The downward-pointed pink triangle was used in Nazi Germany during the 1930s and 1940s as a badge of shame. It was sewn onto the shirts of “deviant” men (homosexuals) in concentration camps to identify and to dehumanize them. Sexual deviancy was made illegal in Germany in 1871 with the creation of the German Empire, but the statute was rarely enforced.
When the national socialists (Nazi) seized control and power in 1933, it was made a priority in order to culturally and racially “purify” Germany. The Nazis arrested and incarcerated thousands of “deviant” men and sent them into concentration camps, where many perished. They viewed them all as degenerate and impure.
The pink triangle has been reclaimed as an empowering symbol for the GLBTQ+ community and culture. It is also serving as a reminder to remember the past – and to recognize the persecution GLBTQ+ people continue to suffer around the world.
The pink triangle on a black banner was the first “flag” to signify the gay and lesbian movement.
GLBTQ+ safe space emblem!
The above depiction of the pink triangle inside a green circle represents a safe space where GLBTQ+ people will not be harassed, ridiculed or shamed. This identification was necessary due to the threats against our community and culture by homophobic individuals who operated with the unofficial endorsement of law enforcement during the emerging HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The Lambda!
The Lambda:
The lambda was first designed in December, 1969, by Tom Doerr, a graphic artist and one of the founding members of the emerging Gay Activists Alliance. Doerr selected it because in chemistry, the lambda represented catalyst. Later, it was argued that the lambda denoted synergy of the growing gay and lesbian movement; the idea of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts.
The Lambda image from the Greek alphabet was first chosen as a gay symbol when, in 1970 – one year after the Stonewall Inn riots (SIR) – it was adopted by the then New York City’s Gay Activist Alliance as the emblem of their growing movement of gay liberation. In 1974, it was subsequently adopted by the International Gay Rights Congress at their international conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. As their symbol for gay and lesbian civil rights, the lambda became globally popular and recognized.
Many interpreted the lambda symbol as for males only.
The original rainbow pride flag!
The Rainbow Pride Flag:
First raised on June25, 1978, in San Francisco, California, USA! It was designed and created in honour of gay pride at the 1978 San Francisco Gy Freedom Day parade in honouring the annual anniversary of SIR. The very original flag consisted of eight coloured stripes and was designed by Gilbert Baker and hand-stitched and dyed with the help of friends and volunteers Lynn Segerblum, James McNamara, Glynne McElhinney, Joe Duran and Paul Langlotz.
The eight-stripe original was soon revised to six stripes with pink (symbolizing “sex”) and turquoise (symbolizing “art and magic”) eliminated as the colours were unavailable in flag fabrics.
Baker conceived the flag would “empower his tribe” in a “rainbow of humanity” motif to represent the GLBTQ+ movement’s diversity.
Above are the stripes and the meanings associated with each one of the rainbow-based colours.
The Progress Pride Flag!
The Progress Pride Flag:
The Progress Pride Flag was developed by non-binary artist and designer Daniel Quasar in 2018. Based on Gilbert Baker’s 1978 rainbow flag, Quasar’s redesign celebrates the continued growing diversity of the GLBTQ+ community and culture and encourages a more inclusive general society. The improved design 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.”
The black stripe has multiple meanings as it is also intended for “…those living with HIV/AIDS and the prejudice and stigma surrounding them in addition to those who have died from the disease.”
On the evening of 6 June, 2018, Quasar posted the design on social media and went to bed. He woke the next day and discovered that it had viral! It was an immediate success!
The Progress Pride flag over the University of Nottingham!
The Progress Pride flag is currently internationally recognized as representing the global LGBTQ+ community and culture. It is now flown at the United Nations. The inclusive design and nature of this flag have received the commendation of many.
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, October 10, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “NCOD: Closets Are For Clothes!”
The header (opening image above) of this post entry here on ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers depicts an early camera (antique) being utilized to capture the likeness of the model. It is absolutely not an authentic photograph from the intended era.
The footwear (shoes) on the photographers are not relevant to the time period. Nor are the hairstyles of any of the three men posing for the picture. The hair and shoes reflect the early-to-middle 1950s decade.
The above photo because it represents the title and topic of today’s post here. The photographs published here below are the authentic copies of the originals.
