Come one! Come all! We’re joining in together to close out 2023, and the month of December! Now, we join with Mr. Francois Sagat in baring our buttocks to bid “farewell” to the old and to “welcome” the new!
Francois Sagat: live and in reflection!
Nice bottoms-up! you have, brother Francois!
Thank you, 2023!
It was a fun year! The memories will be with us all for quite a while!
Bottoms-up! in triplicate!
Bare buttocks and the blue sea! A rewarding way to welcome 2024!
Bottom’s-up! development!
Our Equatorial bottom’s-up! features a pyramid of booties that rival the classic structures of the ancient Egyptians!
A Bottom’s-up! pillow for the weary!
The above Bottom’s-up! opportunity allows us to offer comfort for those who are fatigued or weary!
A temptation!
And to energize ourselves in order to share our bottoms-up! appreciation!
A 2024 welcome!
A well-earned greeting for 2024, the new year!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for tomorrow, Monday, January 1, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “2024!”
The Pentagon City Fashion Centreis a popular shopping mall/tourist attraction in Arlington, Virginia, located near The Pentagon and just south of the Potomac River which separates the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C., from the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is located very near the condominium where Aaron (my spouse) and I reside.
The incidentdescribed below happened almost a full year after I began publishing ReNudePride back in 2017. We were both shopping in the mall during the winter holiday season. In reality, it was winter and we were both fully clothed in outerwear and our casual garments!
Aaronrecalled this situation about a week ago and encouraged it as a “seasonal” topic to post here during this year’s holiday tradition!
I am using pictures of my fellow blogger, Adimu and myself to illustrate this posting as this was our very first time spent together when we took these images using a telephoto lens and adapter.
Adimu and Roger, riverside!
The truth is…
Early December, 2017 – it was a Saturday and Aaron (my h-u-s-b-a-n-d) – both legally and officially – and I exited the Metro Blue Line at the Pentagon City subway station. We entered the Pentagon City shopping mall for a particular item of clothing. What that was is as unimportant as the cost of a pair of sunglasses is to Rudolph (the red-nosed reindeer)!
Then, as now, we were both honest and open about our being bare practitioners (same gender loving naturists/nudists). We were probably publicly holding onto one another’s hands or walking arm-in-arm. President Obama had served his second term the previous January and his successor was now in office so we were most definitely in physical contact and completely clothed!
The winter holiday shopping frenzy was underway as we patiently progressed through the four shopping levels. We had all day and had ridden the subway; there was no need or reason to hurry. The only pressing item on our agenda for the day was to get home and return to our usual state of nakedness!
Somewhere along the way to wherever, Aaron stopped as he had been approached by another man – presumably alone. My spouse released my hand and immediately began using American Sign Language (ASL) as this man was addressing him orally. At the very least, I would be able to follow their conversation.
Adimu and I embrace!
From what we both recall from this encounter, the conversation began quite amicable, decent and friendly – initially. This man admitted to regularly reading ReNude Pride. He looked me “in the eye” as he complimented me on writing this blog and on our relationship (marriage). This wasn’t the first time someone had acknowledged our interracial gay status nor our being open concerning our preference for nakedness.
Suddenly, the conversation changed from pleasant to one of hostility. This man – name unknown – became increasingly emotional and he specifically accused us both as being insensitive to the fact that being gay was totally incompatible with being nudists!
Both Aaron and I remember his closing argument: “There is noway a gay man can be comfortable being naked among complete strangers!”
I was shocked and surprised! I couldn’t grasp his reasoning behind this exclamation! What triggered this exclamation? I was unable to even think of any response!
Fortunately, Aaron wasn’t in the same type of mental wasteland. He answered, calmly and simply: “Better to be naked with strangers than to be in costume among friends!”
He then grabbed my hand and led me away!
“A moment’s insight is sometimes worth a life’s experience.” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes ~ American jurist
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is for Friday, December 15, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Schedule!”
