There is no other way to summarize the outcome of the election of 5 November. This is a very unsanitary day for the voters in this country.
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Time to Flush!
Vote Tuesday!
This election is very important as it will determine whether this country continues on the path of democracy and freedom or if it abandons that course and becomes a victim of chaos and discord.
Again, Aaron and I urge you to join with us in casting our ballots to elect Ms. Kamala Harris as our next president. She is the best qualified to provide positive and productive leadership.
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, November 8, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Bare + Gay = Pay!”
Time Change!
Autumn is officially here! Daylight Savings Time (DST) officially ends!
On Sunday, November 3, 2024, 2:00 a.m. (local time), all clocks need to be reset to reflect the return to the regular timing schedule. Each time zone drops back one hour. Thus, 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2024, reverts back to 1:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2024!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for tomorrow, Monday, November 4, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Vote Tuesday!”
November: Vote!
The explosion of violence in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January, 2021, remains with both Aaron (my spouse) and myself as though it happened only yesterday. The eruption of anarchy and lawlessness by cohorts and followers of a person sworn to protect and defend the constitution of this country has irreparably damaged and destroyed a reputation of freedom and democracy. Voting and accepting the will of the electorate is the decent and respectful method for change. Not acting like a pre-adolescent unable to have his way!
Today, Aaron and I encourage and endorse Ms. Kamala Harris in her efforts to return democratic tradition, decency, equality, fairness, honesty and justice in our national government. A peaceful and respectful nature needs to be restored not only to our government but also to the entire nation.
If you have not already voted, we both invite you to join us in casting our votes for Kamala Harris as the next president! An orderly and progressive restoration of government is needed for us all!
Naked hugs!
Aaron Michael Peterson-Poladopoulos
Roger Peterson-Poladopoulos
ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday. November 4, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Vote Tuesday!”
Bottoms-Up! October, 2024!
It is now Springtime in the Southern Hemisphere! While too cool for beaches in the Northern Hemisphere, Brazilian-born Felipe Ferreira can absorb all the sand he wants while on shore-patrol in the South Atlantic Ocean.
The rest of us, in the Northern Hemisphere, have little alternative except to retreat inside out of the autumn chills and tease one another with our bottoms-up! antics!
Now that the Autumn season is officially here, a residual tan-line remains visible on the buttocks of many regardless of the amount of sunshine absorbed this past summer!
The comfort of our bed becomes more important and noticeable as we all tend to linger longer before rising to begin our daily routine!
With an imminent national election, a flag draped pair of tan-lined buttocks is an appropriate offering!
Finally, a seasonal selection for our conclusion: Happy Halloween!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for tomorrow, Friday, November 1, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “November: Vote!”
Bare Practitioner: Ourstory!
Background and Introduction:
As the month of October, 2024, fast approaches closing, a tribute to our celebration of GLBTQ+ History Month is worthy of a final notation. Why? First and foremost, it helps all of us as we continue to build (construct, develop) an even greater sense and understanding of our very own story: our herstory/history/ourstory! There are extremely few, if any, references to nakedness in any commemoration – official or unofficial – throughout our collective community and culture.
Secondly, as a distinct minority within the GLBTQ+ population, bare practitioner ourstory (bare practitioner herstory/history) has a very justifiable and viable consideration to be explored and shared. Not only for us bare practitioners, but for all body and clothes freedom enthusiasts no matter their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
Thirdly and primarily is the fact that I owe to everyone here – at least – an apology and brief explanation for the announced and scheduled posting of: “Our History: No Briefs!” for Friday, 18 October, 2024. My seasonal pollen allergies caused a serious disruption of my health and myself for that day. I sincerely apologize to all for any confusion and inconvenience!
Ourstory: Definition:
Ourstory is simply an all gender inclusive description – not herstory nor history – that defines our experiences and lives as same gender loving (SGL) and body and clothes freedom humans. Being gender neutral, the intention is to be recognized and understood as being accepting us all in a respectful manner, regardless of our gender identity.
Ourstory, as a word, was initially introduced to me by my spouse, Aaron. He’s unable to identify or recall any source for the term except himself!
The Danish Trio:
Today’s heading (opening image above) depicts a photograph of the confident and proud gay artist, Ainor Bagner, (himself nude), painting a naked man reading a book on the coast of Denmark. The artist himself is obviously comfortable with his nudity. The same is true of the subject posing for him (the reader). Bagner’s photographer is visually mysterious, however, Bagner later confirmed that he was also a gay naked man. In the lower right-hand corner of the picture image is etched “1910.”