Preamble:
When the camera initially appeared in the middle of the 1800s, public nakedness was either banned, forbidden, outlawed, prohibited and/or all of the previous choices. The existence of any type of affection between persons of the same gender (SGL) was not even considered a possibility outside of the highest legal minds. That act was judged by clergy and legalists alike as immoral and beyond description!
These circumstances were interpreted as degrading, indecent and offensive to all! It was viewed as the “work of the devil” and totally “unChristian!” As though everyone was an active supporter of that belief system!
Yet, despite volumes of judgemental and negative labels, bare posing for the camera, same gender affection and naked photography emerged. It also managed to survive, thrive and remains with us even today!
Bare practitioner, actor Sean Xavier, and his cup of tea!
Perhaps, somewhere, there are some bare practitioners reading this post entry while having their morning warm beverage! Positive proof of the survival of the very fittest – along with their nakedness and their SGL!
Before homosexual:
Even before the misleading and offensive term “homosexual” entered into the common vocabulary, there existed almost no popular identity classification for what is now determined as same gender love (SGL). It was usually referred to as “decadent,” “deviant” and “immoral.” As with nakedness, it was also construed as “the work of the devil” and condemned as bibically forbidden and completely unChristian.
The photography of (taking of pictures), posing of and the possession of pictures even “hinting” (suggesting) affection and/or intimacy between two individuals of the same gender was illegal and often punishable by imprisonment. Regardless of this restriction, early photographs were indeed created and many are visible even today!
Early SGL Photographers and Their Bromantic Subjects!
Wilhelm von Gloeden
Wilhelm von Gloeden (14 September 1856 – 11 February 1931) was born in Mecklenburg-Strelitz, later part of the German Empire. As an early adult he moved to Taormina, Sicily, Italy, due to tuberculosis. He trained initially as a paint artist, during which time he was given a camera as a gift.
He became fascinated with the novel camera. He later mastered photography while in Italy.
Also, while in Sicily, he became the adult lover of many Sicilian youth. He met and took Pancrazio Biciuni (sometimes referred to as Il Moro), a youth of 14 years as his lover and they remained together until he died. Patrons of his photography included Oscar Wilde and Albert Freidrich Krupp (of the German Krupp armaments family). Under Benito Mussolini he was put on trial for harboring pornography (his photographs) but was acquitted by the court in Milan.
Pancrazio Biciuni “Il Moro”
Pancrazio Bicinui (1879 – 1963) as a youthful teenager he became the lover of Wilhelm von Gloeden and remained with him until his death in 1931.
Vincenzio Galdi
Italian photographer (1871 – 1961) of primarily male nudes. His interest in photography began when he became first a model, then lover and then assistant to the German photographer, Wilhelm von Pluschow. He operated his own studio in Rome between 1900 and 1907. It was closed by the police and images seized in 1907.
Sicilian teens photographed by Vincenzio Galdi
On the bottom of the above picture, the shadows of the photographer, Vincenzo Galdi and his camera are visible. All three subjects at times were lovers of the adult photographers and were either bisexual or gay.
Two Sicilian teenagers
A Galdi photo showing two nude teens, Greco-Roman style. On the right is Pasquale Stracuzzi, the first Sicilian lover of Wilhelm von Gloeden. Stracuzzi appears in numerous pictures and was also known as Il Grande Fauno (The Great Fawn).
A Classic!
Bare artist, bare subject!
The above picture was posed for along the coast of Denmark, far away from the island of Sicily! It shows openly gay Danish artist, Ainor Bagnor, painting his equally bare subject who’s reclining on a rock, reading a book. Bagnor was known to be a very enthusiastic supporter of same gender love as well as body and clothes freedom! It is unknown the sexuality of either the subject of Bagnor’s art not the photographer of the image.
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, October 10, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “NCOD: Closets Are For Clothes!”
In the USA, the month of October, annually, is observed as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer + History Month!
Knowing our past enables our understanding of our present and empowers us to prepare for our future!
As a segment of the population that has been banned, blamed, discriminated, maligned, marginalized, punished and segregated, it is vitally important that we are all made aware of the major, notable, significant and vital contributions we have given throughout centuries of oppression and persecution. If we don’t celebrate and commemorate our achievements and advancements, who will?
Introduction:
Mentally, the phrase “gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer+ history month” (GLBTQ+ history month) produces an image that mistakenly projects the beginning of our GLBTQ+ community and culture as 1969. The year of the Stonewall Inn riots (SIR) in New York City, New York, USA.
