The Naturist Society (TNS) is an American
naturist
Naturism is a lifestyle of practising non-sexual social nudity in private and in public; the word also refers to the cultural movement which advocates and defends that lifestyle. Both may alternatively be called nudism. Though the two terms a ...
organization based in
Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States. It publishes a
quarterly
A magazine is a periodical publication, generally published on a regular schedule (often weekly or monthly), containing a variety of content. They are generally financed by advertising, purchase price, prepaid subscriptions, or by a combination ...
periodical
A periodical literature (also called a periodical publication or simply a periodical) is a published work that appears in a new edition on a regular schedule. The most familiar example is a newspaper, but a magazine or a journal are also example ...
called ''
Nude & Natural'' which contains articles on naturist activities and issues related to naturism. The Naturist Society was established by
Lee Baxandall
Lee Raymond Baxandall (January 26, 1935 – November 28, 2008) was an American writer, translator, editor, and activist. He was first known for his New Left engagement with cultural topics and then as a leader of the naturist movement.
Early ...
in 1980. Baxandall was the Society president for a number of years. Baxandall formulated the initial TNS motto: "Body acceptance is the goal, nude recreation is the way." This statement incorporates the belief that the human body is not intrinsically offensive and that the practice of social nudity can be affirming, not degrading.
Membership and activities
The TNS Naturist Network includes both private nudist resorts and naturist social clubs that agree to TNS principles and standards. Most TNS-affiliated nudist resorts are also chartered by the
American Association for Nude Recreation
The American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) is a naturist organization based in the United States.
The AANR is the largest, longest-established organization of its kind in North America. It was founded in 1931 and went under its previou ...
, and the TNS membership card usually has equal status to the AANR membership card at resorts. TNS includes an equal opportunities statement in its participating agreement for its Naturist Network, which includes nudist resorts. It notes that its members must not "discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, national origin, religion, disability, or sexual orientation." But "TNS acknowledges that single male visitors may be subject to a quota if a club or resort deems this unavoidable." The Naturist Society issues joint membership cards to same-sex couples.
In the 1990s, TNS established two nonprofit adjunct organizations, governed by a board of directors elected by the TNS membership: The Naturist Action Committee, its political and legislative lobbying adjunct, and the Naturist Education Foundation. TNS advocates for the acceptance of skinny-dipping and nude sunbathing at designated clothing-optional public beaches. A 2006 Roper Poll commissioned by the Naturist Education Foundation found that 74% of Americans accept this idea.
TNS publishes a
quarterly
A magazine is a periodical publication, generally published on a regular schedule (often weekly or monthly), containing a variety of content. They are generally financed by advertising, purchase price, prepaid subscriptions, or by a combination ...
periodical
A periodical literature (also called a periodical publication or simply a periodical) is a published work that appears in a new edition on a regular schedule. The most familiar example is a newspaper, but a magazine or a journal are also example ...
called ''
Nude & Natural'' (commonly called ''N'' magazine) which contains articles on naturist activities and issues related to naturism. TNS launched in 1981 its magazine, initially called ''Clothed with the Sun'', which was edited by TNS founder Lee Baxandall. The magazine was renamed ''Nude & Natural'' in 1989. Membership in The Naturist Society includes a subscription to N magazine.
TNS also supports various
special interest groups for TNS members who share hobbies or other interests such as
amateur radio.
See also
*
American Association for Nude Recreation
The American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) is a naturist organization based in the United States.
The AANR is the largest, longest-established organization of its kind in North America. It was founded in 1931 and went under its previou ...
*
Clothes free movement
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Gymnophobia
Gymnophobia is a fear (phobia) of nudity.
Symptoms
Gymnophobics experience anxiety from nudity, even if they realize their fear is irrational. They may worry about seeing others naked, being seen naked, or both. Their fear may stem from a general ...
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Issues in social nudity
Social nudity is the practice of nudity in relatively public settings not restricted by gender. This occurs both in public spaces and on commercial property, such as at a naturist resort.
Some isolated indigenous nudity still exists in the tr ...
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List of public outdoor clothes free places
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N Magazine
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Nude swimming
Nude swimming is the practice of swimming without clothing, whether in natural bodies of water or in swimming pools. A colloquial term for nude swimming is '' skinny-dipping''.
In both British and American English, to swim means "to move throu ...
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Public nudity
Nudity is the state of being in which a human is without clothing.
The loss of body hair was one of the physical characteristics that marked the biological evolution of modern humans from their hominin ancestors. Adaptations related to h ...
References
External links
The Naturist Society Web SiteThe Naturist Amateur Radio SIGNaturist Education Foundation
{{DEFAULTSORT:Naturist Society, The
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Organizations based in Wisconsin
Clothing free organizations
Naturism in the United States
1980 establishments in the United States
Organizations established in 1980
Non-profit organizations