Recently we wrote about a nudist movement called Pronudista that protested in the center of Madrid on June 7, same day as the World Naked Bike Ride was on in town. Today we bring you an exclusive interview we conducted in Spanish with Luis Pérez, founder of the group that aims to make public nudity a normal part of daily life in his country’s towns and cities. His answers are thought provoking and you might say a little revolutionary…

ND: How was Pronudista born?

Luis Pérez: For years, members of the (nudist) associations were talking about making a protest in Madrid. In June, 2007, in one of the meetings at FEN (Spanish naturist Federation) Isa (his companion) and I had the idea of actually doing a demonstration in the capital against the discrimination of nudists, even though we’re fully entitled by law to be nude in public. During this same meeting, the proposal for a protest in September was rejected. After a another year of deliberations, Isa and I finally decided to make the event happen for June 7 with or without the support of naturist associations.
This was like the starter pistol going off for what we hope will be an annual call for people to totally enjoy nudism. We didn’t pretend we were going to stage a huge event, we just aimed to have a good time and show that we nudists are tired of hiding and that they keep us penned inside “ghettos”.

ND: Being that public nudity is legal everywhere in Spain, what’s the real purpose of this?

LP: Because people are unaware of the legal status of nudism, we have to inform the police, politicians, and society in general that we’re here and it’s now time to push ahead with our vision of nudity. Even nudists themselves don’t know that they have complete freedom to go (nude) anywhere they wish in the Spanish territory. We want this action to convert itself into the catalyst that will, bit by bit, get people to respect us and make them stop discriminating against us.

ND: What do you hope to achieve in concrete terms and how do you plan to get there?

LP: As more time goes by and as we do more Pronudista events, more nudists will have the courage to go into the street and exercise their rights. As it stands now, we can exercise them anywhere in Spain. If we don’t act now, surely they’ll clip our wings just as they did in the rest of Europe. Furthermore, as more people get to know us, the greater power we’ll have to support and help, through the Pronudista Movement, those people who come out of the closet and wish to be recognized as nudists and enjoy nudism without a worry.

ND: Why did you do the first Pronudista protest on the same day as “The world naked bike ride”?

LP: We had already announced months ahead, and the organizers of the WNBR (Ciclonudista in Spain) decided to make their demonstration at the same time as Pronudista (not the other way around. We suggested they stage their protest in the afternoon, but they chose to overlap ours so as not to lose participants (to ours). The next Pronudista is scheduled for July 13, 2009…Let’s see if they once again make their’s coincide.

ND: Given the legal status, what can local authorities do to impede you?

LP: They just have to ignore the law. As a consequence, we’re forced into denouncing their illegal actions through the courts. They typically justify detentions, as happened to me, with charges of civil disobedience, public disorder and exhibitionism. In the first instance, police officers can’t force you to dress the way they want you to, lest we denounce them for abuse of authority and, if they force you to cover your genitals, they’re playing their morality against your’s, which according to Spain’s constitution all morals are on an equal footing. You can’t override one with the other. If it’s public disorder, it would have to be for disruption of public mobility or for aggression. If you hold a peaceful demonstration, there’s no way they can make such a charge stick.
As for exhibitionism, article 185 of the penal code stipulates that you have to be naked in front of a minor and, let’s emphasize the “and”, be provoking him/her sexually in the process. Being nude is natural and, on its own, can’t be construed as a sexual act. I’ll use the example of the showers at the public pool, where parents and other adults shower naked in the same area as children. Are they exhibitionists and should the minors have their own showers?

ND: Do you really believe there will come a day when it will be commonplace for people to walk nude in Spanish cities?

LP: Of course it will happen. Women now vote and can work, blacks can ride in buses, and gays can express themselves in the street. All of this thanks to the efforts of people, groups and movements who fought for it. For this reason, it’s clear that we nudists have to be out there where they can see us, and know that we have no reason to hide, that we’re not odd creatures. Let people see that it’s absurd to hide parts of the body and to discriminate against them. This is what the Pronudista movement is based upon, and we’ll give nudists the opportunity to be nude wherever they like.

