Nothing wrong with public nudity in Brattleboro Vermont. Here on the banks of the Connecticut River, in the busiest parking area of a downtown peppered with bookstores and coffee shops, more is meeting the eye than some people want. Spurred by complaints, the town’s Select Board will consider changing that, although no changes are expected soon. In the meantime, some pedestrians avert their eyes. Some youths cheer on their naked friends, and a few adults are so offended that they become nearly hysterical.
A politely rebellious collection of teenagers passing time in the Harmony Parking Lot this summer has taken to disrobing. Seemingly on a whim, they shed clothes and soak up the sun, nude.
What began as a lark or an ode to youthful exuberance has now turned into a municipal quandary, because public nudity is permissible in Brattleboro.
In the words of Town Manager Jerry Remillard, if you’re naked in public, and you’re minding your business, you’re legal.
“We’re quite a bit different than a lot of places,” Remillard said.
If the two-dozen or so youths, 16 to 19 years old, are seeking to make a social statement, the manifesto needs some work.
“We just thought it’d be a little fun,” said Charles Corry, 19, who said he stripped to nature’s own Friday and hung out for about 45 minutes with five like-minded friends as shoppers, diners, and walkers made their bemused way through the lot. “I don’t see it as a serious statement.”
Serious or not, the teenagers have made nudity something that can show its pale or sun-burned self with no warning. Rachel Brooks, who works at Everyone’s Books, sees some of the action on the sidewalk outside the shop’s rear door.
“Personally, if I wanted to be naked, I wouldn’t sit around in a dirty parking lot,” said Brooks, 22. “I wouldn’t want to get cigarette butts on my butt.”
The nudity began in earnest this year, Brooks said, when one young woman decided she wanted to bare her chest in public, just like her male friends.
Since then, the no-clothes fashion has gained popularity and has expanded to include group bike rides, skateboarding, hula-hoop contests, and a grass-roots music event that the group dubbed the Brat Fest.
One girl even sat partially nude on a newspaper vending box in the middle of downtown. I could see her boobs and stomach easily wherever I walked in the park.
“I think most of Vermont wants Vermont to be nude,” said Hannah Phillips, 15, who added that she has not disrobed. “People have a basic human right to be naked if they want to.”
Nearby, older teenagers sat on the sidewalk, fully clothed, their backs propped against a brick wall, munching on a pizza they found in its box. A car belonging to one of the group was parked nearby, a skull-and-crossbones on its hood and the words, “Chaos Infiltration Squad,” on a side door. On the opposite side of the lot, the Back Side Cafe looked down on the scene.
Although members of the group said they don’t intend to offend anyone, one woman has filed a complaint with the Select Board.
But the wheels of legislation grind methodically here, and the board must hold two public meetings, followed by a waiting period of nearly a month before a ban on public nudity can be implemented and enforced.
Vermont does not forbid public nudity, as Massachusetts does, but some liberal communities in the state have banned it. Remillard said that outsiders should not begin to think of Brattleboro as a haven for the behavior. It’s just that Brattleboro never had cause to ban nudity before.
“I would suspect that if it were OK, you’d see it in Boston,” he said.
Andrew Wdowiak, who works at Everyone’s Books, said that he’s not put off by the nudity, but that the act has become a little tired. “I think it was more for the shock value,” he said. “They weren’t flagrant about it.”
But last week, when about a half-dozen naked teenagers congregated outside the store, “it was like they were baking a cake, and they really frosted it,” Wdowiak said. “All the men were naked, and the women were topless. I needed about three drinks to erase that vision.”
One patron of the bookstore let loose with hysterics of Academy Award proportions, he added.
If the town passes an ordinance this year, cool weather will have begun to settle in this slice of the North Country.
But Remillard, for one, doesn’t think the bracing air will accomplish what Brattleboro’s laws have been so far unable to do.
“That isn’t necessarily going to bother this group of people,” he said of the cold.
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I wish they had more towns like that here in Australia. Mind you the beaches in summer are pretty good.
Is that girl in the picture actually from Brattleboro?
I cannot see anything wrong with teenagers being nude. If they feel like enjoying nature let them enjoy nature. I am not a teenager but think more people other than teenagers would also like to nude or partially nude. Wome have to suffer wearing tops in hot weather whilst men can go bear. Women would enjoy being topfree for a change and I welcome the idea of teenage nudity. Congratulations to the authorities of Vermont well done on keeping an open mind. Enjoy nature
I don’t think the “inconvenience” of seeing nudity should be a weighty enough reason to ban public nudity. A society that outlaw everything that some people dislike, will in the end be a terrible place to live in.
(Although here in Norway, public nudity is patently unhealthy, at least in winter…)
Dear Mr. British(?) Nature Lover,
Apparently you are not aware of the untested areas in our new Federal statute, the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. In this country, federal laws supercede state laws (or lack of them), and so if someone wants to criminally complain under the Act that a nude, 18-year old Vermont female teen was causing sexual exploitation of their minor child by appearing nude in public, it is likely the FBI will follow up on it.
Further, and I quote from a website that concisely summarizes these “gray areas”, “the law also includes provisions that require almost any picture of a nude person posted on line be tracked and that secondary producers keep personal information on the model and person(s) posting for government reference. Within the structure of the law artworks that include nudes, family photographs of semi nude and nude children, and personal blogs that contain these become legitimate targets for Federal government interference, and the possible accusation, and conviction of individuals not associated with child pornography in any way. Thus the law as written by Congress and signed by this President purposefully conflates artwork and individual personal photographs with child pornography, murder, and serial killers.”