Actually, historically and honestly, the story of our community and culture extends far back in time. Many persons believe that Adam and Eve were the first two human persons to inhabit the Earth. Obviously, they were a heterosexual couple. The GLBTQ+ story begins shortly thereafter and continues to unfold today.
In reality and in truth, the history of our GLBTQ+ community and culture begins with our global humanity experience, wherever we reside. It progresses along national boundaries once a political entity (nation) was created.
Original Pride flag!
Countries Honouring GLBTQ+ History:
Armenia October, annually
Australia October, annually
Canada October, annually
Cuba May, annually
Germany May, annually
Hungary February, annually
Netherlands, October, annually
Roumania, October, annually
United Kingdom February, annually
United States October, annually
International Progress GLBTQ+ Pride Flag
USA GLBTQ+ History Month:
The USA observance of GLBTQ+ History Month began in 1994 by a state of Missouri secondary school (high school) history teacher, Rodney Wilson. His intent was to provide role models for teenage youth, build community identity and to offer a civil rights statement of the achievements and efforts of the same gender loving (SGL) community and culture.
A GLBTQ+ History Month website was created, designed and launched by Equality Forum in 2006. In reference, click the link below:
The above website is designed and maintained by Equality Forum. The site features 31 honoured recipients (one for every day of the month of October) for every year since 2006, arranged chronologically.
Notation:
Equality Forum is a USA national GLBTQ+ civil rights organization with an educational focus. It coordinates GLBTQ+ history month, produces documentary films, sponsors high-impact social initiatives and offers an annual GLBTQ+ civil rights conference. Click the logo below to visit the site.
2025 GLBTQ+ Honours:
October 1: Peter Anastos choreographer
October 2: Walter Arlen composer
October 3: Becca Balint congressperson
October 4: Samuel Barber 20th century composer
October 5: Andy Cohen television personality and producer
October 6: John D’Emilio GLBTQ+ historian
October 7: Colman Domingo actor and playwright
October 8: Billie Eilish indie musician
October 9: Cecilia Gentili transgender activist
October 10: Jeffrey Gibson indigenous artist and sculptor
October 11: Nikki Giovanni author and poet
October 12: Lily Gladstone indigenous actor
October 13: Mel Heifetz philanthropist
October 14: Sir Lady Java drag performer
October 15: Ella Jenkins children’s music
October 16: Abilly Jones-Hennin GLBTQ+ activist
October 17: Ellsworth Kelly abstract artist
October 18: Karl Lagerfeld fashion designer
October 19: Troy Masters publisher
October 20: Sarah McBride first transgender congressperson
October 21: T. J. Osborne country rock musician
October 22: Ted Osius diplomat
October 23: Ann Philbin museum director
October 24: Chappell Roan pop musician
October 25: Harper Steele comedian and screenwriter
October 26: Breanna Stewart WNBA player
October 27: Arthur Tress fine art photographer
October 28: Cy Twambly painter and sculptor
October 29: Ocean Vuong author and poet
October 30: Abby Wambach women’s soccer
October 31: Lanford Wilson pulitzer-winning playwright
Prehistoric GLBTQ+ human!
The picture (above) is a contemporary impersonation of the rustic and vintage GLBTQ+ heritage. It is an interpretive, not an accurate, portrayal. Itis posted here for illustrative purposes only.
Enjoy GLBTQ+ History Month!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, October 3, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “Historic Visibility: Early Photos!”
Since my last posting here, Bare/Dare Series, 2025! #3, the season of autumn has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere. No surprise that this happened. I’m certain the majority are probably now wondering: Doesn’t that fool know that autumn always follow summer?
Yes! This fool (myself) does indeed have that knowledge! However, it has only been recently (since I first met Aaron, my spouse) that I’ve received the ability to accept and embrace that change and positively proceed with life!
Prior to 2010 (the year that Aaron and I met, were attracted to each other, fell in love and then moved together under the same roof), I was unable to acknowledge the last of summertime and the start of autumn without offering a manual monologue (sign language) of profanities! I was so addicted and obsessed with summer and being comfortable that I reacted to the seasonal transition in an outrage followed by a major period of depression and frustration!
I publicly acknowledge and admit to my severe shortcoming regarding this issue. I also want to thank Aaron for patiently teaching me the prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi:
“Lord, grant me the ability to change what I can; the ability to accept what I cannot change; and the wisdom to know the difference!” ~ St. Francis of Assisi ~
Aaron, I’m grateful for your sharing of your Roman Catholic faith and encouraging my adherence to this prayer!