Original article, in Spanish

Pronudista web site [Spanish only]

A recent biography of the most famous seismologist in history, Charles Richter, reveals that he was an avid nudist. Richter, who invented the earthquake intensity scale used since 1935, was a member of one of only three nudist clubs at the time in America, according to Susan Elisabeth Hough, in her book “Richter’s Scale: Measure of an Earthquake, Measure of a Man” [Princeton University Press, 2007].
Hough, a one time student of the scientist, details how Richter, at the urging of his wife, Lilian Brand, joined the “Elysia” nudist community. His passion for nudism was thus launched, although this was not something he made public, for those were very puritanical times in the United States.

A Nudist Halloween Tale?

What did we get into?! We originally published a story by Jerry Troeger, owner of Bonita Nudist Resort in New York state, which prompted a reader to give her own version of the events he made reference to in his piece, which did not mention anybody by name. The original author wasted no time in writing a rebuttal, which we publish below. Nudist Day isn’t usually the right venue for this sort of back ‘n forth finger pointing, and thus this was the first and last time we will try to be that democratic! We give the Troegers the final say because it is their club and their livelihood, after all.

THE HORRORS OF FALL, by Jerry Troeger

It’s fall again, season of change, strange beauty and tall tales. It’s the season of All Soul’s Eve, when spineless monsters creep from their lairs spinning their webs of deceit causing fear and confusion in the hearts of men. The time of year when recurring evil roams freely, seeking to capture the souls of all who wander into their path. We know their names, yet for the time being and sake of decency we dare not speak them. They prey upon what they no longer have or lust for from the darkest corners of their hearts. They disfigure truths, challenge the very limits of credible reason in their quest to haunt and terrorize. They know no limits save that of their own consciences (which, like migrating fowl, seem to have gone south for the winter). They are here, in our midst, even as we speak…

We therefore challenge you, the reader, to come see first hand the horrors of Bonita. Witness imaginary “windowless” cabins, undersized pipes, and the pool that never seems to be open long enough. Hear phones ringing in the night, not to be answered until the dawn of the day. Observe the invisible landscaping at the lake. Sense the specter of former owners lurking in bushes just beyond your reach. Read for yourself the countless atrocities reported by the Tioga County Board of Health. Hear the wails of these departed souls crying in the wind….

Now that I have your attention. I would like to address the letter written by Diane. This person has wisely elected not to use her last name so we won’t either. We’ll play along and afford her whatever shred of dignity still remains after reading her story. Normally, I would not even respond to this kind of rhetoric, especially when identities are thinly masked. It demonstrates lack of credibility and conviction. Peoples’ opinions are their own. But when they are put on a public forum, especially when they are misguided and designed solely to take aim at a person’s livelihood and family, I strongly take issue.

The author states: “…The phony complaints to the board of health were far from phony“.
Fact: In the three years we have owned this camp, no violation of any kind, whether it be for food, water or sanitary conditions was ever issued. Anyone can contact the Tioga County Board of Health at (607) 687-8565 for verification. It is a matter of public record. These people are professionals, dedicated to protecting the health and safety of the public. They do their job.

The author states: “The water system is still plagued by problems but maybe it is because he (the owner) insisted on using undersized pipes, not sabotage…”
Fact: The water system specs, pipe size included, were drawn up by a professional engineer employed by Martin Plumbing in Owego NY, (607) 687-1295, copy of proposal available to all by request. Unless Diane states she was actually here for the 2007 season, which we believe she was not, she has no first-hand knowledge about the performance of the camp plumbing. I also never mentioned anything about “sabotage” in my article. Why did she?

The author states: “One member and his son constructed a staircase to connect the upper and lower level…”
Fact: This “anonymous” member she refers to also has a wife named Diane. (Coincidence?). He and his son were paid the amount they requested to do the work. Although quite fair, it wasn’t a freebie as the author inferred. Nor was most anything else that was done around here. Compensations were given in cash, reduced seasonal rates, free trailer storage, food, or pounds of flesh as the author is intending to do in her letter.

