Category: personal experience

NBHAAD: Part II!

NBHAAD!

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

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

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

NBHAAD Awareness ribbon!

Four Key Components of the NBHAAD Campaign:

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

The four elements and a brief summation are as follows:

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

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

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

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

Dedication!

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

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

An important message to share with others!

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

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

Knowledge is power!

HIV/AIDS Basic Facts:

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.

AIDS is a result of HIV infection.

HIV is not spread through everyday casual contact.

Only a doctor can diagnose AIDS.

Arthur Ashe, Wimbledon Tennis Champion and AIDS educator!

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

Personal Involvement:

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

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

Personalities:

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

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

Rodney Lofton

Rodney Lofton!

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

Rodney’s first book!

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Kory Mitchell

Kory Mitchell

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

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

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

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

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

NBHAAD: Part I!

Official notification!

Introduction:

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) occurs annually on February 7. This year, 2024, that date happens in the middle of the week on a Wednesday. Using the calendar to our benefit, publishing this post entry two days in advance affords us the chance to provide information of the significance of this occasion for all of us, not just African-Americans. That is the reason for today’s offering entitled:

“The Disproportionate Impact of HIV/AIDS on the Black Community!”

The purpose is to explore specific examples of disparities based on race that produced the multitude of deaths and infections within the African-American population here in the USA. “Disproportionate impact” refers to factors – beyond the control of those affected – that cause harm or injury to those being affected.

“NBHAAD: Part II!” is offered here on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, – the actual date for NBHAAD. It features an overall look at the offerings and provisions of the NBHAAD campaign.

Black SGL couple!

The Disproportionate Impact of HIV/AIDS on the Black Community!

To this day, there are some misinformation and myths surrounding the HIV/AIDS pandemic that remain within the minds of many Americans, even in the days of competition with the coronavirus COVID-19 period. One of the strongest of these untruths is that HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is an exclusively gay (same gender loving: SGL) disease. No matter of the scientific proof to the contrary, this falsehood remains. A close second place to this misconception is the unsubstantiated notion that Black people are highly susceptible to HIV.

In all honesty, it is the White population in the USA that has caused the alarmingly high rate of death and infection from HIV factors among African Americans. The serious mistrust of the public health services by persons of colour was caused and created by people of European descent (Caucasian/White) through bias, discrimination, hate, ignorance, prejudice and segregation. For generations, Black people suffered under the “Jim Crow” laws and separation. This resulted in numerous incidents and instances where the African Americans were subjected to trials and tribulations as “second class” recipients of poor care and mistreatment from the U.S. Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the local and state health services.

The most infamous and notorious of this disasters is known simply as the Tuskegee Experiment that was underway under the watch of the federal government from 1932 until 1972. It involved 400 Black men “officially” untreated by medicine in order to document and monitor the deterioration of health after being infected with syphilis. It was conducted in the deep south at the then Tuskegee Institute by doctors working for the federal government. Click the link below to see the study details on wikipedia:

Tuskegee Syphilis Study

Personally, when I first learned of this project, I was shocked that it was permitted to continue after the passage of legislation for equality in the 1960s. I was appalled that social consciousness didn’t end the study and that it was never an issue.  

NBHAAD Awareness Ribbon

The results of this maltreatment is the overwhelming reason for the deep and profound distrust of the CDC and the U.S. Public Health Service by the Black population. It was one of the major obstacles that resulted in the delay by the community of colour to the realities of the HIV/AIDS crisis. This, in turn, created the explosion of the new disease within this particular community and culture.

With the issue of distrust of the public health agencies as the primary source of the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS in the Black American community and culture, another very important factor was the cultural and racial insensitivity of educational and prevention information distributed among this population specifically and the general population as a whole. Too often, vague and ambiguous language and reasoning was employed when direct and simple language should have been presented and used.

The majority of Black adults were the products of segregated educational facilities – often resulting in limited comprehension of the materials provided to them. This unclear information caused confusion and misinterpretation that strengthened frustration and resentment. Government and politicians were well aware of this disparity and failed to address this problem.

Important reality!