Thank you, Aaron! Happy autumn to all!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride/Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, September 26, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “Drive to Pride!”
An Examination and Exploration of Our Community and Our Culture of Same Gender Loving Nakedness! #3
Identical Twins: Double the Nakedness, Double the Fun!
Preliminary:
As promised at the beginning of this series, this final offering for this publication was guaranteed prior to the end of the summer season as my personal perspective. Just a reminder that this post entry also includes that of my own identical twin brother, Alex. Sometimes, the sharing of our ideas, inspirations, memories, reactions, recollections, thoughts, etc., become blurred and riddled with questions. However, the experiences are shared and together as they involve us both – guilty and innocence – together!
We, Alex (Twin) and I, are identical; our births barely two hours apart. Therefore, we share our personal experiences in nakedness – the comfort, joy, and preference for living, as much as possible, our lives without the burden, duty and/or obligation of clothing/concealment!
Footnote: For this series, I use pictures of identical twinsfrom online. Our brothers prefer I not use any from our childhood.
Identical and Serious: together!
Introduction:
Our family name is Poladopoulos and we are identical twin brothers born almost two hours apart. Alex – the “first-born” – is also Deaf, same gender loving (SGL) or gay and frequently confused with me, Roger, the author of this blog and the “second-born” of this twin team!
Our parents were born in the Kingdom of Greece during the time of the German invasion and occupation during World War II. They married and began their family there before immigrating to this country in the early 1950s. Neither of them became citizens here and they returned to Greece in the 1990s. We (Twin and I) have three (3) older brothers and three (3) younger brothers. That makes the both of us the exact “middle-child” in our family.
Our family household being predominantly male has caused many to assume our nakedness wasn’t a major issue.
A very false and unreal assumption!
Our infancy and early childhood progressed along the same pattern as that of our older siblings with the exception of our diagnosis of being Deaf. Otherwise, we were “normal” until our parents and older siblings decided to teach us to properly adorn (wear clothes) ourselves. Our “moment” to establish our true identity! Our joint (shared) “declaration of independence” was upon us!
Bottoms-up! to yardwork!
Reality:
Our initial opportunity to proclaim our self-determination (identity) happened when the decision was made to instruct us on the process of how to dress – put on clothes. At last, a chance to demonstrate (show) precisely who we really are! Twin and I are unable to exactly recall the experience, so this episode is best described by our surviving parent (mother) and older siblings.
The miraculous fascination that Twin (our familiar reference name for ourselves) and I had for learning how to decorate our bodies with clothes was that it also gave us the knowledge of how easy and simple it now became for us to remove (discard) our clothing!
The proverbial adage, “practice makes perfect” was the result of this lesson. Easy to put on, easy to take off! Our parents were amazed at the both of us getting dressed in garments and then removing them immediately! The essence and introduction into our world of “guys without boxers!” No underwear equals no clothes!
Needless to elaborate, but this basic logistic created an enormous amount of frustration within our family household. Our desire for freedom from clothes soon reached epic proportions that continued throughout our childhood. This conflict in nudity versus textile (clothes wearing) was compounded by a communication issue: our being Deaf against the fact that everyone else was verbal (hearing). At the time, the tensions in our family, along with the births of our younger brothers, made happiness and tranquility seem impossible!
Luckily, Twin and I shared a bedroom. Perhaps “identical” is synonymous with “shared!” Soon, our parents conceived of a compromise: we could be naked inside our bedroom if we agreed to wear clothes while elsewhere in our home. Our older siblings joined in this project, and while some awkward occurrences happened, tranquility returned to the Poladopoulos residence.
Footnote: Now, today, as a family, we all laugh when remembering this drama in our lives!
Calm and peaceful!
As we matured, our late Father eventually acknowledged to us all that the “bedroom nudity compromise” was initially considered only a temporary adjustment. Both parents believed we would grow away from this behaviour and the nude insistence was a developmental “phase” of our lives that would eventually disappear.
Our oldest sibling, Nick, (who “came out” as gay while at university), readily admitted to our family that at his young age, he briefly thought Twin and I were “double trouble!” At the time of this incident, he viewed our being Deaf as synonymous with our penchant for nakedness!
Sometimes, a “temporary” compromise affords a very rewarding and significant solution!
A doorway of twins!