The author states: “..The trash dumpster was removed…and members were told to take their trash with them…”
Fact: The dumpster we had was frequently overloaded by campers (seasonals and transients alike), leaving refuse on top of it, next to it and behind it when full, only to have the forest animals tear it apart through the night. It became a visual nightmare and a potential health issue. We tried to reason with people but to no avail, so we had it removed.

Fact: What Diane conveniently forgets to mention is that, right in our seasonal leasing agreement, it states that: “Management will dispose of normal kitchen garbage only for any person…at no charge…” (Seasonal contract, item # 13. Copy to anyone upon request).

Our Ford pick up truck then became the camp dumpster and Diane and practically everyone else in camp deposited their own refuse in there many times. But if she mentioned THIS in her article, she’d really look foolish, so I understand the short-term memory again.

The author states: “…the loss of Fawn Hall, which used to be the camp’s only indoor social center…”
Fact: “Used to be” is exactly the point. We expanded the clubhouse dining area after our first season to compensate for the re-appropriation of space in Fawn hall. We also built a game room/common area in the old owner’s residence which includes a stove, refrigerator, microwave, pool table, satellite TV, two rental rooms and sitting area. Diane probably knows this but conveniently elected not to make the connection. For the sake of her article, it served her better to mention what was taken away, not what was added.

And as far as how much we have spent here above and beyond the selling price, since no one has put their noses in our checkbook, they have no idea how much we have invested. And besides, it’s none of anyone’s damned business anyway. They don’t own the place. We do. And I think herein lies the root of the problem she and her constituents have with us.

I could continue to debunk this literary farce but it has taken up more of my time than it deserves already. I hadn’t planned on breaking my ankle our first season. And as I said in my original article, from our hearts we truly thank all those who helped us in our time of need. But as I also said previously, in some cases there would be a price tag on this too. Well, here is the proof.

So, as this same crew of malcontents continue to repeat the same negative rhetoric in various forms, each taking their respective turns at stirring the pot, I can only suggest to them that it is time to move on and grow up. It’s been three years already. Life is short. You reside in Arizona and Texas and possibly Arkansas now. There are other places to haunt. Spin your webs somewhere else. And although I have never been paranoid of people “lurking in the bushes” I am wary of snakes in the grass. That’s why we keep the picks and shovels handy.

Happy Halloween.

Jerry and Annie Troeger
Bonita Resort

A reader named Diane recently contacted Nudist Day, upset by “The Summer From Hell!”, a story contributed by Jerry Troeger, owner of Bonita Nudist Resort near Binghampton, New York, that recounts the events around the time he and his wife Annie purchased the club. Diane claims to represent other former members of the club and we publish her entire letter below as we’re a democratic publication and value our readers’ opinions. That said, Nudist Day does not take sides in such disputes, and Diane’s comments do not in any way reflect our opinions.

We, and a number of other former members of Bonita Nudist Resort, recently read the article “The Summer From Hell!” written by Jerry Troeger published on Nudist Day’s web site – and our collective jaws are still down to the floor. The article cannot go unanswered as it slaps the face of so many members who did so much backbreaking, and sometimes dangerous, work to help the Troegers realize their dream. The dream of becoming the new “caretakers” (a term of their choosing) of a truly beautiful, peaceful and unique setting that only Nature can provide.

Yes, the Troegers’ bought Buckridge Nudist Park and renamed it Bonita Nudist Resort and yes, there were a lot of upgrades needed and yes, Jerry fell from a tree and broke his ankle, but that is were fact ends and fiction begins. First, respect is certainly due to the previous owners as it is they who made Bonita what it is today. Cap & Carol Preston made many capital investments, constructing all of the camps current amenities including the hot tub (recent neglect risks its continued use) the petanque courts (now tracts of weeds), and the pool (which used to be open ALL the time and not by request). Except for 3 small windowless sheds currently being used as “cabins”, and some investments for required upgrades and maintenance the Troegers’ have not made any capital investments.

