Yes. We need more information out there, but that has to start with naturists, and that is the one thing we do not see enough of. Matt's example really made us smile, because we know that, we have done it ourselves, but sadly, at the moment, too many naturists fear the public, as they buy into the rhetoric of fear that has swept through naturism in the last five years.

We have encountered so many who tell us, we love naturism, but we never talk about it, and therein lies the problem, if naturists are not willing to stand up and voice the none sexual element, and sing to the tune of the health and mental well being benefits, how will we ever move forward?

The problem with naturism, is naturists. 

The way we see it, the middle ground is a lot wider than most people realise, and you are right Anna, that is where we belong, but without a voice we will achieve nothing. Controversial as it may be, the truth is, most of organised naturism is content to hide behind the tall hedges, and our national organisations are lacking in their ability to get more information and education into the public domian. 

We feel, it is the role now of every individual to at least try to talk to one person, and get ther message out there, because once we inform one person of the public, it is one person less likely to believe the puritans minority who currently have louder voices.

We have seen with our own eyes, and heard with our own ears, members of the public who have no objection to naturism. Many say it is not for them, and yet some say they kind of fancy giving it a go, and yet they do not do so, because naturism has grown to mistrust those outside of the lifestyle.

If we embrace and eductate, we move with momentum, and that has to be the way forward now for naturism, if only naturist will take heed and listen, and then act. The young are willing, but currently they have no one to guide them, and we are missing out on a great oppoprtunity at the moment, which is one we should have grasped already.

We're now in an environment where politicians practice "identity politics". That means leaders deliberately divide us. In other words, vote for me and I'll protect your benefits and protect you from those "others" who want to take away what your benevolent government is so mercifully handing out to you. That's why we all feel so divided. It's real. 

 In the U.S., as another point,  we now have the rise of the hyphenated American: as in, for example and not to criticize any one group, "hispanic-American". We used to think of ourselves as all being just Americans, and our leaders of the past encouraged that unity. 

And, consequently, politicians now rarely campaign on real issues and solutions. 

I think this makes things harder for naturalists to penetrate all the constant daily noise from identity politics. We are not exactly an identity group. We strive for universal appeal. We're all the same humans  when nude before the Creator. 

Is it better for us to be seen as an identity group? I don't know. 

Personal caution: this divisiveness is so prevalent that I do not initiate conversations like the above in the "outside world". Reactions can be strong. Here in this forum, though, we enjoy a respectful, comfortable exchange of thoughts and opinions. Thanks to you all!!

This topic has certainly covered some very interesting situations.  I'll add some more thoughts.

While I know that historically individuals who were not cisgender heterosexuals were persecuted, I fear that a small contingent of these folks may be pushing too hard.  I doubt that any of us, as naturists, would have issues with a mixed gender shower situation, there are just as many people who would have real problems with it.  The transgender activists however would like to have us believe that if I "feel" like a woman I should be treated as one even though I have some body parts that say otherwise.  The intrusion of this concept (and I've chosen my verb here carefully) into athletics is, in my mind, simply wrong.  I could go on and on here but the reason I bring this up is because I fear that if we, as naturists, start to identify ourselves (and there is that word Steve W discussed) with the LGBTQ+ (I hope I got that right) crowd that we could wind up hurting the lifestyle more than helping it.

I would love to be able to walk down my driveway totally nude without having to worry about repercussions if I were to be seen by a passing car.  From what I've heard this is theoretically possible in the UK.  In some neighborhoods here in the US it might be possible but that would be by agreement of the inhabitants and not with legal protection.  Could this happen here?  Perhaps, but as I've said before, not within my lifetime.

I'm not nearly as eloquent as Anna is in this forum.  Read what she has written and absorb it.  Folks, we're probably in the presence of one of the best advocates for naturism that can be found anywhere.

As a postscript to this topic, a video surfaced this morning on the Reddit /r/nudism subreddit.  It involved what can only be described as assault on a cyclist in the recent WNBR in Brighton.  The fact that it occurred fits in, unfortunately, with the subject of this forum post.

I'll be interested in hearing from all my UK ANW friends if there is any followup to this.

We saw the video yesterday, but so far we have no had any other information, apart from seeing what looks like a group of lads (Thugs) attack a lone cyclist. 

What bothers us is the WNBR is stewarded front centre and back, and so there would be someone in a yellow vest on hand, and on this video there is no one stewarding. Normally in this situation, the stewards at the back would move in to protect the rider and call for police assistance, and other riders would also move in, and yet none of that has happened so we questioned as to whether this was the Brighton ride, and not just some lone rider.

With no other facts to date, it is hard to say.