The arguments and debates concerning the appropriate sensitivity and respect over the holiday and/or Holy Day…bah-humbug! On ReNude Pride, we try to be equal and fair to all, no matter the culture, faith, heritage, ethnicity, racial identity, sexual attraction and sexual orientation! We wish for everyone happiness for whatever the occasion!
Our header (beginning image) above does deliver a usually perceived “christmas-type” depiction but our listing below contains the reasoning factor. We intend to pay tribute to all here!
There are a limitless supply of beliefs, facts and reasons for all of our differing occasions to celebrate, commemorate and enjoy! Our intent is to attempt and strive to be as accepting, acknowledging and as all-inclusive as possible. We want everyone to feel comfortable, special and welcome here on ReNude Pride! Especially if you are both bare and same gender loving!
Celebrating all of us!
Please remember that no one is intentionally ignored or excluded from us here (unless too fully dressed)! Each and every one is encouraged to join in our adventures, escapades, education and fun. Good times and life are for us all to enjoy and experience.
Too many of our kind, of our nature have been forced to endure and to suffer during their lives. Many are even doing so still today. Now is the time for us all to cast aside all the oppression and repression!
In coming together we not only offer our collective compassion and support, we also share our suffering. This, in turn, empowers us all to commiserate as a community and to look and to move forward in strength and unity!
Togetherness!
All of us realize that our past is behind us. It is a lesson learned. Our present is part of what unites us and envelops us in love and respect. Our future is a journey, a path forward, a light that shines with all of our combined aspirations, our combined dreams and our combined hopes.
Working together, in patience, tolerance and understanding, our future becomes not only much brighter but also more alive and more promising! It is a step in the direction towards harmony, peace and tranquility not only for our community and our culture but also for our hearts, our minds and our spirits.
Our diversity makes us stronger!
This is why the celebrating of, the honouring of, the knowledge of, the memory of and the power of our communal and familial heritages is so important and necessary. Our history, whether personal, family, religious, communal or cultural is a vital part of each and every one of us! It is what makes us special and unique!
Sankofa proverb!
It is precisely the message of the Sankofa Proverb of the Adinkra peoples of West Africa. “If you forget it, you must go back and fetch it.” The truth shall be our guiding light!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, December 11, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Identifications!”
A moment of humour in order to pay a serious re-visit to last Monday’s post entry here on ReNude Pride entitled Nakedness: Downside featuring our very own bare practitioner celebrity, Felipe Ferreira!
In today’s return, our opening header (picture) image strongly suggests the enormous influence and attention our previous posting generated. Today’s featured downside star assumes a similar pose with his facial expression and his visible tongue affording us some notorious insight.
Didthe previous post offend him? Is he thoroughly disgusted by our sense of humour? Did the appearance of Felipe Ferreira anger him or threaten his personal nakedness?
Instead, did the obviously most revealing and shocking question apply: How much did your’s truly (me) pay him to pose for this photograph?
The honest answer, my friends, is an official secret that was provided exclusively by Royal Command to our bare practitioner celebrity! The infamous and proudly resplendent in his own nakedness, Felipe Ferreira, shares his reaction to the secret answer below:
He jests,
He explains
He laughs
Then he laughs even again!
Remember the ancient adage, my friends: the truth shall always set you full of laughter all while you’re completely clothes free!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Wednesday, November22, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “USA: Thanksgiving!”
As much mourning as I endure due to the end of the summer season every year, I always marvel at the colour the autumn leaves introduce into nature. It is almost as though the flowers that brightened our environment during the summer evolved to the leaves on the trees once autumn settles upon the scene. A very brief colourful experience as the leaves rapidly abandon the tree branches and then fall to the ground.
This post entry here on ReNude Pride isn’t a repeat of last year’s My Leaves Legacy. Click onto that title to link to that posting. This year, I’m simply sharing about autumn leaves without my allergic reaction. It is just the capturing of another seasonal transition in the calendar journey.
