Civil Rights for Nudists
Re American Album, “Ordinance Puts Nudists in Middle of Lawsuit,” Aug. 31:
On behalf of nudists/naturists everywhere and the national organizations representing us, the Naturist Society and the American Assn. for Nude Recreation, we wish to express our gratitude to The Times for elevating the level of discussion surrounding public nudity from purely local to nationwide. It was satisfying to find that The Times recognized and reported the struggle that nudists/naturists are waging in Florida with politicians and bureaucrats at all levels of government to ensure their constitutional rights to practice the nudist lifestyle at Playalinda Beach. The outcome of the lawsuit filed by the nudist groups will be far-reaching, affecting laws banning public nudity already enacted or under consideration by city councils and state legislatures all over America.
Nude recreation has increased substantially in Southern California and in most states but is far behind the acceptance enjoyed in Europe. Nudists seek protection of their rights under the federal Constitution, making it a civil rights issue. In 1972, in a unanimous decision (Chad Merrill Smith), the California Supreme Court declared that public nudity without lewd intent was not a criminal act.
Locally, Rancho Palos Verdes enacted an ordinance banning nudity a few months ago at Smuggler’s Cove-Sacred Beach, depriving nudists of the use of the beach that had been a traditional nude beach for 25 years. The case for a designated nude beach is more compelling here than in Playalinda, as it is isolated, rocky and inaccessible--the ideally appropriate place.
Nudists have nothing to apologize for. Beaches are for everyone, including nudists. In Florida the issue went from bathing suits versus no suits to lawsuits. Now is the time for serious discussion and compromise on this controversy. On close scrutiny many have discovered that the bathing suit is the most useless and unnecessary article of clothing ever invented.
LLOYD OLSON
Rolling Hills