lebanon, within what was then part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. He emigrated to the United States with his mother and two sisters. He died in New York City on 10 April 1931, at the age of 48 years old.

In On Clothes he unashamedly extols his admiration and devotion to both the concept and practice of being completely bare, nakedness and natural at a time when the very idea of clothes freedom (nudity) was rarely discussed, shared or written about in “polite” – proper – society. We all, as today’s bare practitioners, owe to Kahlil Gibran an enormous debt of gratitude for enlightening our world to the magic and the majesty of being nude alone or socially with others. Without the beauty of his praise, this world would indeed be a very bland and drab world to reside upon!

Self portrait of Kahlil Gibran by Kahlil Gibran!

Gibran’s early death, due to severe liver infection brought on by his heavy consumption of alcohol, denied him the chance to witness the emergence of the same gender loving (SGL: bisexual or gay) culture that surfaced following World War II (1939 – 1945). Since his demise, there has been significant speculation about his own sexual preference. He had a very close woman supporter while living in New York City. However, their relationship was strictly platonic.

Aaron, my spouse and I both feel that the appeal and the fascination of nakedness is universally represented through the efforts and the works of Kahlil Gibran. His Middle East heritage instilled him with the desire and respect for clothes freedom that he brought with him when he emigrated to the United States. On Clothes has become an inspiring verse for clothes off!

We believe that the arrival of springtime brings the anticipation of being totally natural (bare) while enjoying nature. Gibran’s On Clothes reinforces those sentiments while reminding all of us of the awesome beauty of nakedness together!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!

Old Faithful!

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, April 6, 2026, and the proposed topic is: “Bare Celebrity Series #8: XL the Chef!”

Strippers!

In honour of Kahlil Gibran’s “On Clothes” we’re taking off our clothes!

Oopah!*

Ancient Greek Warrior!

* alternate spelling = o`pa

Today, 25 March, is the Feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos (Mother of God). This is when the Archangel Gabriel appeared to St. Mary and told her she was to be the Mother of Jesus. This is a major feast day in the Greek Orthodox Church and also marks the day that the uprising against the Ottoman Turks occupying Greece was launched that led to the creation of the independent Kingdom of Greece in 1821. This feast day began the insurrection when Bishop Germanos reared the flag of revolt over the Monastery of Agia Lavra in the Peloponnese with the cry: “Freedom or Death!” which was adopted as the motto of the revolt.

The government of the newly liberated Haiti was the very first country to recognize Greece. This happened in 1821, barely 6 months after the struggle commenced. Thank you, Haitians, for your confidence!

A Royal Guard, wearing the ivzani, raising the flag of Greece!

The Ottoman Turks were supported during the Greek rebellion by the North African Turkish dependent states of Algeria, Egypt, Tripolitania and Tunis. These auxiliary troops were frequently defeated by the Greek locals who were often armed with inferior firearms and the majority only had farming tools in their defense.

The Treaty of Adrianople in 1829 guaranteed the independence of the Kingdom of Greece by the United Kingdom, France and Imperial Russia. This marked the end of almost 400 consecutive years of Turkish Ottoman occupation and oppression. In 1830, the independent sovereign Kingdom of Greece was recognized by the London Protocol. In 1832, The Treaty of Constantinople was signed by the Turkish sultan defining the borders of the Greek kingdom and established Prince Otto of Bavaria as the first King of Greece. He was later replaced by a prince of Denmark who established the Greek Royal Family.

Modern depiction of an ancient Greek warrior!

Footnote #1: Despite the existence of numerous images showing otherwise, there is very little proof that the ancient Greeks fought bare/naked. Multiple contemporary depictions indicate that they did, very little historical evidence exists to support this as fact. The ancient Greeks were very casual and relaxed with public nakedness but while at war is difficult to presume. There are the dual concerns of personal safety and the production of offspring. Greeks were very supportive of clothes freedom but the ideal has some limitations once conflict is introduced.

The fact that helmets and shields were utilized as protection tools confirms the reality that conflict was understood and that steps were needed in order to safeguard the future.

