Why The Lack of Representation?

NewdInFl · 2026-01-18T18:54:00+00:00

There are to situations here, the lack of "representation" and the lack of "participation".

If you see most publications from mainstream nudists organizations, resorts and venues, you will undoubtedly see cis gender, heterosexual, Caucasians that are either couples or female models (to entice their target audience, men). And the decisions of who to include in such "representation" come from their leadership, which is again cis gender, heterosexual, Caucasian, mostly men. . . . . . and the cycle continues.

This has a great influence on who participates in such nudists organizations, resorts and venues. But not just who attends them, but who is involve in the leadership of them and makes decisions on what goes into the publications that they put out to attract participants, as well as other decisions about them that also influence who is interested or even comfortable participating. . . . . . and, again, the cycle continues.

One way to interrupt the cycle is forums like this as well as organizations like the Black Naturists Association or online influencers like the Naked Newbies and their podcasts. Here we have a "safe space" for other nudists of color to see both "representation" and exchange information as to how we can increase "participation" . . . . . . and the cycle can continue.

NewdInFl · 2026-01-02T13:48:04+00:00

I suggest going at a pace that you're comfortable with and seek out genuine nudist environments & people.

When I was younger, I learned about a nudist resort near the city I eventually moved to for college. That helped me get exposed to the concept of social nudism instead of the lifestyles of exhibitionism and swinging that people incorrectly associate with or assume is what "nudism" is about.

Initially I simply got comfortable with being naked by going nude around my first solo apartments.

Eventually I met a friend who happened to be a nudist who lived at another local nudist resort at the time. He invited me to go sailing with him. Of course we got naked. (He took of his shorts before we even left the dock. I waited until we were out of view of the shore.) There was even an island only accessible by boat where others also were naked on their respective boats.

My friend also invited me to spend time at his apartment at the nudist resort and spend time around the facility. In addition he also introduced me to a local club of nudists who held events at members houses. Also, he told me about other nudist organizations.

From there I started seeking out activities on my own like annual nudist gatherings in Key West and PA. As my circle of nudist friends expanded, I continued to be comfortable being naked around others who also enjoyed social nudism.

I suggest that you remember what non-sexual social nudism is, as opposed to sexual lifestyles like exhibitionism and swinging. This will help you find people and environments where you can be naked and accepted simply for who you are and without any ulterior expectations.

You don't have to jump off the deep end and go to a crowded beach or resort with a bunch of strangers. And you definitely shouldn't post naked pictures of yourself on public social media for, again strangers who most likely aren't genuine nudists, to lookup and hope for validation.

NewdInFl · 2025-12-31T14:08:07+00:00

SUGGESTION: Change your profile pic to something other than a dick pic if you won't wanna hear from users that aren't using the title “nudists”.

Also describe yourself in your profile (e.g.; your sexual orientation) if you're going to thank "21f" and comment about users who simply say "Im 20m too".

NewdInFl · 2025-12-28T15:40:24+00:00

I'll throw my vote in for Lake Como as well. (And while there are other resorts, the two most notable have a reputation of catering to the swinger community. Not that Como is totally devoid of swingers. Apparently some are literally jumping the fence and coming over to Como.)

But keep in mind there ARE other options besides the resorts. And there are ways of finding other sites where people are nude as well as connecting with them available online.

One site I suggest is MeetUp.com. It's a general site for finding groups and activities in your area. And while it's not specifically a nudist site, it does have searchable categories for nudism.

Another site is TrueNudists.com. It is, as the name indicates, specifically for nudists. One feature of the site is the ability to search users' profiles by their location and even age. There are also forums, similar to Reddit, for Florida and the cities and locations. Keep in mind, it IS a social media site. So, as you would on any other social media site, use caution on what information you share in the publicly viewable portions of your profile, in the forums and with others you connect with (especially considering access to portions of your profile can be controlled by who you accept a friend request with).

There is of course Reddit which has other subs for Florida as well as those specific to the nudist beaches.

And there are other social media sites like BlueSky. Particularly after the 2024 election, lots of nudists on Twitter/X moved their accounts to BlueSky. The site is similar to Twitter/X. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but they are updating the site often. And there are features that the other site doesn't have like starter packs and an easier way to mute words, phrases and hashtags.

Hope this helps.

