Nudists fight for the right to run camps (Foley at it again)

[Dirty Hippie]

Foley, who recently announced his candidacy for Bob Graham's senate seat was recently accused of *gasp* being gay. This, IMO is a ploy. No one was complaining about the camps, he just latched onto an issue that would increase his visibility and appeal to right-wingers.


...

Florida nudists say their youth camps shouldn't be exposed to more scrutiny than other youth camps just because the children and counselors wear no clothes.

In a presentation Thursday before the Capital Tiger Bay Club, young and old alike lobbied for the "textile world" to be more understanding of their particular pastime. They praised nude camps as a healthy way for young people to gain self-confidence and become more tolerant of others.

"These children have grown up in a naturist environment, and they're very, very comfortable with who they are," said Shirley Mason, executive director of the BEACHES Foundation. "They have a confidence about themselves and an understanding, and it's not titillating for them."

The nudists groups, including the Florida Naturist Association and Tallahassee Naturally, are fighting efforts by U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, a West Palm Beach Republican running for U.S. Senate, to ban the camps. Foley, co-chairman of the House's Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus, has been making the rounds of the talk-show circuit pushing his stance on this issue.

http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/6431820.htm

[FlaGranny]

1. I mightily dislike

that little snit (Foley).

[kskiska]

2. Funny thing, though

According to the camp operators, most of these nudists are family values Republicans. And yes, Foley is just covering for the skeletons in his own closet.

[Mountainman]

3. nudists are family values Republicans

That is correct. I married into a nudist family in 1986. I have been a nudist since 1983. I was amazed by all the right wing nudists there are. One reason might be that it is rather expensive to join a club. It is around $600 per year for a couple in some places.

There are even a Christian nudist clubs. Nudism is a family thing. Most clubs will not permit a single male to visit unless they are accompanied by a female. It is a families and couples thing. Interesting is the fact that at most clubs two gays are considered a couple for membership purposes.

There are also a good number of Libertarian nudists. The most represented profession for nudists is teaching.