Map of Greece!

The current territory of Greece. The Dodecanese Islands are the most recent addition to the Greek nation. They were ceded by Italy to Greece in 1947 following Italy’s surrender during World War II. They are the eastern islands coloured green.

The Flag of Greece!

During the rebellion of freedom against the Ottoman Turks, there was not one banner, flag or standard that represented all of the struggle. Many local militias each had their own banner for their municipality or military unit. The adaptation of the insignia for the state occurred after the Ottomans acknowledged the independence of Greece. The modern flag is offered above.

St. George is the guardian saint of Greece and the emblem of his cross is the upper left of the flag. The Cross of St. George also, by law, adorns the top of every pole that supports the nation’s banner (flag). The traditional colours of Greece, blue and white, are the same as the flag and represent the affiliation of the seas and Greek life.

Happy Feast of the Annunciation! Happy Greece!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!

Old Faithful!

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, March 27, 2026, and the proposed topic is: “Time: Go Commando!”

Our Bad!

Jogging on my journey to celebrate the rebirth of Greece!

One Year Later!

A Guy Without Boxers!

Prelude:

The header image (above) is one of the original images that my spouse and I utilized for our original wordpress.com blog, actually entitled Guys Without Boxers. It was published here from late 2012 until the week that we married on 15 August 2015. It was removed from publication by wordpress.com without any notification, reason or explanation whatsoever.

Background:

One year ago, during March 2025, my spouse, Aaron, and I announced here on then simply ReNude Pride that we were planning a renovation for this site. A proposed redesign project that would acknowledge and also involve the inclusion of our initial blogging effort here on wordpress.com. Our plans were to complete the entire project during the month of March. Little did we know about all the strategies involved – the entire project took almost two months to finish and we both agreed no new undertakings – ever!

A secondary photographic header for our original site!

A Friendly Reminder:

In the unlikely chance that someone is here by mistake, Aaron and I are a same gender loving (SGL) married couple who are interracial – he’s African-Canadian and I’m Greek – and were both proudly and publicly advocates of our preferred nakedness lifestyle. In a brief summary, we’re gay nudists and this blog is now officially entitled: ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers! and we celebrate that reality here as often and as visually as possible!

Our initial blog here on wordpress.com was named “Guys Without Boxers!” and our current blog proclaims that heritage. Our “boxer freedom/underwear freedom” campaign encourages the acceptance of our bare practitioner community and culture. SGL nakedness!

Footnote: When putting on our clothes, underwear (boxers, briefs, jock strap, bikini, etc.) is the first garment item to be donned. Hence, no underwear implies no clothes so we must be naked!

Therefore, if you’re here by accident or have no interest whatsoever in either of our obvious reasons for publication, you may want to exit here, now!

A TOE*

TOE = treasure of evolution

One of the surprising results of our renovation undertaking project was our public acknowledgment of the fact that we – Aaron and I – as a married couple do indeed watch adult entertainment DVDs (gay porn) and that we are at least familiar with their cast (performers). This public revelation was a part of this site’s evolution from the past and into our journey into today.

Another result of our remodel is the current popular series offered here “bare celebrities.” Like many surprises, it wasn’t planned, it just happened – totally unpredicted! Perhaps there is a tidbit of psychic truth in the adage the truth shall set you free!

A real treasure of evolution is our expansion of signatures at the conclusion of post entries here. Again, it happened without planning yet it afforded another opportunity for uniqueness for ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers! More proof that we are indeed without any clothing except our shoes!

In drafting today’s post entry, Aaron approached me with another “bare relic” for our offering of signatures (above): one of Francois Sagat jogging comfortably (clothes free) along a beach and with a textile (clothed) audience of one. Now an additional signature option featuring a popular bare practitioner who just conveniently appears jogging barefoot: completely and totally with body freedom and no excuses required!

Exactly the way we should all be: comfortable, confident and proud of ourselves just for being what and who we naturally are as bare practitioners! A pleasant and productive commemorating community and culture of accomplishment of just simply being ourselves with no condemnation, fear, guilt, intimidation, judgment or shame!