One common trait apparent in the above vintage photo is the comfort and confidence of both the known same gender loving artist, Ainor Bagner, and his artistic subject (the reader) have being photographed in their nakedness. Keep in mind the notation of “1910” in the lower right-hand corner of the picture. More than a century ago – long before the Stonewall Inn riots of 1969! Another bonus: their photographer joined them in their clothes freedom, too!
Personal:
I encountered this picture in the early days of my online exploration. It’s very nature and vintage captured my immediate appreciation and attention due to the nude subjects and their interaction. I remember thinking this is an important visual artifact of gay and nude history! Upon remembering the date the picture was inscribed, my theory on the historical was confirmed! Throughout all these years, it has remained one of my all-time favourites due to it being a classic example of nakedness and same gender love not being a contemporary novelty but instead being a lasting artistic tradition!
The emergence of the bare practitioner community and culture within the mainstream GLBTQ+ movement is a product of the 21st century. This picture is an integral part of ourstory!
Camaraderie:
During a time when there was limited and rare acceptance, tolerance and understanding of what we now refer to as same gender love (SGL), the two young men featured in this series of photographs here interact in harmony with one another. Totally out of character and in direct conflict with social norms for both their time (early 1960s) and their type: one being Black and the other being White. Physically, besides their obvious nakedness, they are both in fitness and good health.
Racial equality was practically non-existent during this time period. Segregation (separation by race) was legally mandated throughout most of the country and was considered the “normal” routine. Photographs depicting or suggesting camaraderie and/or friendship between the two races were not permitted and attracted unwanted attention.
Their body and clothes-free appearance – together – would be viewed by the overwhelming majority of people as despicable, illegal, immoral and offensive. Any hint of any type of intimacy (touching) between the two young men was disgraceful and repulsive and condemned by church, society and state. During this time period, few would promote their camaraderie as admirable and progressive. Then-president Harry Truman was strongly criticized by many for having integrated the U. S. armed forces by executive order in 1948.
The fact that these two young men were actually touching one another in the initial image (under the subtitle above) and the one below would have caused an uproar!
This series of pictures represents an effort by the photographer in a subtle delivery of a message of artistic expression of equality. The photographer is unknown to us as is his clothing status (bare or clothed). No information is available on the two young men in the photos.
As bare practitioners, the ourstorical (historical) expression of the majesty of our nakedness is our artistic contribution!
Personal:
This photograph series on no way implies or suggests that the concept or ideal of racial equality is exclusive to us as bare practitioners. I’m certain of the existence of segregationists of both races. However, Aaron and I both believe our nakedness does make us inclined to greater acceptance of equality for all!
Heritage:
The inclusion of this visual series serves as a reminder of the human heritage that we all share: nakedness. None of us were born with garments to wear. All of us were born bare, natural, or nude. Body and clothes freedom is the original “state of being” of us all!
Taking advantage of our natural (from nature) resources, our ancestors created colors and designs to adorn, decorate, and distinguish our bare bodies. The purpose of this was not to conceal or hide but rather to embellish and enrich ourselves. Please note the natural “club” (stick) here is representative of “protection” (preservation) of our nakedness!
Our shared ouristorical heritage is both majestic and noble. Be confident and be proud!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Thursday, October 31, 2014, and the proposed topic is: “Bottoms-Up! October, 2024!”
Colourful Club-Men!
Halloween is a festive day here in the USA that often involves the wearing of a costume and children roaming their neighbourhoods at night seeking sweet treats from their terrified neighbours! Many adults use the occasion to dress up in costumes and to enjoy socializing. Frequently bare practitioners, in spirit with the occasion, body paint themselves rather than engage in the boring, mundane custom of actually wearing some type of costume! To each their own!
Halloween is observed annually on 31 October. As this is the weekend prior to the observance, for many adult enthusiasts, it is often the occasion for many Halloween parties!
This body painted person reflects the biblical legend concerning the temptation of Adam and Eve with the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden. People opt for total body painting to reflect popular characters of films, social media and television shows. Others utilize images from books or tales of horror.
There are some who prefer abstract designs painted on their body. Perhaps these denote the concept of a “human canvas?”
Covered faces conceal personal identity from neighbours as frolicking “trick or treat” (knocking on doors to obtain a special “Halloween treat” go from house-to-house to gather as many sweet treats as possible!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, October 28, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Bare Practitioners: Ourstories!”
Our Offertory!
How is history made? Through the eyes, hearts and minds of the people who live their lives as completely and as fully as they indeed are able!