Autumn foliage!
As the autumn season progresses, the accumulation of leaves falling from trees covers not only the earth but also anyone laying there!
Bare in boots!
For many living in the Northern Hemisphere, this time of year marks the last time for being bare in nature until the arrival of the next spring season.
Hanging fitness in autumn!
The leaves change at different times. This offers an expanded expression of farewell to the growth season before the barren winter arrives.
Nocturnal autumn!
Some persons welcome the change of seasons as a salute the variations of nature. Some others, like myself, view it as an unfortunate means to endure until another trend in natural warmth returns for us to enjoy!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, November 10, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Armistice/Remembrance Day!”
Officialdefinition:“In human psychology, the term “learned behaviour” refers to any manner of conduct that a person performs as a result of experience. People learn behaviour from their parents, siblings and other authoritative environmental entities.”
A learned behaviour is a distinct practice that isn’t part of our natural (human) experience or nature. It is by no means universal (shared by everyone). More than likely, it is a behaviour or belief that is taught to us when we are young so that we do not acquire or begin a particular behaviour, habit or practice that is actually more conducive, intuitive or natural to an overwhelming majority of us. A perfect example of a learned behaviour is the wearing of clothes. The lesson taught to us is that bare, naked, nude is wrong and that clothes must be worn at all times!
Clothing is an instrument/tool that is divinely delivered to us in order to remove and/or restrict our body and clothes freedom. A freedom that we are all born with!
Ironically, the exact learned behaviour that we are taught is a complete and total lie (fabrication, falsehood). This untruth (falsehood) is practically always taught to us by the same person/teacher who also instruct us to always be honest and tell the truth. After all, lying is a sin (wrong) that is offensive not only to the divine but to all humans as well. Two lies (fabrications/falsehoods) do not equal to a truth!
So much for the un-natural and very un-truthful lesson that garments are divinely inspired! Quick! Someone should alert the divine!
Bare is wrong!
Body shame:
Body shame is defined/explained as: “the mock or stigmatize (someone) by making critical comments or gestures about the appearance, shape or size of their body.”/We are taught throughout our developmental (growing-up) years to shame ourselves and to especially to be ashamed of our bare (naked, nude) bodies. Additional instructions include that the desire and urge (want) for body and clothes freedom is both despicable, shameful and wrong! Nakedness (absence of garments) is the epitome of disgrace and it is evil.
Nakedness is also inhuman – that’s why prisoners are incarcerated nude or with a minimal covering. It is also un-natural – that’s why aboriginal persons are also classified/labelled as “backwards” or as “uncivilized.” Some are also referenced as “primitive.”
Nakedness is therefore undignified. It is also unrefined. Nakedness is deplorable. It lessens our humanity. It makes us savage. Ironically, the same may be applied to all of those who deliberately and intentionally and with malice direct and with intent inflict body shame on others. Body shaming is the process by which one attempts to address degradation, humiliation and ridicule upon the body of another with emphasis on perceived differences, discrepancies and flaws.
We are taught to conceal or cover (hide) our nakedness if we are ever in the company of others. Communal nakedness is both disgraceful and deviant. It is to be avoided at all times. It is indecent to be seen in our nakedness when around others. Communal nakedness is considered a perversion.
Pointing his finger!
The body shaming of others is a direct result of the insecurities felt by those criticizing of their own personal physical stature. They ridicule and taunt others in a feeble attempt to deflect attention from themselves.
“Who are you to judge the life I live? I’m not perfect and I don’t have to be! Before you start pointing fingers, make certain your hands are clean.” ~ Bob Marley ~ Jamaican reggae legend
Searching!
Refutation:
Yet, we were all born only in our complete, full and total nakedness. No matter our parentage or social class. In nakedness we begin our life and we enter into this world. In the countless numbers of thousands of years, humanity continues to create itself through birth in nakedness.