USA: Time Change Sunday!

A reminder to all that the transitional month of March continues the tradition of officially changing the time zones with the conversion to daylight savings time (DST) this upcoming Sunday, 8 March 2026 at precisely 2:00 a.m.

In whatever time zone one lives, at 2:00 a.m., the clock, timepiece, watch, etc., advances to 3:00 a.m. Many digital devices will automatically reflect the change. Some will need a manual adjustment. Most analog devices require a manual adaptation. Check your owner’s manual for verification.

It makes no difference where on your body you wear your watch, remember to adjust your timepiece and check it upon rising on Sunday! Otherwise, you’ll be apologizing for your tardiness to everyone all day long!

Rest assured, our days do not actually become longer. This ritual just offers us all an “extra” hour of daylight before sunset each day. Another “springtime initiation” that happens annually!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, March 9, 2026, and the proposed topic is: “Bare Celebrity Series #7: Practice = Perfection!”

March Forward! Progress!

Follow me!

March forward! Progress! March, the month that encourages our replenishment of ourselves and our renude (renewed) progress as both an individual, as a community and as a culture! Bare practitioners resolute in our quest for recognition and respect!

March forward! Progress! March, here in the Northern Hemisphere, is our traditional “transitional” month! Important, memorable and necessary as this is the month that marks our transition (change) from the dreadfully depressing and dull days of winter into the joys of spring!

Pace yourselves!

Due to this ecstatic progress, “March forward!” is a proverbial useless command. Some march, some run, some stroll and some saunter and then there are those clueless ones who aimlessly wander along, set in their own pace. What is critical is that we’re all moving together – in both our nakedness and also in the same direction!

March f-o-r-w-a-r-d! Trust me, no one wants to awaken tomorrow morning moving closer to winter than spring. F-o-r-w-a-r-d! Progress!

Keep your eyes open!

During this month of transition, the routine of daylight savings time (DST) occurs annually. The final result unfortunately is not any reward of extra time but simply a “gift” of longer days of sunlight due to time adjustments.

March also delivers the official arrival of the season of springtime every year! This includes our excitement about the fading frigid temperatures outside and the renewed of warmer temperatures in our natural environment! This annual event is honoured in our outdoor world with the return of foliage to our forests and woodlands as springtime blooms and blossoms all around us.

Flexing his muscles!

Here at ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers! we are encouraged to practice the custom and habit of Spring Resolutions with the arrival of the rejuvenating season instead of the barren and burdensome drudgery of new year’s resolutions!

The arrival of springtime is welcoming to change and conducive to progress. The new year arrival at the onset of the winter season is merely too depressing an atmosphere!

Bare swimmers!

Bonus Reward:

The month of March also brings those of us residing in the Northern Hemisphere closer to eager arrival of the summer season and our fanciful practice of skinny dipping (swimming nude) in bodies of water offered in our natural world!

Ancient Greek warriors!

Triple Bonus Rewards!

March additionally offers the Feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos (Mother of God)! The day that heralded the uprising against the Turkish Ottoman Empire and led to the establishment of the Kingdom of Greece by uniting the crown, the church and the state!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys WithoutBoxers!

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, March 6, 2026, and the proposed topic is: “One Year Later!”

Bonus Post: A Bare Celebrity Review!

Our bare celebrity today is the amazing model, male escort and porn star, Venezuelan-born, Gio Dell! His primary area of service is New York City, New York, USA. Although, if the money is right, he can be flown wherever he is needed!

Gio is posing in the outdoor pool as he hosts today’s post entry here on ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers! His bare buttocks proclaim his nakedness and one of his obvious assets!

He’s joined by his step-brother in real life, Armani, who is also a model, male escort and porn actor. Both are very public about their same gender love (SGL) identity and their being nakedness advocates.

Step-brothers Gio Dell (left) and Armani!

They are jointly offering a review (below) of our expanded signature feature here that we use to conclude our postings here.

Old Faithful:

Our original running and long featured image! Good man and good job!