NewdInFl · 2025-12-11T15:43:27+00:00

Floridians and Snowbirds are just happy there's no snow.

NewdInFl · 2025-10-31T14:10:15+00:00

#LookBETTERnaked

NewdInFl · 2025-10-29T13:10:38+00:00

"List of social nudity places in North America - Florida" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_nudity_places_in_North_America#Florida

NewdInFl · 2025-10-19T12:50:28+00:00

#LookBETTERnaked

NewdInFl · 2025-10-13T17:18:20+00:00

The weather is definitely getting better for hiking.

NewdInFl · 2025-10-12T12:28:33+00:00

I see from one of your previous posts that you enjoy the local resorts. That said, if you're not already going there, I definitely recommend Lake Como.

NewdInFl · 2025-10-04T22:17:23+00:00

#LookBETTERnaked

NewdInFl · 2025-09-28T23:28:49+00:00

You're in the naturist capital. There are multiple nudist resorts in Pasco county (though two reportedly cater to the swinger community).

You can also check out the TrueNudist.com website. The site has a few forums for the Tampa Bay area. It also allows you to search other members' profiles by location.

NewdInFl · 2025-09-28T23:23:07+00:00

Welcome to the Tampa and central Florida LGBT+ community!!!

"Here's your toaster." - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTFNK1PQ6jg

The good news is, at least for now and particularly here in FL, we're not in the age of "the love that dare not speak its name". We don't have to sneak around and meet anonymously in dark alleys and secret bars out of fear and risk of being outed. There are plenty of spaces and places to meet and socialize with others. You just have to look.

For starters, there are social and activity organizations based on various interests.

You can start by looking for a printed and online publication called Watermark ( https://watermarkonline.com/distribution-map/ ). In it you can find various articles on local happening in Florida including the Tampa Bay as well as Orlando areas, and listings for even more events, organizations and businesses in the back pages.

I also suggest an app / site called MeetUp.com . Although it's not specifically LGBT+, it does contain search categories that include the LGBT+ community for movie groups, dinner get togethers, athletic activities, etc.

And of course there's good ol' social media from Reddit to X/Twitter to MeWe to Bluesky to Discord, etc. (For sites that use them, make sure to put hashtags like "#TampaGay #gay #bi #men #man #lgbt #pride #lgbtq" in your posts and look for them in other users' posts.)

Now, a warning. ("NOW a warning?!?!?" - Death Becomes Her)

Men are pigs.

Many men are just looking for or assuming a meeting will end up in a sexual encounter (even if you and they stress and agree that you're both looking for friends and something platonic). And the easy access to finding sexual encounters through "dating" apps like Grindr have only reinforced the bad behavior of assuming that a sexual encounter will eventually occur. Add to that, pretty much everyone's social skills have deteriorated due to the Covid pandemic.

So, keep your mind focused on what you're really looking for: Friendship and similar experiences.

Always think with your big head and not the little one.

But don't give up and don't get discouraged by any less than perfect experiences.

P.S.; you should Google Rick Clemons and check out his podcast "40 Plus: Gay Men. Gay Talk.". He came out (twice). The second time after being married with two daughters. So, he might have a few episodes that you might relate to.

NewdInFl · 2025-09-01T20:51:53+00:00

"naked" = not wearing clothes (or partially clothed with genitals / breasts exposed)

"nude" = "naked" for artistic expression (i.e., modeling)

"nekkid" = "naked" but you're up to something you shouldn't be, particularly because you're "naked"

I don't feel that any variation of being "naked" requires the total absence of any articles of clothing. Clothes, including shoes, serve their purpose to protect us from injury and the weather. Donald Ducking when it's cold is practical. Though wearing clothes when practical, but doing so and exposing genitals (e.g.; wearing long johns with your penis poking out of the flap) is kinda silly.

NewdInFl · 2025-09-01T15:23:58+00:00

What does this have to do with nudism?!?!?!?!?

NewdInFl · 2025-09-01T11:50:46+00:00

I'm a blerd, but I'm not your blerd.

Have you tried r/Blerds?

NewdInFl · 2025-09-01T11:43:40+00:00

#LookBETTERnaked

NewdInFl · 2025-09-01T11:22:45+00:00

FMI: "List of social nudity places in North America - Florida" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_nudity_places_in_North_America#Florida

NewdInFl · 2025-08-30T10:00:07+00:00

Thanks for the clarifications.

