Nudity with Pride

From Andy F. Visser-deVries

<cswa@interlog.com>

D^{ear TNT!MEN:}
As a member of TNT!MEN, I

would like to voice my strong

support for the eleven marchers who

walked nude in the Lesbian and Gay Pride

Parade on Sunday June 29, 1997. Much

ado about nothing--literally--has been

made in the press: first by the Toronto Sun,

and the CBC, with the assistance of some

uptight police sergeant, and most recently

by NOW Magazine.

Just deserts

First, let me say that I would recommend

to the board of TNT!MENthat they

appoint Sgt. Peter Harmsen to our club's

publicity committee. From a public
relations perspective, I would say all the

media attention TNT!MENhas received as

a result of this concerned officer is worth

about $250,000 worth of advertising! If he

doesn't want to sit on the committee, then

the least TNT!MENcould do is offer him a

free membership for his troubles.

Second, let me congratulate the

unclad marchers for having balls. While
your actions have created "a ripple of dis-

sent within the community" according to
NOW,the fact is that public nudity is now

being debated by people from all walks of

life, and you have helped contribute to

raising the level of awareness concerning

nudity among Ontarians as a result.

Apompous spectacle

I have spoken with a number of people

who have voiced their concern about the

"inappropriate behaviour" of the

marchers, based on concern for children

watching the parade, or insisting it shows

a lack of respect for the "Pride" Committee

(quotation marks intentional).

As for children, it seems to me that

they are generally quite comfortable with
their naked bodies at a younger, more

innocent age; it is the older generation

who teach these very children that nudity

is something to be uncomfortable about.
Secondly, the meaning of the word
"parade", according to the Webster dictio-
nary, implies a "pompous show, or specta-

cle". These same concerned people forget

that a parade is not everyday life: it is
intended as a celebration, and as such peo-

ple should have the ability to celebrate

according to their good conscience, even if

the "Pride" Committee deems certain

behaviour inappropriate. What would the

Mardi Gras in New Orleans come to if the

1997 "Pride" Committee were in charge? I

would hate to imagine!

Congratulations once again toT N T ! M E N!

Why I Marched
Naked

by Jim W <phdtop@phdtop.com>

http://www.phdtop.com/central

I^{can't speak for the other guys in}
Toronto, but I marched nude with

TNT!MENon Pride Daybecause it was

fun, it was different, and I wanted to see

what it would feel like. I believe that the

human body is made to be accepted as it

is, not covered up in shame or in the belief
that it is imperfect and inferior.

ket parking lots or parks. Erotic exhibition-
ism is what sexual scientists call a para-

philia. An erotic exhibitionist (almost

always a man) becomes sexually aroused

by surprising someone (almost always a

woman) with his nudity. He's trying to

shock you, because it turns him on.

Nonsexual nudity is completely different:

we are nude simply because we want to be

comfortable, and because we believe that

there is nothing harmful about our nude

bodies.
We went a lot farther in the parade

than most nudists go. Frankly, I wonder

why. I know of no other topic where one
side is so considerate of the incorrect, illog-

ical, and measurably harmful opinions of
the other side. Being polite to your oppo-

nents is a good thing, but when politeness
means the other side always gets its way,
that's going too far.

Compromise is good;
Giving in is bad.
Some people think that drinking alco-

hol is always wrong -- but those who

think it is OK in moderation go ahead and

drink in front of those who don't. Of
course, it would be offensive if they pres-

sured non-drinkers to drink.

Some people think abortion is wrong,

but those who think it's OK don't refrain

from it just because it offends the others.

People differ about whether to vote

for Jones or Gonzales, but those who favor

Gonzales don't refrain from voting because

it might upset Jones supporters.

So if you really think that it's OK to be

nude, then why follow the course of action

of those who disagree with you? Why let

them control your actions? It would be

wrong to force them to get naked. It would

There's a community of gay male nud

ists in Toronto who are second to none:

nice guys, courageous, intelligent, and

cool-headed. I figured that if anyone could

pull this off, they could. And they did! The

-

Everyone says that the human body is

beautiful. It was designed by God --

and/or natural selection -- to function

beautifully as a marvelous machine. If this

is so, then the next logical step is: if you
believe that the human body is healthy,

wholesome and nothing to be ashamed of,
then put your crotch's visibility where

your mouth is!

Even if you're not a nudist yourself,

understand that when you come across

people who are nude they are just being

true to their beliefs. They are not trying to

offend you. If you are offended by their

being nonsexually nude, then you are too

sensitive. Get over it!

Nudists are not erotic exhibitionists --

like the sleazy fellows who you may have
run into (if you're a woman) in supermar-

be wrong to tease them for being pr

udish,

although most of them ar

5. It would be

wrong to pass laws against clothing. It
would be wrong to outlaw the manufac-

ture or sale of bathing suits, unnecessary

and ridiculous though they are.

But it's also wrong for anti-nudity

special-interest groups to force me to put

on clothes when I don't want to, and when

no harm is done by my getting comfortable.

As I said above, compromise is cool.

But always giving in? That's wrong.
After the Pride

When I returned to my guesthouse that

night, I was exhausted but happy, and a

bit apprehensive about how I would be

greeted. I hadn't told anyone there just

how I planned to march in the parade, and