For example, instead of “negotiating” the “effectiveness” of the use of a condom, the direct action approach: “tell him if he’s not wearing one, he’s not getting any!” would have deliberately delivered the message in a clear and concise manner. Minimal room for confusion and hesitation with a response such as that! The meaning is plain no matter the gender of the individual receiving the reply.

Distrust and insensitivity in communication are two of the examples offered for the high rates of HIV/AIDS deaths and infections within the African-American community and culture. Another example of almost equal importance is the prolonged inaction and inertia from the government departments over the staggering statistics. Prompt examination over the reported data clearly indicated a major breakdown and inappropriate flaw in the materials and methods long before a serious problem arose. Had discrimination and segregation not existed prior to the outbreak of HIV, the results could and probably would have been significantly different.

Due to budget constraints and the executive and legislative blindness of the republican politicians, funds for public health concerns and programs were severely hampered while defense spending soared.

This situation initiated a dilemma rarely believable in the supposedly wealthiest country in the world. Repeatedly, funds were scarce and demands on the necessity of compliance skyrocketed. Resources were completely unavailable and politicians refused to even consider any concession to ease the crisis for “those” people – the Blacks and other ethnic and racial minorities, the gays and the drug injectors. Evidently, the republican belief was that society could only benefit from the death of “those” people!

Vital message!

Financial assistance and grants to local public service agencies and not-for-profit organizations working within the Black community on a local basis would have greatly reduced the widespread gap between mistrust and trust that existed. A local establishment would have afforded both at atmosphere of credibility and recognition that would enhance the information and message delivered. This would have alleviated the stigma of HIV/AIDS as being a “homosexual White man’s disease.”

Awareness and pride!

“As committed, dedicated, honest, open and sincere bare practitioners (same gender loving naturists/nudists), all we desire is for the world to see us as we perceive ourselves: all naked, all natural. We have nothing to hide and are without reason for shame. We are proud of our nudity and our same gender love. They are not cause for embarrassment, fear or guilt. That is simply what and who we are in our life.” ~ Roger Poladopoulos-Peterson ~ Deaf Gay Alliance speech Washington, D.C., 4 December 2022

Yet another barrier created by both the republican executive and legislative arms of the federal government that fatally delayed and hindered any productive reaction from the community of colour to the ravages of this pandemic.

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

 Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Wednesday, February 7, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “NBHAAD Part II!”

USA: Black History Month!

Origin:

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

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

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

Frederick Douglass, Abolitionist and Black leader

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

Black History Month encourages honouring persons of the African Diaspora!

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

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

Looking for his past!

Personal Recollections:

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

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

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

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

Our motto!

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

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

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

Nudist friends are the best friends!
Black History

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

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

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

Bottoms-Up! January, 2024

A stare and buttocks!

It’s January in the Northern Hemisphere and an overwhelming majority of us are enduring the month inside where we can keep warm and not force our buttocks to suffer the frigid temperatures outside! Comfort and consideration do over-rule the joy of natural nakedness!

Buttocks comparison!

A bottoms-up! enterprise: a dynamic duo coupled for fun! A wonderful way to spend a winter’s day! Taking advantage of the chance to explore the bottoms-up! universe together! A triumphant team effort!

Bottoms-up! to bottoms-up!

A well-deserved respite from a busy day! Companionship brings out the best for all the rest of us to look back and enjoy!

Dressing room bottoms-up!

The “winter workouts” at our local fitness center or gym can often add a “spice of delight” for fans of bottoms-up! enthusiasts!

A “beachy” bottoms-up!

While it’s winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the Southern Hemisphere is full of the excited exposure of bountiful buttocks from coast-to-coast!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for tomorrow, Thursday, February 1, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “USA: Black History Month!”

Anticipation!

Anticipation!

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

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

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

Bare friends!

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

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

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

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

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

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

Resolutions Reminder!

Felipe Ferreira: resolutions humour!

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

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

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

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

Snow + naked = s’naked!

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

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

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

Stripping or clothing removal!

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

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

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

Optimism!

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

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

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

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

BFFs + Meet = Enable!

Bare practitioners planning together!