As to the communication concern: our family all learned to manually share (sign language) – both in English and Greek! A process that remains underway still today with the addition of in-laws (sibling marriages), nieces and nephews!
Summary:
Life experiences provided Twin and I with an opportunity to explore, firsthand, the world of nakedness. It afforded us a chance to examine and explore our perspectives, reactions and involvement! These same life experiences reinforced, both internally and in reality, our identical appreciation and commitment to nakedness that we both share!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, September 22, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “Autumn Adaptability!”
The official end-of-summer is fast approaching! This is the next-to-the-last weekend of the official summer season of 2025! The final days are upon us as it is practically over. Make every moment both memorable and remarkable as we, who live in the Northern Hemisphere prepare to bid a farewell to one more period of comfort, warmth and extended days of sunlight.
To all our bare practitioner soulmates who reside in the Southern Hemisphere, prepare for your turn in the bliss of your approaching days of outdoor freedom and fun!
To all, best wishes for a very happy, healthy, safe and successful weekend!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, September 15, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “Beach Memories!”
Please understand that the above image is completely for representative purposes. My university where I’m employed does not permit us clothing-optional classroom or instructional privileges. We’re funded by the Congress, so that situation will be available only at the very end of time!
The Event:
It is now September 2025, and the Labour Day holiday has already happened. Unofficially, here in the USA, the Summer of 2025 is now over—although meteorologically we still have two more weeks of summer before the official transition into the autumn season! In other words, a not-so-subtle reminder to get out there, remove your clothing, and revel in nakedness while it is still possible to do so! Soon, the weather will change, and clothes will become a necessity!
The September Routine involves the return to the classroom (work) after the always all-too-brief summer respite from the educational podium! I enjoyed the holiday from having to commute and report to work daily; however, I also enjoy my job and the benefits and opportunities it affords.
Fortunately, no mathematics involved!
In addition to my classes that I facilitate, I also have two faculty committees that I am assigned. Luckily, I’ve served on these for several years now so the workload is both familiar and part of my academic routine. Hopefully, no unforeseen surprises await me this Autumn semester! However, the dean of my school of instruction is considering a new area of expansion and he has already approached me about not only supporting the assignment but also provisional leadership. He has promised it to be an “interesting” opportunity!
No, this new committee is not clothes free!
Also, another aspect of the September routine is the recollection of the summer freedom from clothing! The memory brings a smile to my face, every time!
At least, tomorrow is a new day!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, September 12, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “Countdown!”
He’s an exemplary and talented artist and author of his blog/site here: Yorgos KC. I’m currently making his acquaintance and am remarkably impressed with his efforts that are aptly available to all,
Please click the above link for your grand tour of all the treasures available there. In exploring and researching my current Bare/Dare Series, 2025!, one of his recent postings, The Discomfort of Being Real, is an honest and in-depth observation of the challenges and myths of nakedness in our world and our right of self-determination. Click on the title to link directly to this awesome post! We’re both of the same mindset in being bare and our same gender love!
Yorgos is not only an accomplished artist as the above image conveys, he’s also doubly gifted as a writer of both fiction as well as issues that we face during the course of our lives. His site contains many of his works and books that relate to both fantasy and reality. A multitalented mastermind who’s sharing his literary and visual gifts to us all!
Yorgos KC wordpress gravatar
The above gravatar (imprint) represents Yorgos KC and appears with his works, both artistic and literary here on wordpress. This seal contains an art rendering of his face as well as a bunny (lower right corner) with a rainbow heart! A proud member of our gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer+ (GLBTQ+) community and culture!
I highly recommend his blog to all bare practitioners and their friends! His art alone celebrates our body and clothes freedom through colourful imagery and also our same gender love and the beauty and tranquility it affords us in the frantic chaos of life. His compositions extol equality and fairness in contrast to the harsh realities that confront us. There’s something presented there that pertains to us all!
A fellow Greek cohort, Yorgos hails from Thessaloniki, Greece. I urge everyone to investigate his offering and endorse following his site as a way of communicating and sharing our nakedness and our same gender love (SGL) sexuality.
Please unite with Aaron, my spouse, and I as we embrace with a naked hug in welcoming Yorgos KC into both our bare practitioner community and culture! Our shared dedication to body and clothes freedom and our sexuality joins us all together!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, September 8, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “September Routine!”