Who share what they have with all others to expand the goodness of life and the wonders of our world!
ReNude Pride: Our Offertory, Our Story!
Today, Aaron (my spouse) and I offer a gallery of our exploration of visual images that hopefully render to everyone a glimpse into the culture and the community of bare practitioners throughout the world. Here on ReNude Pride, we extol ourselves as accepting advocates and proponents of not only our same gender loving capacity but also of our nakedness! Now, during the 2024 celebration of our GLBTQ+ History Month, we seek to share with everyone here a festive and inspirational reality of what we indeed are: ourselves!
Bare practitioners are sometimes misinterpreted as militants about their nakedness. While this may be true for some, our belief and support of body and clothes freedom is in no way a fair and just assumption of all of us. Here on ReNude Pride, Aaron and I encourage us all to enjoy our ability to freely engage in our nudity to our individual levels of comfort. Some are satisfied with limited and/or occasional forays while without any covering, such as our gentleman (above) resting while visibly exposing his tan-line buttocks. Obviously, he’s bare when he wants to be!
Whereas others, such as this site’s unofficial representative, Phoenix Fellington, (above) is gloriously naked and completely unashamed whenever the opportunity is available! Publicly, he has no qualms in acknowledging his “I love being naked in nature!” status to all those within any audience available and interested. At this time, it is appropriate to remind everyone here of his professional qualification as a same gender loving (SGL) actor in the gay porn industry.
Posing for others provides many of us with a chance to attain greater comfort and confidence in ourselves and our nakedness. It affords us the opportunity to examine ourselves as we appear through the eyes of others. Many take advantage of these opportunities to determine exactly how they feel about sharing their genitalia with those they may not know.
Others, realizing their comfort-level isn’t as bold, may opt to pose discretely and with modesty. It is an individual choice based on personal comfort, confidence and preference!
Happy GLBTQ+ History Month!
Naked hugs!
Aaron Michael Peterson-Poladopoulos
and
Roger Peterson-Poladopoulos
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, October 25, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Colourful Club-Man!”
Purple/Spirit Day!
Spirit Day is an annual GLBTQ+ awareness day of recent development for a noble cause. It is currently observed on the third Thursday in October, annually, as a part of GLBTQ+ History Month. The occasion was initiated in 2010 by Canadian teenager, Brittany McMillan in response to a significant number of bullying-related suicides of same gender loving students, the most notorious being that of Tyler Clementi.
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Notation: Tyler Clementi
Tyler Clementi was an American student at Rutgers University in Mew Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. He jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge over the Hudson River at the age of 18 on September 22, 2010. On September 19, Tyler’s dormitory roommate, Dharen Ravi, posted on Twitter a clip showing Tyler kissing another man. The Twitter posting was published without Tyler’s nor his partner’s consent or permission.
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Promoted by Gay Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), participants wear the colour purple as a visible sign of awareness and support for GLBTQ+ young people and against bullying in general during National Bullying Prevention Month (October). It also pays tribute to GLBTQ+ victims of suicide.
The very first Spirit Day was observed on Wednesday, October 20, 2010. Later occasions were on Thursday, October 20, 2011, and on Friday, October 19, 2012. In 2012, it was decided by GLAAD to observe Spirit Day on the third Thursday of the month of October, annually. GLAAD continues to sponsor the event.
Bare Practitioner’s Note:
A gentle and subtle reminder that using purple body paint to create a purple awareness ribbon is even better than wearing a purple ribbon. It shows creativity and sensitivity! Plus, there are no sharp pointed pins to deal with!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for tomorrow, Friday, October 18, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Our Story! Bare Skin!”
Cultural Imagery!
Emergence of Gay:
For numerous decades, the term “homosexual” was used to describe same gender loving people as both a definition and as a term synonymous with despicable and/or perverted. The late 1950s and early 1960s marked the transition of the meaning of the word “gay” from that of being “carefree and happy” to that meaning “homosexual” in British usage. The British interpretation slowly began to make its way into American language. By the time of the Stonewall Inn riots (SIR) of 1969, the British term was embraced by the same gender loving rioters and other protesters. For far too long and for too many, “homosexual” was too degrading and too prejudicial.