Prologue:

The recent blunder that I caused over my substitution of the proposed Bare: Modesty? post entry here for last Friday, January 12, 2024, created feeling of depression and vulnerability for me. A planned reunion with my BBFs (best bare friends) this past weekend offered me not only relief from my reaction but also realization that I can proceed with my projected revisiting of this undertaking in confidence. This posting is an appreciation gesture to Aaron, my spouse; to Jay, my BBF; and to Raheem, Jay’s partner.

Background:

In order to commemorate the fifteenth (15th) year of our BBF (bare best friends) relationship; Jay, my BBF, and I planned a two-night weekend celebration in an unfamiliar destination. Click the most recent posting for the update: BBFs to view. By the end of October, 2023, Aaron, my spouse, and Raheem, Jay’s partner, had joined the proposed occasion and we congregated in Canada this past weekend. Today’s post entry is the unplanned and hastily considered product of our BBFs summit!

It is winter here in the Northern Hemisphere; Canada is north of the border between Canada and the United States. The weather in the city is much colder than anything I am accustomed to experiencing! Being BBFs in a public hotel – as well as bare practitioners – we retreated to Jay and Raheem’s suite so that we could shed off our burdensome clothes, get comfortable and to relax and become social.

Raheem initiated the conversation by wondering how many people who read ReNude Pride were actually bare practitioners. That subject remained almost the exclusive focus for the two days and two nights that we spent in the hotel (due to the weather extremes outside). Fortunately, we were able to stay conveniently in our nakedness and to have all but two meals delivered to our suite!

We quickly developed a goal and purpose for this posting entry. The theme is: “Now that 2024 is here, explore it as a Bare Year!” The purpose is to encourage those who are uncertain of their personal level of comfort with nakedness to consider, explore and examine their feelings and reactions through suggested exercises to monitor their discovery and reality. The comments option/section is available for all to use as a communication tool to share with others.

ReNude Pride, as a blog, will publish periodically articles that will assist all of us in contemplating our thoughts and responses to predicaments and situations that we may encounter. This also includes examining different points of view on a wide variety to topics that possibly may help us reach a conclusion to certain issues that we may or may not face.

Hopefully the providing of exploratory methods or pathways for consideration, contemplation and determination can help with the achievement of a level of comfort with nakedness that will enable the pursuit of this aim or goal. Once this qualifying has been attained, implemented and understood, then progression to the next or another subsequent phase or stage becomes a possible development.

In the “Background” introduction of this submission, I gave the link to the BBFs publication here along with Raheem’s unofficial but affectionate designation as our “textile convert.” His dynamism – energetic leadership – in assuming the “moderator” role in our weekend gathering’s spontaneous discussion was rewarding to witness! It afforded an enthusiastic infusion and inspiration as we (Aaron, Jay and myself) participated in his “conversation coordination” as his subordinate audience.

In sign language, “I love you” is conveyed to Aaron, Jay and Raheem!

When this BBF reunion was initiated, Jay and I were the only two involved. Our partner (Raheem for Jay) and my spouse, Aaron, were aware of our planning. However, at that time, we were considering only a one night adventure of two friends who accidently met one another in a chance circumstance fifteen years ago. The logic for this was based on the fact that neither Aaron nor Raheem were a part of our lives when we first met. Now, the four of us are more than simply friends. Our status is now at the level of bare friends who are additionally bare practitioners! An entirely exclusive, remarkable and unique distinction.

The exclusivity of our relationship as BBFs, of course, involves our nakedness. We are what and who we are: bare. What we see in one another and share together is honesty. There are no clothes available to hide us. No disguise is necessary or needed. We are two bare same gender loving couples who offer friendship and respect. As individual couples, we have sexual intimacy but as friends we do not. For many, this reality is unbelievable. Often, reality itself is nothing more than: unbelievable!

Our exclusivity also involves our uniqueness. The unbelievability of our situation surprisingly eradicates yet another stereotype. Gay and naked frequently invokes mental images of an orgy. This is common mythology for the multitudes; regardless of their clothing status or their sexual identity. The four of us destroy that misconception!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, January 22, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Resolutions Reminder!”

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!”

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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!”