An Examination of Our Community and Our Culture of Same Gender Loving Nakedness! #2
Introduction:
As bare practitioners, we are same-gender loving (SGL). We are bisexual, gay, or transgender. We are emotionally, mentally, physically, and sexually attracted to others who are of identical attraction and persuasion. We are, for the most part, content, peaceful, and relaxed among those we perceive as most like ourselves. We are advocates and enthusiasts of our nakedness, our state of being body and clothes free.
As bare practitioners, we are advocates, disciples and enthusiasts of nakedness. We cherish and enjoy our lives without any concealment and/or covering. Not having to be bothered or worried about hiding beneath layers of clothing/disguise and/or falsification!
As bare practitioners, we enrich, explore, fulfill, preserve and satisfy our happiness and our lives as well as our community and culture of bare practitioners through development, education, example, kindness resourcefulness and support of ourselves and others. We embrace and welcome others into our community and culture and into our way of happiness, hope and life!
Levels of Comfort 2:
Within the community and culture of bare practitioners, there are those among us who are comfortable with situational nakedness or the label situational nudes. Their comfort level with clothes freedom (bare) is not based on embarrassment, guilt or shame – it is instead based on the amount and/or level of exposure of their personal nakednessand the immediate situation of being. They have no issues with their sexual orientation.
There are multiple situations in which we may find ourselves experiencing our bodies without clothing or any type of covering. These may be planned in advance, or they may be spontaneous. They may happen when we’re alone and with others we may not are familiar or among a crowd of friends and/or peers.
Losing his towel!
The spontaneity of being revealed bare often is considered in humour and is not of anyone’s control. It is rarely planned and is synonymous with “accident.” For this reason, it is not determined to be a matter that requires a particular level or stage of comfort. The surprise element of the unplanned nakedness seems to somehow erase the need for any additional attention in these situations.
As there are those who prefer to be nude alone, there are likewise those who embrace with enthusiasm all the advantages of social nudity or communal body and clothes freedom. The activities and gatherings of these individuals have created the path that has encouraged the establishment of many same gender loving oriented clubs and organizations specifically designed to address these needs.
These social groupings began appearing in this country during the later years of the 19th century. The primary purpose was to create environments for communal and social nudity free from the legal and puritanical judgments of others. They offered comfortable opportunities for clothes freedom and an environment to introduce the life of nakedness to offspring. They were ideally “family friendly” and welcoming.
In June, 1969, the Stonewall Inn Riots in Greenwich Village, New York City, USA, opened the closet doors to positive recognition of same gender loving (SGL) communities in the USA and throughout the world. Eventually, the emerging SGL movement acknowledged the existence of body and clothes freedom enthusiasts among their population.
SGL clothes freedom enthusiasts!
As the awareness and recognition of the significance of the SGL body and clothes freedom community increased, the need for social inclusion was perceived. In the larger metropolitan areas on both coasts, this led to the formation of specific clubs to address those needs. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, bisexual and gay exclusive groups emerged into the growing number of interest-specific organizations serving the expanding SGL community and culture.
The Males au Naturel (MEN) of New York City, Los Angeles Nude Guys (LANG) of Los Angeles, San Francisco Kindred Nudists (SKINS) of San Francisco/Oakland, Greater Atlanta Naturist Group (GANG) of Atlanta, Georgia, and Lambda Soleil of metropolitan Washington, D.C. were among some of the earliest nakedness focused social groups organized along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Please note: these early social nudist clubs are not listed in chronological order.
The SGL designated clothes freedom movement arose because the prominent naturist/nudist movement refused to admit SGL persons as members nor as patrons. This discrimination continued until the arrival of the 21st century and in many areas and instances still exists even today. This has created a major problem within the discriminating community as many commercial resorts and destinations are suffering financially due to the fast-growing SGL affiliated facilities catering to the bare practitioner communities and culture are making the competition between the two divergent groupings into a financial nightmare.
This resulted in the development of many facilities catering specifically towards the marginalized population. These facilities were newly constructed, efficient and modern in both appearance and amenities, appliances and audiences. The popularity was overwhelming as many were also attracted by the “clothing optional” policy in place which broadened their commercial base. This expanded target made these properties receptive to both the bare and textile (clothes-wearing) populations.
The irony is the discriminatory establishment (primarily heterosexual) was the initiator of the marginalization of the bare practitioner communities. They have suffered the loss of the GLBTQ+ community and their finances. The properties offered as destinations are now secondary to the newer facilities afforded by the body and clothes freedom culture. Their revenues are decreasing as prices and costs are soaring.