Multiple millennia of teaching all of our offspring of the artificial concealing and covering of their natural body with textiles (clothing) yet the instructions must still continue even into this day and age. Clothing remains a learned behaviour, that none of us are born with. It does not automatically pass from one generation to the next.
All joining together!
“Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it’s a good place to start.” ~ Jason Collins ~ first openly gay NBA professional, Brooklyn Nets
“For all of us, as same gender loving and bare men, we must remember that as members of a distinct minority community and culture, it is incumbent on us to recognize that our pride in ourselves is based on our own self-acceptance and our own self-confidence of both what and who we essentially are. Guilt and shame have no place in our lives. We need to let them go and move forward in patience and tolerance for all. Love nd respect are the keys we need. Hate and ignorance are not.” ~ Roger Peterson-Poladopoulos ~ June 16, 2023
One important thought to hold onto is that not everyone who taught us about nakedness was in harmony with the lesson. Many were merely complying with their perceptions of what was expected from them.
Suggestions For Unlearning:
The actual unlearning of a learned behaviour is easier for some of us than it is for others. One important factor to remember is that we all learn differently and the process of unlearning is equally diverse. There is not one standard formula/prototype that is applicable for all of us. Ponder the recommendations offered below and proceed with what is comfortable for you.
Remove all clothing and relax. Read a book or a magazine. Watch a film or television. Paint a canvass and/or draw/sketch.
Invite one or several friends over and encourage them to become naked with you. Play cards or a board game. Do something bare together. Interact.
Repeat the above or variations thereof in order to increase the nude comfort level of everyone. Undertake similar activities. Invite others to join the experience.
Progress from nakedness (alone) to an atmosphere of social nudity (acquaintances/friends engaging together).
To increase the bare comfort level of all, organize a social event (such as a cocktail party of a meal) where the ones naked can intermingle with those who are wearing clothes. It is advisable to let all the guests know of the social make-up of the gathering in advance. This is done to avoid any awkward or uncomfortable “scenes.”
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, November 6, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Autumn Leaves!”
The “header” above is published in honour of today as the Halloween observance!Have a happy and safe Halloween to everyone!
Happy Bare Practitioner History Month! Bottoms-up legacy!
The above image is offered in honour of this being the very last day of 2023 Bare Practitioner History Month! Celebrating both our community and our culture and all of us being ourselves!
Since February, 2023, followers and readers of ReNude Pride were invited to submit images of their very own Bottoms-Up! in order to give themselves the historic significance that they so rightly deserve!
Anonymity was promised and below are the photographs sent to me. Happy Bottoms-Up! everyone!
********************
Bottoms-Up! Legends!
In the above .gif image, please lip-read my “thank you” to the above for sending in their Bottoms-Up! pictures!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, November 3, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Unlearn It!”
The Bare Nation! The Naked Nations! The Nude Nation!
All joining their hands together. Helping hands. Cooperating. United. All for one and one for all!
Brotherhood!
Body and Clothes Freedom!
All embodied into togetherness! Bare. Naked. Nude. Not concealing their common link against artificial disguise and/or false impressions. United. Natural. Human nature. Humanity.
Shoulder support!
Confidence and Pride!
No confusion. No deception. All reality. The Bare Nation. The Naked Nation. The Nude Nation. All different yet all equal! At least there is hope for us all!
Naked truth!
No Surprise!
It takes bare practitioners (same gender loving naturists/nudists) to demonstrate to all the textile (clothed) people how to accomplish a mission of harmony, peace and respect!
The United Nations Flag!
The actual United Nations Day is celebrated tomorrow, Tuesday, October 24, 2023. This date commemorates the entry into force of the United Nations Charter in 1945. The purpose of today’s post entry is to offer the thought that bare practitioners may truly be the most creative and imaginative people around. They absolutely offer us all a prime example of the concept and ideal of a world of UnitedNations!