Second, the attempt at forming a co-op was hosted and ran by the Troegers. There were no red flags to be raised here – it was (amicably) obvious to everyone that this would not be a viable solution. I guess it should be mentioned here that the hosts of this meeting were constantly paranoid that the current owners had a spy hidden in the bushes listening to our every word – maybe he was right about the red flags!

Third, before the new caretakers could even think about opening their doors, there was a laundry list of items that needed to be addressed before a license would be issued. This list, that came only a few weeks before opening, was quickly made public to the many seasonal members who traditionally come to camp early to help with preparing their sites for the coming season. These members, without hesitation, took on not only the major projects on that list but also branch collection, raking and mowing of the entire camp, etc. I wonder why none of this was mentioned in Jerry’s article?

Ok, so now it’s a few weeks after the camp opens and Jerry mentions of a “meeting”. Here are some points to put some perspective on what was discussed prior to and at that meeting: The phone calls regarding the lack of water only started after repeated requests and a week without water; The calls were made at 5 am because the phone would constantly go unanswered during normal business hours; Their teenage children were not just in the office, they were at times, running it and yes – this is not appropriate; With SO many critically important things to attend to – like the office – maybe the garden shouldn’t have been a top priority. Also, according to the members that were at the meeting, although there were comments directed at Annie they weren’t racial slurs.

Continuing through Jerry’s article - The “phony complaints to the board of health” were far from phony. In fact Jerry, afraid to respond personally, offered incriminating information to another member who at great personal risk agreed to write letters to quell the situation. Furthermore, he was so paranoid that this member would try to do harm to his wife that several other members made special trips (some several hours away) to Bonita to make sure Annie was not alone when Jerry went to work.

“In all fairness, there were several members that took pity on us and did much to help and we thank them. But in some cases, there was a price tag on this too.” This is perhaps the statement that hurts the former members the most. When Jerry broke his ankle most of the members wanted and willingly jumped right in. They not only took care of the normal daily tasks, but also took on major projects. Not out of pity, but out of love for the park and the people that “live” there. One of the guys, who had done SO much for the park prior to and after Jerry & Annie bought the place, took on major electrical and plumbing projects worth thousands of dollars while his wife was always willing to help in the office and event planning. This same couple, former AANR officials, managed the snack bar offering many a mouthwatering meal. The price for THIS help? They were thought to be saboteurs and eventually told that they were not welcome at the park. The price to the rest of the members: An expanded dining area with a snack bar that was no more – unless you gave 24 hours notice that you wanted a hamburger or hot dog. The highest price here?: The loss of two of the most hardworking and fun members.

In all fairness, the water system is still plagued by problems, but maybe it’s because he insisted on using undersized pipe and not because of sabotage. The water system, by the way, was installed by the son of another member - a member who sustained a serious injury while performing HIS “pity” help. This injury was so serious that the member risked permanent disability. Fortunately after surgery and rehab he recovered - without seeking any retribution from Jerry. Here is some of the other help that so many members (both seasonal and associate) did for Jerry and the park: Drainage system at the lake, landscaping at the lake, help moving Jerry & Annie’s furniture from their previous house to their new residence. The price for this? - the loss of Fawn Hall, which used to be the camps only indoor social center. One member and his son constructed a staircase to connect the upper and lower level so that the Troegers had access to their kitchen and bathrooms without having to walk the outside perimeter of the building, while two other members took care of drainage problems to their new home. Other members converted the old game room into 2 rental rooms while still others helped with pool maintenance and so much more. Members gladly helped with the routine activities to run the camp since Annie had to drive Jerry’s tool truck so he could work while his ankle healed. Members did all of this not because they were asked but because they WANTED to – out of love not pity. The price here??? The trash dumpster was removed and members were told to take their trash with them many of whom stay for extended periods followed by a several hour (long) trip home. Hmmm… The red flags are really flying now.

Although this has already seemed like a lot for some people to read, this needed to be said. And, trust us, there is so much more that could have been added here. Perhaps the saddest of all is that the “troublemakers” that Jerry mentions in his article are the very same members that did all of this work. It seemed that the more a member did the more Jerry sought to drive them out. Is it any wonder that, without exception, we are now all former members?
So if there were lessons to be learned, they were learned by the members. As we have all moved on we take comfort in knowing that not all camp owners are like the Troegers. Bonita means beautiful and this tranquil place certainly lives up to its name but it’s not because of the Troegers, it’s in spite of them.

Jerry Troeger’s Original Story

When I first visited the Sunsport Gardens nudist resort in Loxahatchee, Florida back in 2001, the club had an air I could only describe as “Dukes of Hazzard”. The place was overgrown with weeds, there were abandoned vehicles strewn about, the “lake” was a swamp, the trails had turned to jungle, etc. Later that year, Morley Schloss, a self-confessed flower child who first discovered social nudity at Woodstock, bought the place and set it on a new course, guided by his spiritual, ecological and naturist principles.

Last week Nudist Day revisited the resort and found enormous improvements. At the entrance were brand new offices, where visitors check-in and are given a sense that this is a really a resort. The grounds are well tended and all the facilities have been renovated. The notable exception is the clubhouse, which still maintains too much of the rundown, dirty look of the original club. Schloss would love to knock down the building and construct a better one, but budget constraints don’t permit it at this time. The nature trails were in good shape with the addition of signs pointing-out the different species of plants and trees. There is a wide variety of fruit trees on the grounds, some of them quite exotic, which provide the resort’s health-conscious restaurant with all the fresh fruit it needs.

Schloss, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, made efforts to keep his club environmentally-friendly. For instance, the swimming pool’s water is kept warm thanks to solar water heaters that cover the roof of one building. Schloss also espouses strong nudist values: A sign at the entrance stresses the fact that visitors are expected to be nude. He also demands that resort staff be nude, or at least top-free in the case of female employees. As if to illustrate this policy, Schloss ordered a neophyte employee who was nervous about getting nude to get out of the view of my camera as I snapped photos of the reception area.

Schloss almost seemed angry when I asked him what he thought of the mainstream media’s recent contention that nudists are getting old and aren’t succeeding in attracting the younger generations. According to him, there’s no shortage of young people visiting Sunsport, the draw being it’s safe family-oriented atmosphere. Although Woodstock was as renown for its drugs as for its music, Schloss does not allow drugs to be consumed on his grounds, and doesn’t sell any alcohol, although visitors can bring in their own. Otherwise, Sunsport generally has very progressive policies, welcoming all singles and treating gay couples as such.
Schloss is also the resort’s father figure, as I witnessed firsthand as a female patron sought his advice on legal matters. Coincidentally, he’s actively involved in the Naturist Action Committee, defending nudist interests in Florida. Finally, Schloss is a spiritual person: He’s the organizer of the Northeast Naturist Festival, which will take place August 7-12, 2007, at the Empire Haven nudist club in central New York State. The event includes a large number of spiritual activities.
The resort has all the requisite amenities, including economically priced rental units. Among the latter, I elected to spend the night in one of the pop-up campers on offer. At 45 dollars, it was a steal, until I discovered that I would be donating about a half-gallon of blood to the hordes of mosquitoes. The other defect of this type of accommodation is that they have no bathrooms. Using the common showers and bathrooms is usually fine in a nudist resort, but not when you have to trudge 1000 feet down a dark road full of little vampires! Luckily, there are two nice fully-equipped cabins available as well. Schloss told me that within days he was going to have free wireless internet for patrons, which should please those of us who have to stay connected.

Sunsport Gardens is the nudist club nearest to the Miami and West Palm Beach areas, thus making it a good place to stop along Interstate 95 or the Florida Turnpike. It’s located several miles west along Okeechobee Boulevard in Palm county, and then north a few miles via unpaved roads (D road, then North Road). It’s not so easy to find, however, as there are no signs pointing the way except at the entrance to the club itself. Perhaps this discretion was necessary in view of the numerous conservative Bible camps in the area.

Related Sites:

• Sunsport Gardens web site