Same gender love!
The resulting fact is that they, the mainstream naturist/nudist movement, are now the ones suffering from their own bias and prejudice. There’s no one to blame but themselves.
Assessment!
Curiosity:
One of the simplest yet predominant reasons people offer for exploring nakedness is the experience itself. Being completely and totally clothes free and unconcerned about the situation. Intentionally ignoring the reality that everyone else is attired (dressed) the same as yourself! Oblivious to the fact that all around, all are bare yet no one seems to care.
Pride!
Upon observing the crowd, some are actually amazed with the reality that no one is even giving anyone else a serious stare as to their nakedness. It is as if everyone, everywhere, is actually supposed to be that way- naturally!
Advice:
Most “first-time” social nude explorers will feel some nervous anxiety on their first venture into communal nudity. This is perfectly natural. Take a deep breath and proceed. Visually focus on eye contact with others. Shaking hands is acceptable personal contact, as are naked hugs (non sensual). It is recommended to limit physical contact initially. Introduce yourself to others and let them know that this is your first social nude event. Almost everyone you meet will remember their “first time” and will make you feel comfortable.
Removing to emerge clothes free!
Spirit of Adventure:
Tired of the repetitive social scene wearing garments and looking for a new social setting? Many seek a bare (nude) adventure to refresh their social calendar/involvement. This reason isn’t as obscure or as unusual as it may appear. Similar to Curiosity addressed above, the same advice is applicable in this situation. Relax and be as honest as you are comfortable while meeting new persons on your bare adventure – especially without clothing!
Once again, we refer you to utilize the Advice posted above. It remains applicable here, too!
Footnote #1: Some SGL social clubs permit the “newbies” (newcomers) to wear underwear for their first several visits. We recommend no clothing whatsoever. It is is indeed to ne a new adventure, then be as adventurous as possible! You’ll never know if you like it until you experience it!
Familiarity!
Familiarity:
There are among us numerous bare practitioners who began to examine and explore nakedness due to having family and/or friends who enjoy body and clothes freedom. These persons may or may not accompany the “explorer” to their initial naked encounter. If your family or friend are with you, they will guide you through the function and procedures. If you’re “on-your-own” (alone or solo), then refer to the Advice offered above for Curiosity and/or Adventure. Be prepared to identify your family or friend to those you meet at the social activity. It may inspire them to offer to help you through the experience and they may introduce others within the same social circle/crowd.
Feel free to share with others that you meet on these occasions any previous experiences – one-on-one and/or social – related to nakedness. One memory revealed may open doors to the same in others.
Conditional/Situational nudity!
Conditional/Situational Nudity:
There are persons who are comfortable and relaxed in their nakedness yet have discomfort or issues in displaying their genitalia (male sexual organs, specifically the penis and the testicles) in an unknown environment. There are even SGL professional pornography actors who have problems with this complete, full, total exposure of their anatomy.
For some, this conditional/situational nudity is merely one phase or sequence in their developing level of comfort. Others accept it as their total way of life. As bare practitioners, we acknowledge that each person is different and this is determined by each one of us in whatever situation we confront. Our level of comfort is as varied as our number within our community and culture as well as our divergent life experiences.
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Sunday, August 31, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “Bottoms-Up! August, 2025!”
The announced and planned post entry for this past Monday, 18 August, 2025, never occurred and my spouse, Aaron, and I both share the blame for that mishap! We’re just too much in love and we’ll only have one 10th anniversary. A very “last minute” (spontaneous) decision on our part for an extended anniversary celebration: a bromantic (he and me) extended weekend away from our routine to a Florida clothing optional resort that we’ve never visited before.
Our weekend ended yesterday: Thursday, 21August. I did mention an “extended” weekend, correct? We added four days and a renewal of ourselves!
Together!
This impulsive adventure was totally unplanned. We had discussed an excursion of this nature in the past but never actually realized that it didn’t really require that much attention to detail. After all, we’re usually “clothing optional” around our condominium/home anyway. So we had minimal need for any “official” wardrobe. Just the two of us being our natural selves.
Passion!
We do apologize to anyone if our spontaneity created any inconvenience for you. It was unintentional although irresponsible from the both of us. Please know that we both regret the error and can assure all of you that we’ll do our best to avoid any similarity in the future.
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry for this site is planned for Monday, August 25, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “August Antics!”
ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers! 