 | I have been a nudity activist for a lifetime. Public nudity is a way to bring the idea that nakedness is not so frightening, not perverted and more, it can be fun!
I took part in the World Naked Bicycle Ride last year. I was unable to participate this year because of being naked for five days at Harbin Hot Springs in Northern California at a gathering of Neo-Pagans called Ancient Ways. But perhaps they won't coincide next year, and I will be able to do both, I hope. In San Francisco this year, I ran the Bay-To-Breakers race in the nude. It was exhilarating despite the fact that the others with whom I had started all dropped out early on. Almost no one seemed shocked, and I had more people than one could imagine want to be photographed next to me, so they could send shots of being in the famous race standing next to, sometimes embracing, a naked man! A large number of Asiatic women thought it was just the ideal thing to do to remember their visit to San Francisco! It has been my pleasure also to walk naked in the "How Berkeley Can You Be?" parade in my home town across the Bay from San Francisco, as well as the "Nude and Breast Freedom" theatrical/experiential event, also in Berkeley, usually the week earlier. Am I obsessed? Maybe. But I have always associated being unclothed with freedom and defiance of the constrictive rules imposed by church and state. And the idea is, as you know, catching on! Even my religion honors the body and often meets in the nude, though our word for it is originally taken from the Jains of Northern India, "Sky-Clad." It was first introduced in the west by a man named Gerald Gardner, who revived the vanishing faith of "Wicca," and he insisted the Initiations should be in the nude. I worked for twenty and more years as an art model, a legitimate one, for classes, workshops and individuals. Let me tell you, that's hard work! I could go on...but sufficient to the day is the jabber thereof, eh? I was among the first to go and frequent the first publicly known nude beach; I was a bodybuilder in the 70's and advocated nudity while winning some contests, I'm not that huge nowadays, but I keep in shape. I regard the body as a sculptor views his or her statue. It is my artwork, and I love and enjoy being in this world, even while I see others my age bemoaning their aches and pains. I bicycle everywhere, work out with weights that get a lot of comments from guys in the gym who are a third my age, and find that, with the right attitude, it just gets better and better. My birth certificate has my legal name as Steve Edwards, but I have long preferred the appellation I chose when entering my religious community, and that's how I will bid adieu...
Blesséd Be! & Namasté |
--Robin Goodfellow, California
| My husband Greg and I recently holidayed at Byron Bay, Australia with good friends. Amazing place with beautiful weather and warm clear waters and what seems to be very topfree friendly atmosphere. My friend and I hadn't done topfree bathing before but we are now advocates for it. We headed to Watego's beach on the first day and saw many (70%) women topfree. I wore a one piece and my friend had a crop-top bikini and after about an hour Beth and I decided we should try. We waited till our husbands went for a swim and I pulled my straps down as Beth removed her top. It was a liberating experience and the look on the boys faces when they returned was also encouraging. We decided to buy new bikini's the next day and would leave the tops at the unit when ever we went to the beach. We went on a site seeing bus trip one day and had lunch and a swim at another beach spot. Two other women removed their summer dresses to swim and only had bikini bottoms on so Beth and I also did this. The locals are very relaxed about topfreedom and we never felt uncomfortable in doing this.
By the end of the 2 weeks my friend and I had fantastic tans from this fantastic holiday. Can't wait till next holiday. |  |
--Amanda, Surrey, England
 | My husband and I have been to Punta Cana and were surprised with the amount of Europeans (Germans especially) that frequented this part of the D.R. We stayed at the Bavaro Beach and were also pleasantly surprised that Punta Cana was very comfortable with being topless. I love to go topless when at the beach and my husband totally supports it. Its one of my most favorite feelings in the world. There�s nothing better than feeling your whole body being sun kissed. We are going back again this year. Bravo for Bavaro |
--Tracy, Rockland County, New York
| Last week I went to Cancun for the weekend and wanted to try topless. I laid on the beach for a while, then I finally got up the nerve and took my bikini top off. The feeling was wonderful. I'll never forget the first time I felt the breeze against my breasts. I laid out and walked to the water topless. |  |
--Carla, Mexico City
 | St. Bart's is a very French island, and topfreedom is the norm. The main St. Jean beach (where watching the airplanes land and take off is a major sport) is full of topfree women, both on the sand and in the water. I felt very comfortable going topfree and strolling the length of the beach with my husband, passing the numerous cafes and bars. Every beach we visited, we found probably 60-70% of the women going topfree. I was so comfortable without my top after a few days that I spent all the time at our villa topfree, whether in the pool, sunning on the deck, or dining. There was a funny moment when the pool maintenance guy came by one day as I walked topfree toward the kitchen--but I soon realized he didn't bat an eye; apparently, bare breasts are pretty common sights in St. Bart's! |
--Kay, Berkeley, California