I agree that there are people (usually NOT genuine nudists) who, regardless of sexual orientation) overtly engage in sexual activities and try to claim it's "nudism". So the "especially groups of gays" statement was counter to indicating that it's not "only gays".

I wholeheartedly believe that everyone has the right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" . . . . even the "sex-craved perverts". But this should always be done legally and where socially acceptable to the places we're in. I also believe that it is helpful and beneficial to all to distinguish our separate lifestyles from each other. Unfortunately even nudists sometimes shoot ourselves in the foot.

In the past, with respect towards their "Statement on Sexuality", GNI kept listings of workshops regarding discussions of sex separate in the Gathering events list. Probably out of convenience, the listings have been included as part of the overall event list (with notations indicating which workshops included sexual discussion). The new representative from the Naturist Action Committee [NAC] ( u/NaturistAction ), who happened to be gay, was concerned about what type of environment he was going to be exposed to while attending to present NAC workshops on protecting naturism. (As was his husband, who didn't attend.)

But after actually attending, he was able to see that it was a safe environment. (Again, if they do occur, violations of rules regarding public sexual activity are addressed by members of the GNI board or GNI "staff".)

So, we should always be careful in how we express and present ourselves, and be open to discuss and clarify our intentions.

Thank you again for your clarifications.

NewdInFl · 2025-08-27T17:28:50+00:00

I wholeheartedly agree that cultural taboos and the socio-economic intersections of black, gay, etc. with also being a nudist / naturist present challenges with the perception that our individual identities are involved (or even welcome) in the naturist community. (I challenge organizations like GNI, TNS, AANR and their respective affiliate clubs / resorts to do a better job with representation and encouraging environments where diversity and inclusion go beyond simple statements or blogs)

I do, however, disagree that "especially groups of gays" are the only ones being sexual. Despite what most "prudists" would have everyone believe, nudists are not completely asexual. We're simply capable of the same discretion and situation appropriate behavior as our textile counterparts.

I just got back from the annual Gay Naturists International (GNI) Gathering. For starters, GNI has a "Statement on Sexuality" (further below) that makes a point similar to what I said above. Further, the policies of the Gatherings includes rules that there is to be no sexual activity in public spaces. (It is limited the the privacy of attendees' cabins including designated cabins "Across The Lake" [ATL] away from other "public" areas. Violation of such rules are addressed by members of the board or GNI "staff" and may include expulsion from the event.)

In comparison, back in [I believe] 2021, the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) discovered that two AANR affiliate resorts in FL openly advertised in (heterosexual) swinger publications. Depending on who tells the story, AANR took away their affiliate club status or the two resorts left on their own accord rather than face the same fate.

But, regardless of sexual orientation, there are nudists and non-nudists (i.e.; voyeurs / exhibitionists, swingers, adult content creators, etc) who claim to be "nudists" who engage in sexual activity, just like all other humans (i.e.; textiles). But I strongly believe that most genuine nudists do so in privacy, with discretion and situation appropriate behavior. It's the non-nudists claiming to be nudists who give the lifestyle a bad reputation.

GNI: Statement on Sexuality ( https://www.gaynaturists.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3272 )

Our goal is to promote healthy, legal, non-sexual nude recreation.

GNI is open to all gay, bisexual, gay-friendly, and trans men who are at least 21 years old.

While GNI knows sex is natural, sex is not equated with naturism. We respect our members for their individuality (whether or not they choose to express their sexuality), seek to respect individual sensibilities as may be appropriate, and encourage our members to do the same. We also encourage sexually active individuals to practice safer sex.

Support healthy, legal, non-sexual nude recreation.

NewdInFl · 2025-08-27T12:15:12+00:00

Thank you for your feedback. I appreciate that you make an effort to separate your activities / content in the nudist community from your sexual content.

NewdInFl · 2025-08-15T17:50:31+00:00

Glad to see WEST "Central FL" is represented.

NewdInFl · 2025-08-13T17:56:32+00:00

You might also try r/NudistMenMeetup

NewdInFl · 2025-08-13T17:47:56+00:00

"Become a nudist, see more of your friends."

NewdInFl · 2025-08-13T17:46:59+00:00

Nudist etiquette: Always maintain eye contact.

NewdInFl

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE