BB
Bill BowserOriginal Poster
Jan 14, 2014Someone has just created a "We the people" petition on the White House website advocating the designation of more federal property for nude recreation. (Information and a link to the petition can be found here: http://clothing-optional-access.weebly.com ) If 100,000 people sign the petition by Feb. 11 the federal government will address the issue. I urge everyone to sign the petition. The potential benefits are enormous.
Petitioner #9
Petitioner #9
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- BBBill BowserOriginal PosterJan 14, 2014The petition is here: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/designate-portions-public-lands-under-management-federal-government-clothing-optional-recreational/15TLkVMJ
Perhaps you think we should do nothing while our clothing optional beaches disappear rather than sign a petition which might help us acquire more places for nude recreation.ReactReply - FL
FlokieJan 14, 2014"If the petition meets a pre-set signature threshold within a designated time period, the petition will become visible to individuals browsing or searching the White House website. If enough users sign the petition to reach a second pre-set signature threshold within that time period, the White House commits to respond to the petition in a timely fashion. The White House may also elect to respond to any petition before it reaches the first or second threshold. Once the White House responds to a petition, it is closed to additional signatures."
Just follow the links provided if you are interested in the petition. The petition site is moderated and petitions don't show up on the White House website until a pre-set number of signatures are gathered by the interest group promoting it in the first place - that's why you can't go there directly and search. It would be worth letting folks know this is only open to those residing in the USA.
Edit: I was wrong. When you "sign" the petition you must provide a zip code but I used my Canadian postal code and it still let me sign. Weird. Oh, and the magic number is 150. Once the petition has reached 150 "signatures" it will be searchable on the White House page.ReactReply - BBBill BowserOriginal PosterJan 14, 2014
If you copy and paste the links provided they will take you to the petition and the website of the fellow who created it. Check it out. Or are you all happy to do nothing and then complain that your clothing optional beaches are being taken away. Come on you guys, let's do a little to try to improve our situation instead of carping because you didn't follow the link and couldn't find the petition by searching for it. It is there, it is real, and it might prove to be very important.
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DesertRatJan 14, 2014It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.ReactReply - RA
ravensflyinnowJan 14, 2014I signed it!
ReactReply - DEDesertRatJan 15, 2014Maybe I have browser problems or something but I could not get to the place to sign it.ReactReply
- MEMemberJan 15, 2014
I signed it. Why not? Cant hurt to show an interest.
ReactReply - RAravensflyinnowJan 15, 2014[quote][url=https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/designate-portions-public-lands-under-management-federal-government-clothing-optional-recreational/15TLkVMJ][/url]Could a computer savvy person create a clickable link to the site?[/quote]https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/designate-portions-public-lands-under-management-federal-government-clothing-optional-recreational/15TLkVMJ
There you go people....click away! You must first create an account on the White House site!!
The number has almost doubled over night....come on people....do it!!! But it's still only 89 signatures!!ReactReply - MA
macnudeJan 15, 2014I have signed and urge everyone to sign. We have few rights as nudists and this is one opportunity to do something proactive.http://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/designate-portions-public-lands-under-management-federal-government-clothing-optional-recreational/15TLkVMJReactReply - NU
nuderunrJan 15, 2014As the person who uploaded this petition, I'd like to personally thank BillBowser for creating this thread. It's interesting to read some of the replies. Will the petition get the requisite 100,000 signatures? It definitely isn't easy to get that many signatures when the policy makers only allow 30 days to accomplish it. But if nudists/naturists don't step up to the plate and sign then yes, the initiative will fail. We received 16 signatures the first day. Today at last check, we received another 91 so right now we are 43 signatures away from meeting the first threshold of 150 signatures needed to make the petition searchable by anyone, including the national press, who happen to peruse petitions at the "We the People" website.
Currently stewards of federal public lands, notably the National Parks Service and the U.S. Forest Service are not looking out for you. They have not only ignored building public support for more clothing optional access to public lands but are actively reducing access. As Lena Koschmann, Chief Ranger at Fire Island National Seashore stated in theletter announcing the ban on all nudity at Fire Islandof February 5, 2013,"National Park Service policies disfavor the designation of clothing optional areas."Americans should not buy into that.
Now, why should you care? That means responsible and respectful people who visited Fire Island beaches for decades to enjoy nude sunbathing now face the prospect of being charged with a class B federal misdemeanor which can result in a fine of up to $5,000 and up to six months imprisonment. Any person going nude in any national park or forest could face the same consequences. Right now enjoying a soak without bathing attire in any of the hundreds of remote natural hot springs found in our national forests could get you a fine of up to $5,000 and up to six months in jail. That's ludicrous! It's outrageous!
Restrictive NPS and FS policies that criminalize simple nudity are a massive problem -- massive. And up until now it's not being addressed. The feds are going to take away what little clothing optional access that remains unless we the people, we the taxpayers say enough is enough. Those who enjoy nude outdoor recreation have as much right to access federally-owned recreational areas for that purpose as off-roaders, snowmobilers, surfers, skiers and hunters who already get the benefit of special designated areas in our parks, forests and national seashore areas.
Right now naturists and nudists are playing a very dangerous game with our rights to live our lifestyle. Many don't want to pay attention. In fact, some don't even know the seriousness of the threat.
The politically correct, ultra-conservative crowd who believes we all need to keep our clothes on at all times unless we are having sex or bathing is well-organized and vocal. They are writing and calling public officials all day, all night. The bureaucrats are listening to them. They are getting clothing optional beaches shut down and it is a big mistake to believe they are going to stop there. Local governments are passing more laws criminalizing simple nudity. The feds are starting to enforce those laws on federally-owned public lands.
There is danger on the horizon for those who enjoy outdoor nude recreation. But are we doing anything about it? Are we trying to counter those who insist we have to all live according to the social principles and values they prescribe? Unless nudists, unless naturists, unless everyone who enjoys clothing optional recreation demand the normalization of simple nudity, all of us are going to get hurt. All of us. It is just a matter of when.
It is unwise to believe that the opponents of nude recreation are going to stop at shutting down clothing optional beaches. Unless you want to live a country where it is the norm to have laws like those on the books in Arkansas where it is unlawful for any person, club, camp, corporation, partnership, association, or organization to advocate, demonstrate, or promote nudism; or to rent, lease, or otherwise permit his or her land, premises, or buildings to be used for the purpose of advocating, demonstrating, or promoting nudism, you might consider taking some action. Signing the WH petition is one way to do that.
Maybe we won't get the 100,000 signatures in time. We won't if enough people refuse to stand up for themselves and say there isn't any use in trying. It's interesting how so many people wave the nudist/naturist flag and dutifully renew their memberships with AANR and TNS every year but won't take three minutes to sign a petition that might actually at the very least get our narrative out on a national forum. The ultra-conservatives count on that you know. They want us to keep quiet and keep our naked bodies safely quarantined behind the privacy fences of our backyards and private clubs.
What happens when they shut down all the clothing optional beaches and turn their attention to forcing your club or resort to register as a "sexually oriented" business? Then they can simply deny your club a permit to operate and close it down too. It has already been tried before and whether you believe it or not, it is already in the works and the chances are good the socially conservative opposition is strong enough this time to get it done. Don't take my word for it. Call the Chairman of the Government Affairs Team at AANR and ask him. Having recently talked with him myself, I am not exaggerating when I say he will tell you some things that should scare the living daylights out of you.
I hope that you will consider standing with us and signing the petition. This is by design a grassroots movement of like-minded people. We didn't ask the national nudist and naturist organizations for support. We are asking individuals like you to work toward a collective goal to do something about normalizing simple nudity in this country. But talk is cheap. We who have signed the petition are willing to act. Are you?
You can view the petition athttp://wh.gov/lIUyGor
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/designate-portions-public-lands-under-management-federal-government-clothing-optional-recreational/15TLkVMJReactReply - BBBill BowserOriginal PosterJan 15, 2014You're most welcome nuderunr. I thank you for uploading the petition. I spent most of yesterday emailing every nude club and organization I could find trying to drum up support for the petition because I thought it was a worthwhile thing to do. I sent out more than 100 emails, but I received only one reply. That was from a state organization which said I was making a big mistake. Apparently the nudist clubs and organizations such as AANR and TNS are not interested in trying this method to improve our lot. (With the continuing disappearance of our clothing optional beaches I would have thought they would be eager to try anything, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I'm beginning to question the wisdom of supporting these organizations with my dues.)
We must find ways to motivate nudists and non-nudists as well, to sign the petition. No one else is going to do anything to help us. We have to come out of our closets and act like we are not ashamed of our lifestyle. We are one of the few remaining classes which face discrimination everywhere for which there is no recourse. We need to recognize that opposition to our lifestyle is based wholly on bigotry. It has no rational basis.Come on boys and girls. Click on the link, create an account, and sign the petition. You should ask all your nudist and textile friends to do so too.ReactReply - JO
JohnJan 15, 2014Signed it.
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MarkJan 15, 2014I was #118ReactReply - MEMemberJan 16, 2014The governments like everything in dollars and cents. If it makes them money they are all for it. As I lay sunbathing at Playalinda Beach the other day, I was amazed at the number of not only the other nudists on the beach at 5 dollars a car but the amount of gawkers that also pay the 5 bucks to drive out to beach 13 to overlook the nude people. That's a lot of revenue being generated. Maybe if we showed them that they would legalize nudity. And then they could probably find a way to tax it too.ReactReply
- RAravensflyinnowJan 16, 2014As of 9am, it is 6 signatures away from searchable. Last night I sent out a mass email to all my US friends on here urging them to have a look and sign the petition. I ask the same of all of you. It's easy to do a mass email on here. Just keep adding recipients from the states. Here's what I wrote:
I am asking all of my friends here at TN to sign this petition. It is to get more public land set aside for nude use. Take a few minutes to register and then click to sign. Once the petition hits 150 signatures it will be searchable on the White House web site..
As of now it's only viewable if you know where to look... PLEASE SIGN and move this forward! Thanks so much! Your naked bud...
Copy and paste if you like...it will save you some time. Thanks!ReactReply - NUnuderunrJan 16, 2014The clothing optional petition has passed the 150 signature threshold! ☛http://wh.gov/lIUyG
It's a long road ahead to get the requisite 100K signatures by February 12 but getting the first 150 is an important milestone. The petition is now searchable on the "We the People" website and people that go to the site can see it who weren't simply taken to the site because they happened to find the above link in social media. That is important. If this initiative gains traction and the signatures become thousands instead of hundreds it is reasonable to expect the mainstream press will start to take notice.
It would be fantastic if AANR and TNS got behind this initiative officially but from conception this petition was intended to be a grassroots movement where individual nudists and naturists and really anyone who enjoys wholesome, non-sexual nude recreation whether they embrace a specific philosophy or not, can take a personal stand against those who oppose nudism. It is time to make general society pay attention to our narrative that nude is not lewd and the ridiculous notion than simple nudity is indecent or offensive that drives prudish social norms needs to end.
Every person can make a difference! Join the awesome people who have already signed the petition if you haven't already and tell your friends, acquaintances and social media account followers about the petition. If one person tells a few others and those tell a few others, etc. it is more than possible that this initiative can make a difference. It is way past time for a pro-nude movement and it can start now.ReactReply - TH
ThailandNaturistJan 16, 2014Just did it and re posted it on G+
ReactReply - DEDesertRatJan 16, 2014Bump.ReactReply
- NUnuderunrJan 17, 2014The petition had passed 250 signatures by 1:00 p.m. EST today. Let's keep up the momentum. More people than the previous day have been signing each day. 27 days left to reach 100K! If you are interested I post a daily petition update on my Tumblr feed http://dallasnudistcultureexaminer.tumblr.com/ daily at 1:00 p.m. EST.ReactReply
- RAravensflyinnowJan 17, 2014[quote]The petition had passed 250 signatures by 1:00 p.m. EST today. Let's keep up the momentum. More people than the previous day have been signing each day. 27 days left to reach 100K! If you are interested I post a daily petition update on my Tumblr feed http://dallasnudistcultureexaminer.tumblr.com/ daily at 1:00 p.m. EST.
[/quote]The other night I sent out a mass email to all my US friends here on TN, asking them to sign the petition. It's really easy. Write a short note, then click on add recipient ..you can easily click onto all that are in your friends list. Kindly ask them to do the same. I know many on my list don't frequent the forums, so they really didn't know. 250 signatures is great....but there's a long way to go. Make sure you include the link to make it easier.ReactReply - NUnuderunrJan 18, 2014As a correction to my previous post, the daily updates are posted at 2:00 p.m. EST rather than 1:00 p.m. EST. Sorry for the error. You can simply visit the White House petition sitehttp://wh.gov//llUyGto get the numbers but I try to include a little related information in the daily updates on my Tumblr feed that some might be interested in. You can read the Jan. 18 update by visitinghttp://dallasnudistcultureexaminer.tumblr.com/post/73742731471/clothing-optional-petition-daily-update-jan-18.ReactReply
- OU
outothebakyrdJan 18, 2014Signed #358 !! No zip code needed.
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Tom === Thomas S. TierneyJan 18, 2014More Free beaches/areas will hurt established nudist resorts where members are screened.
Remember anything you get free is worth what you pay for it.ReactReply