In the early 1980's the Florida State Park Division enacted Florida Administrative Code dress regulations for state parks, first enforced at MacArthur Beach Park in Palm Beach.

 

"In every area of a park including bathing areas no
individual shall expose the human male or female genitals,
pubic area, the entire buttocks or female breast
below the top of the nipple, with less than a fully opaque
covering." -FAC 62D-2.014 (7)
 
On August 1, 1983, 53 naturists were arrested at the traditional clothing-optional beach area at the north end of Honeymoon Island State Park, north of Clearwater, under the new code, "for which ejection from all property managed by the Division of Recreation and Parks and a fine of up to $500 may be imposed by the division."   [per FS 258.008 (1)]

 

 

Reporting this event on that day, Tampa Bay TV channel WXFL (NBC) conducted a telepoll asking whether nude sunbathing should be allowed at certain public beach areas.  With 3,949 people responding, 74% were in favor.  However, this event essentially marked the end of naturism at Honeymoon Island.

 

We've reproduced a portion of a booklet issue by the Beach Travel Club later that same year, with additional photos documenting the earlier naturist use of a portion of Honeymoon Island:

 

View 1983 booklet  (note this is a 4 MB PDF document)

 

There's been a bit of a buzz in the Tampa Bay area over the intent of Pinellas County to alter its swimwear code for county beaches to require coverage of "the cleavage of the nates of the human buttocks." 

 

Or, as 14th century English author Geoffrey Chaucer (of the Canterbury Tales) might have phrased this careful wording, in good old plain middle English, the "arse crike"  (modernized:  "ass crack')  Yes, as "humans" we do all possess this embarassing "cleavage".

 

The delicate legalese of the county really adds nothing in anatomical specificity, but betokens a holdover Victorian squeamishness over the human body.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Responses to the Tampa Bay Times online poll? (as of 1/17/09):

 

1.  [Libertarian]  We don't need beach nannies. (51%)

2.  [Resource allocation]  Try getting the roads fixed, synching up the traffic lights, and getting rid of the homeless first.  (38%)

 

3.  [Juvenile]  There should be a committee comprised of male college students to determine who may wear thongs and g-strings.  (5%)

4.  [Prude]   The last thing we need to see: Skimpy swimsuits.   (6%)

Of interest, responses in categories (1) & (2) combined - those not overly concerned about "skimpy" swimsuits - 89%, are about 15% more than those that thought nude sunbathers should be left alone in 3 national Gallup and Roper polls from 1983 to 2006 on the issue of clothing-optional beaches - 72 to 80%.

 

This again suggests naturists are dealing with about 10% of the US population that are terribly concerned about anatomical specifics of beach attire (or the physical attractiveness of the wearers), about 20% that don't want to see genitalia, and about 70% that are willing to accept nudity, at least in some situations (such as at designated areas).

 

As the statistics and commentary suggest, opposition to nudity or "skimpy" swimwear takes two forms:

 

1.  Those who object on 'religious' or 'moral' grounds.  Here, there is either a dogmatic belief that nudity is a sin, or fear that nudity leads to "moral decay".  Both, especially the latter, may be addressed by educational efforts by naturists.

2.  Those who object on 'esthetic' grounds.  Here, there is little one can say.

  

 

Local article & commentary at  tampabay.com

naturist friendly events elsewhere:

 

 

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