Splashman:

He’s our first recent addition and our very first to be offered in and/or near the water!

Our Bad:

His name is special because Aaron and I both forgot about him and/or misplaced his image from a couple of years ago! Our fault, our mistake!

Francois:

Francois is the only name that we have to offer because retired gay adult film industry actor, Francois Sagat is exactly who he is in real life!

Strippers:

The only signature to feature buttocks as opposed to a full frontal view. So named because they are removing their underwear and discarding it across their shoulders!

Hopefully, Aaron and I can cope and manage the added task of recalling our expanded listing and all of our options!

Thank you both, Gio and Armani for hosting today’s post entry here. They’ll both return here to host there second part: the upcoming Preview! planned to be published towards the end of March, 2026!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, February 27, 2026, and the proposed topic is: “A Penny For My Thoughts!”

Author’s Note #2: I’m not going to repeat a listing again. My concluding signature will be “Old Bad” solo today!

Ms. Unknown Discovered!

Elizabeth Jennings Graham (1895)

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!”

Bare + Black = Queer!

Back in the day, fun for everyone!

A Vintage Photo-Essay of Bare + Black = Queer!

For decades, the myth has persisted that Black people never engaged in nor enjoyed nakedness and same-gender attraction until they were taught by White people. This supposedly didn’t happen until after the Stonewall Inn Riots (SIR) occurred in June 1969. Up until then, an intended derogatory word – queer – was often used to describe us. After SIR, we “stepped-up” and proudly “owned” (acknowledged) the word. Now, we’re queer and we’re still here!

Together!

An historical vintage gallery of being both bare and queer – ourselves – before the SIR even happened!

The hairstyles of those in the pictures featured here are indicative of the period of the late 1940s through the early 1960s. The fact that these photographs survived prove that long before the Stonewall riots, the Black community had knowledge of and persons who preferred same gender love and their nakedness.

These images dispel the mistaken beliefs that African Americans were unaware of bisexual and gay natures among men and the popular myth that they were oblivious towards nudity. Communal nakedness while in the shower were unavoidable but social nudity was a conscious choice and frequently happened.

Long before the SIR brought the struggle for equality and freedom to our communities, we did have times when we enjoyed our sexual freedom and our body and clothes freedom. Our people were not as insulated and as isolated as many would have us to believe.

Relaxing together, bare and no guilt about who they really are! The images published here are vital visual parts of our story! Not only as African Americans, but also as bare practitioners – same gender loving and naturists/nudists!

Happy Black History Month, 2026!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, February 23, 2026, and the proposed topic is: “Ms. Unknown Discovery!”

Lock Lips!

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!”

Reverend Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Day!

The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.!

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.

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

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!”

#9!

ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!

ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!

9th Anniversary Photo-Essay!

7 January 2017 – 7 January 2026

Strip and Celebrate!

Muscular and openly gay adult film star, Francois Sagat, now retired, follows our lead and removes his shoes and shorts to boldly feature his nakedness!

ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers! celebrity spokes model, Phoenix Fellington (right) and his partner remove their clothing but their jock straps won’t come off!

Our spokes model, Phoenix, loses his patience with the same gender loving (SGL) foreplay approach and decides to proceed with his nakedness compliance decisively and directly!

Of course, our spokes model qualifies for the additional title: Phoenix: nakedness personified!

“Posing naked is an ideal way to strengthen your body self-image and to impress others with your confidence and poise.” ~ Phoenix Fellington ~ gay adult film actor and ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers! spokes model

“Bare Friends? Two or more persons sharing dependability, harmony, respect, trust and nakedness! I’ve got your back and you’ve got mine!” ~ Roger Poladopoulos ~ ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers! author

Phoenix Fellington stretches while celebrating #9!
9th Anniversary cake!

Remember your slice of our 9th Anniversary Cake!

Naked hugs!

Michael Aaron Peterson-Poladopoulos and Roger Peterson-Poladopoulos

ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, January 9, 2026, and the proposed topic is: “Bare Friends TAN Part 2: Photo-Essay!”