Hopefully, the real United Nations (UN) will strip off their clothes and march in line behind the bare practitioners!
Stripping!
A very happy and safe United Nations Day to all!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, October 27, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “October’s Bright Blue Weather!”
Purple: Spirit Dayis officially observed on the third Thursday of October, annually. This posting entry is offered in anticipation of the official observance!
On the Progress Rainbow Pride flag, the colour of purple at the bottom of the original rainbow field of six stripes represents the ideal of spirit. The colour also denotes pride and is considered a calming colour. It also connects us to the spiritual realm. For a great many of us, this is symbolic of our reflective nature and signifies the soul of the GLBTQ+ quest for our equality and freedom. In the United Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth, purple is a royal colour and often is representative of the Crown.
Purple: Spirit Day is an annual anti-bullying, anti-coercion date that is held during National Bullying Prevention Month. It is particularly focused combatting damaging or threatening behaviour based on a person’s perceived or real same gender loving status. The Stonewall Inn Riots (SIR) of 1969 and the National Coming Out Day observance that commenced on October 11, 1988, reduced the suicide rate among the GLBTQ+ community and culture but it was never completely eradicated as a cause, even with the millennial transition.
A significant increase in GLBTQ+-related suicides committed not only raised the awareness of this problem within our community and culture but also in the minds of the general public. Clearly, more attention and efforts were necessary.
The commemoration of Purple: Spirit Day began on October 20, 2010, at the advocacy and inspiration of one Canadian teenager on her FaceBook social media. It is an awareness day of recent development in response to a USA suicide that gained international attention. On September 22, 2010, eighteen year old student Tyler Clementi, of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA, jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge over the Hudson River. On September 19, Tyler’s roommate, Dharen Ravi, had posted to his Twitter social media account a clip showing Tyler kissing another man and announced to all his followers that he is gay. All of this was done without the permission of Tyler or his encounter partner.
Purple: Spirit Day!
The resulting media explosion that followed the suicide led Brittany McMillan, a secondary school student in Canada to respond to her conscience and launch the Purple: Spirit Day campaign on her own. The concept was undertaken by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) who immediately assumed sponsorship after consulting with Brittany.
Promoted by GLAAD, participants wear the colour purple as a visible sign of awareness and support for GLBTQ+ young people and opposition to bullying (for whatever reason) in general. It is also a gesture in tribute to all GLBTQ+ victims of suicide.
Cartoon in support of GLBTQ+ Purple: Spirit Day!
The very first Purple: Spirit Day was held on Wednesday, October 20, 2010. Later observances were on Thursday, October 20, 2011, and on Friday, October 20, 2012. After that time, GLAAD enacted the official date of the thirdThursday in October as the annual occasion.
For those persons restricted by requirements of uniform, a purple awareness ribbon may be worn to show agreement with the cause. If a pre-printed purple ribbon isn’t immediately available, a plain one suffices. Use a regular safety pin to attach the ribbon to your collar or shirt.
I remember the very first Purple: Spirit Day. Aaron, my spouse and I were simply living together at the time, and there wasn’t much notice given in advance of the first occasion. We decided to make purple ribbons to distribute on our jobsites promoting the cause and spent the night before staying up late to create the awareness tokens. We assorted 150 ribbons for each of our jobs. By mid-morning the next day, we exchanged emails and we had both given out of ribbons!
Supporting Purple: Spirit Day!
For bare practitioners the event may be signified by painting a purple ribbon on the left side of the chest. It is important to promote attention to this worthy cause!
For additional information on Purple: Spirit Day! please click onto the link below:
I humbly apologize for the unannounced delay in posting entries here for a full week. I was given an “extra” assignment for my job that was both unannounced and completely unexpected. I have fulfilled the duty and am now prepared to resume my regular posts here on ReNude Pride. I hope that I haven’t disappointed everyone! More details later.
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for tomorrow, Saturday, September 30, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Bottoms-Up! September, 2023”
ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers! 