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Lambda:
The Greek alphabet letter “lambda” was designated in December, 1969, by the graphic artist of the Gay Activist Alliance (GAA), founding member Tom Doerr. Doerr chose it because in chemistry it was the sign for “catalyst.” In this context, Doerr offered that the lambda involved the complete exchange of energy. Tom Doerr also felt that the Greek lambda was symbolic of self-identification, unity and pride. Others argue that lambda denotes synergy of the growing gay movement: the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
In 1970, the lambda was adopted by New York City’s GAA as the emblem of their growing movement for gay liberation. In 1974, it was subsequently proclaimed by the International Gay Rights Congress at their meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, as their symbol for gay and lesbian civil rights. Following their designation, lambda became internationally popular and recognized globally with the same gender loving community.
Unfortunately, many women viewed the lambda symbol as relevant for males only.
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The Pink Triangle:
Just as the Nazi’s forced Jewish people to wear a yellow star of David, they forced men they identified as homosexual to wear an inverted pink triangle (die Rosa-Winkel) to identify their male gender preference. Those forced to do so were treated as the “lowest of the low in the concentration camp hierarchy.” It is estimated that 65% of those incarcerated as homosexuals died in captivity. Adolph Hitler perceived gay men as an impediment to purify Germany and as a serious threat to Aryan superiority.
After the concentration camps were liberated at the end of World War II, men imprisoned for homosexuality remained locked up. East Germany (communist) didn’t rescind the criminality of homosexuals until 1968. West Germany (democracy) didn’t repeal Nazi laws against homosexuality until 1969. Reunited Germany removed the illegality of homosexuality in 1994.
In 2002, the German government issued an official apology to all gay men who were imprisoned during the war. Rudolph Brazda, the last known concentration camp survivor who wore a pink triangle, died on August 3, 2011, at the age of 98.
Notation: The inverted Pink Triangle, located inside a green circle, is frequently used today to designate “safe” (protected) environments, facilities and spaces for GLBTQ+ persons.
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Notation: The Rainbow Pride flag consists of six rainbow stripes. The colours are red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. The red stripe is always the top, the purple the bottom. When first flown, it held eight stripes but was soon revised to six stripes only. The colours represent the ideals below:
The Rainbow Pride Flag:
This flag was first publicly raised on June 25, 1978, in San Francisco, California, USA. It was unfurled over the city’s United Nations Plaza in honour of gay pride at the 1978 San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade. The original flag contained eight coloured stripes and was designed for the event and the occasion by Gilbert Baker. The initial banner was hand-stitched and dyed by Baker with the help of volunteers and friends Lynn Segerblum, James McNamara, Glenne McElhinney, Joe Duran and Paul Langlotz.
The original flag was reconfigured after the unveiling as the banner soared in popularity and the demand became widespread. The new design featured six stripes matching the natural rainbow. The flag discontinued the stripes pink (symbolizing “sex”) and turquoise (“art and magic”) as those two colours were unavailable in flag fabric.
Gilbert Baker conceived the flag would “empower his tribe” (the growing GLBTQ+ community) into a “rainbow of humanity.” The motif represented the movement’s diversity.
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Evolution: Pride to Progress:
Forty years after the appearance of the Rainbow Pride flag, the Progress Flag debuted as the new banner of the worldwide GLBTQ+ community and culture. The Progress flag incorporated the six stripes of the Rainbow Pride flag along with colours and designs that depict our movement as we march together into the future.
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The Progress Flag of the GLBTQ+ Community and Culture
The Progress Pride flag was developed by non-binary (not conforming gender identity) artist and designer Daniel Quasar in 2018, forty years after the initiation of the Rainbow Pride flag. Based on the six stripes of Gilbert Baker’s 1978 Rainbow Pride flag, Quasar’s redesign celebrates the expanded diversity of today’s GLBTQ+ community and culture and encourages a more inclusive general society. The banner has increased the representation of discriminated minority identities covered by the GLBTQ+ umbrella.
Quasar’s creation placing black and brown stripes (emblems representing peoples of colour) and light blue, pink and white stripes (representing transgender and non-binary persons) in the shape of an arrow on the left of the Progress Pride flag. In Daniel Quasar’s own words “…the arrow points to the right to show forward movement and illustrates that progress towards inclusivity still needs to be made.”
In the Progress Pride flag, the black stripe has a double meaning as it, in Quasar’s intent, to represent not only the African race and their descendants but also “those living with HIV/AIDS and the stigma and prejudice surrounding them as well as all those who have succumbed to the disease.”
On the evening of June 6, 2018, Quasar posted the design for the Progress Pride flag on social media. When he woke up the following day, he discovered that the posting had gone viral. It was an immediate success!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Thursday, October 17, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Spirit: Stop Bullying Day!”
ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers! 