ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!

KNOW YOUR STATUS!

National HIV Testing Day was first observed in the USA on27 June, 1995. This is the 30th anniversary of the occasion! It was initially sponsored by the National Association of People With AIDS (NAPWA) which is now defunct. An early corporate sponsor was Walgreen’s Pharmacy, which offered free HIV screening throughout their extensive network of commercial neighbourhood pharmacies, which was very rare at that time. This event is now sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Practically every testing site in the USA offers free testing on this date, 27 June, annually.

Basic Facts:

1. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.
2. AIDS is a result of HIV infection.
3. HIV is not spread by everyday casual contact.
4. Only a physician can diagnose AIDS.

HIV/AIDS was initially considered a fatal disease with an average survival rate of less than 5 years. Due to advances in medical and treatment options and physician awareness, it is now known to be a manageable health condition. Following standard health guidelines and practices, the long-term survival rate is unlimited.

Medicines are now available that significantly reduce the risks of transmission of HIV from an infected person to a non-infected sexual partner. For details, ask your health care provider.

“Getting tested for HIV and knowing the results of that test is the first step in reducing our chances of HIV infection.” ~ Red Cross adage

I remember the very first National HIV Testing Day. In 1995, I was well into my volunteer career with the Red Cross HIV/AIDS Prevention Education program. I was a non-compensated instructor trainer (IT) in the Basic Fundamentals HIV/AIDS Prevention Education program and the African-American HIV/AIDS Prevention Education program in addition to the Workplace Prevention Education curriculum.

My responsibility with the three courses that I facilitated was to prepare candidates (students) to instruct persons within their own communities how to effectively prevent themselves against HIV using the Red Cross certified curriculums. The course objectives were a minimum of 28 hours for the Basic Fundamentals program; 36 hours for the African-American program and 40 hours for the Workplace program.

The first National HIV Testing Day! materials, although not in the Red Cross teaching standards format, did contain information that we needed to utilize and present. My dilemma that first year was trying to incorporate the NAPWA guidelines and objectives into our Red Cross procedures. The Red Cross curriculums were the only methodology that produced nationally recognized certifications in HIV/AIDS prevention education.

My challenge was to develop and implement instructional criteria that satisfied Red Cross certification standards and NAPWA objectives. After numerous hours of research and development, upon completion, the Red Cross charged me with the obligation to nationally train colleagues into this updated curriculum. For the Red Cross certified specialists there was no issue. For the NAPWA instructors, my efforts presented barriers, challenges and hurdles that never achieved resolution.

“It’s not who we are, it’s what we do, that puts us at risk for HIV infection.” ~ Red Cross adage

The end result of my very extensive efforts was the Red Cross supporting National HIV Testing Day and presenting essential information to students and the public. There were no offered educational programs specifically for the NAPWA sponsored events.

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, June 27, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “Stonewall Inn: 1969!”

Pride: the sense of achievement, confidence, determination, dignity, pleasure, satisfaction and value. The term “pride” was used primarily to instill acceptance and self-respect within the early same gender loving culture after thousands of years of bias, discrimination, exclusion and worse.

Due to the reactions to police harassment at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, USA, on a hot and humid Friday evening/Saturday morning in June, 1969, the entire month of June is now widely regarded as Pride month around the world. The reference to “pride” specifically implicating the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer + (GLBTQ+) cultural and community identity. In the street vernacular: gay pride. The same gender loving (SGL) population supports the alphabetized identity whereas the remainder of the entire world either hates/loves/supports or otherwise is completely indifferent towards us.

The emergence of June as GLBTQ+ “Pride Month” was the unplanned result of the law enforcement actions during the Stonewall Inn Riots (SIR). One year later, the growing community of sexual minorities organized a march (parade) to commemorate the anniversary. This unofficial and loosely cohesive event constituted what has now become a gala event celebrated worldwide.

We bare practitioners are both SGL and have a preference for body and clothes freedom (naked/nude). We are also a confident component of the GLBTQ+ culture as well as the naturist/nudist culture. However, often, neither of those dominant social groupings embrace our identification and/or membership with them.

We are the proverbial “stepchild” often left outside public acknowledgment and approval. Our sexuality and textile (clothing) status is obviously not conducive to total acceptance within those two cultures. The result being that many times we are on the “fringes” (edge) of inclusion within either one or both of those communities.

As we progress through our daily rituals and routines, our attitudes, beliefs, expectations, failures, gratifications, judgments, knowledge and successes may or may not change, develop. explode, grow, regress and/or stagnate. Based on our life experiences, some of us continue to move forward and some of us remain the same. We evolve in a variety of patterns and circumstances.

What we, collectively and/or individually, once viewed as a challenge we may now see as boring. What we initially felt was inspiration we now feel is lackluster and routine. What was exciting and energetic is now dull and indifferent. The proverbial adage: “familiarity breeds contempt” holds true as we journey through life. There is no guarantee of our reaction being identical for everyone.

Empowerment, enablement, enlightenment, enrichment, and enticement occur under a diversity of conditions, settings, and situations. They are also available when least expected and/or necessary. That’s one of the determining reasons for the existence of our GLBTQ+ Pride Month, 2025! events and occasions. It allows us all the opportunity and option to advance, experience and renew (ReNude) ourselves, our community and our culture!

Focus:

The primary focus here on ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers! during this Pride month, 2025, will be on the spirit and topic of GLBTQ+ community and culture confidence, controversy and pride. Our sense of ourselves – both as a collective group and as an individual – and our identity and standing within our society. We also hope to offer new ideas and perspectives for development and expansion.

We’ll also offer suggestions for addressing controversy and failures. All social movements have challenges and issues that sometimes hinder progress and disappoint people and/or populations. In examining these weaknesses, we hope to offer continuance and encouragement.

The focus of confidence and pride does not guarantee exclusivity. Other subjects are worthy of attention and exploration so postings here during this month will provide both opportunities and options. As always, comments, criticisms and suggestions are encouraged and welcome!

SGL is one of the essentials of our identification as bare practitioners. The often indifferent general society in which we live frequently only recognizes our love only when it is convenient for their interests. Our inclusion of our attractions and our nakedness as a part of our self-identity affords us with resources often overlooked for previous generations.

Our Progress Flag identity:

This current version of the original Rainbow Pride Flag was developed by Daniel Quasar in 2018 and adopted by the GLBTQ+ international community and culture the same year. The inspiration for the redesign was to celebrate the distinct diversity of our community and our culture with the inserted arrow to represent the expansion our growth and development and as a visible reminder of our inclusive process of forward progress towards complete equality. Quasar first published his one proposed design on social media on 6 June, 2018, and when he awoke the following morning, he learned that his posting had gone viral. In under 24 hours, it was recognized as the new flag of our global culture!

The arrow design of the addition represents the progress we’ve made thus far and our need to continue in this direction. The black and the brown colours represent persons of colour and the light blue; pink and white colours represent non-binary persons and the transgender peoples.

Of course, Aaron and I, as dedicated bare practitioners, are appreciative of your involvement and strive to always share our fraternal and friendly love!

Happy Pride Month, 2025! and many naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, June 6, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “Bare*Ability!”

No posting tomorrow because of today officially beginning Pride Month, 2025!