Strength in Numbers:
Supporting the Future of Nudism
We welcome Nude Recreation Week this month and on the second Saturday, International Skinny-Dip Day! I plan to celebrate both on that second Saturday with friends from my local travel group. It’s refreshing to be able to enjoy these events at a club member’s house and not have to rely on a destination club for all my nudist activities.
The efforts of the GAT Team this year have been focused on protecting the right to be nude in public and private spaces. We have been challenged and met that challenge in Arizona, Hawaii, and Florida again this year. Without the support of the Regions, we cannot continue these efforts. Our AANR membership supports Lobbying efforts, and that is not cheap. Over the years, the regions have used their GAT funds to support bills we have attacked in other regions. We can’t be effective in fighting a bill and stopping it from being introduced in other states and provinces if it passes without this financial support.
It’s been our experience that if we can stop an effort in a smaller jurisdiction, it doesn’t find legs and travel to the larger ones. Your support is critical to keeping nude use legal and safe.
Our biggest challenges this year seem to be the increasing fines and penalties for simple nudity. These efforts push people to plead to lesser offenses rather than fight, if fighting means fines and a felony conviction if they lose. We are fighting people who are uncomfortable with the human body being free of clothes, whether in private or at a public site. Education is the key to reversing this trend. Fighting their bills is the method we must continue if we are going to stay successful.
We have focused our efforts on educating legislators on wholesome nude recreation. We do that at the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) every year and at public events during Earth Day and other Earth-friendly events. National Nude Recreation Week and Skinny-Dip Day are public announcements of healthy nudism. Your membership expands the number of people who identify as nudists, so when we are at these events, we can say we represent thousands of fellow taxpayers who enjoy nature but in the nude.
Tim Mullins
AANR GAT Chair