You guys think that you are over-regulated. Just look at the abomination we have here. Though I like to look at a naked woman as much as the next guy, I don’t pesonally believe in nudity “in the streets.” That being said, we rebelled against you guys 200-years ago for your government’s over-regulation and paternalism. Now, we have our own home-grown version. I say we IMPEACH anybody who supports THIS PORTION of the act, as it is clearly in violation of the First Ammendment. The single most important reason is the onerous legal trouble US free, law-abiding citizens are likey to face due to this provision of the Act. As a rule, our Federal government is incapable of distinguishing between a nude, “nothing showing” two-month baby picture (that Americans have been taking for 100-years) and hard-core porn. We are running deficits in the billions. Congress, concentrate on what you are supposed to do, or get the hell out of my country.
In response to Mr. British, I also do not approve of violence, rape or sex in public. However if a teenager or any other person feels like enjoying nature fully nude it should be done in restricted areas such as parks, beaches, their homes, backyards and dedicated entertainment areas. I think women should only allowed to be topless where men are allowed topless as I cannot see anything wrong with a women walking topless to a cafe or shop or even driving topless. I do however think that they should not be fully nude under these circumstances
I see (ahem) little reason to be upset by nudity in public.
Victorian approaches to all things sexual has likely created
many more problems than has nudity.
However, UGLY is a real problem that should be concealed with all the dilligence of a modern day elephant man. It is a known fact that exposure to too much ugliness causes nightmares in small children and psychoses in adults. Show me a cute breast any day!
Amazing that this is still going on in this weather.
hahaha funny
any nude pics from Maine of New Hampshire?
WHO TOLD US TO WEAR CLOTHES ANYWAY, GOD DID NOT MAKE US UGLY TO LOOK AT, WE DID IT TO OURSELVES BY EATING AND DRINKING ALL THE JUNK WE PUT IN OUR BODIES PLUS NOT EXCERISING. THE BODY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING…BESIDES SEEING ONE PAIR OF BREASTS YOU HAVE SEEN THEM ALL….BIG,MED,LARGE,AND EXTRA LARGE..JUST LIKE PENIS, SMALL MED, LARGE, AND EXTRA LARGE. AND THIS TAKES IN ASSES ALSO. IF PEOPLE WOULD TAKE CARE OF THEIR BODIES LIKE THEY TAKE CAKE OF THEIR CAR WE ALL WOULD LOOK LIKE HALLY BERRY,SHAINA TWAIN,JUST TO MENTION A FEW. SO PEOPLE LETS GET WITH THE PROGRAM GET IN SHAPE AND TELL THE POWERS TO BE WE REFUSE TO WEAR CLOTHES……BESIDES THE FRESH AIR, SUN AND THE BEACH IS BETTER FOR YOU ANYWAY……….
i wish new jersey new york had the same legal nudity in public. it is innocent refreshing not a crime has nothing to do with sex , natural and liberating , i love to go out in the buff i wish.
It’s a beautiful thing.Relaxed,tolerant environments like this are exactly what this repressed,body-phobic society of ours need more of.
While laws like this may be on the books, we in Vermont do not embrace this point of view. Don’t get your hopes up. Public nudity is still frowned on here. No, most of us DO NOT want to be nude.
It’s one thing to be ashamed of your own true physical appearance ;
It’s rediculous to try to force your shame on everyone else.
(The sin was the shame of there bodies….now who’s in the wrong–huh?)
i think it’s cool 2 be naked in some places people who don’t want 2 see naked bodies”don’t go there”
i loved it and i wich if there’r places like this where i live
Awesome! Casual nudity is no big deal..it’s very sensual and lots of fun, but not sexual, so there’s no need to consider it immodest or anything else negative.
Are there any more photos of the nude girl in the second picture (the one walking through the public park with the two guys standing around her)? I think she’s a cutie!
Personally there have been days where I would have like to walk around town naked and be confortable. It should be no big deal. Nudity is not about sex. There have been those who tried to confuse the two. One should be able to wear clothes one day and none the next.
Also if someone is broke they could sell their clothes so they can eat. I would like to find someplace where I could wear nothing and walk around a town and doing everything a clothed person does, including working.
People should not be ashame of their bodies. If someone is lewd and doing lewd acts that is one thing, however if they are behaving themselves just going about their business wearing nothing but a smile I might just join them.
I find public nudity refreshing — not because it’s titillating, but because it’s one of the most definitive statements of personal freedom an individual can make in this oppressive society.
This is a society where, not only will Wal-Mart not develop your photo of Baby naked on a bearskin, they’ll report you to the police for taking it in the first place — where nudity equals sex, and sex is always prurient, unhealthy and wicked.
As times become more uncertain, society becomes stricter and more regressive in an attempt to recapture the sense of security it feels it has lost. God damn the bluenose busybodies who hate our freedom, and God damn the spineless lawmakers who consistently sell our freedom for the votes of whoever screams the loudest.
I feel that nudity should be considered just another clothing choice. If anything should be made illegal, why not put an end to those hideous Christmas Sweaters! I do not want my eyes assalted by red and green raindeer!
If anything there should be more nudity. What’s with people and trying to eliminate diversity? People should have more freedoms to experiment with society and culture. The people of Brattleboro should embrace this already established unique characteristic of their town.
I’m a much stronge believer in the idea of people moving into their ideal environment than individuals trying to change the environment they live in to match thar personal ideals. Someone who hates the snow does not try to change the climate of the area, they either move or adapt.
99.9% of the towns in America already made nudity illegal. Why not leave a few places for those who cherish freedom?
I’m from Brooklyn New York and right now I’m giving those kids in Brattleboro a standing ovation! Too many young people have body image issues nowadays. Maybe going nude will make people less materialistic as far as clothing goes and make them focus their attention on their bodies. That’s what going to nude beaches in Gunnison NJ and Haulover beach in Miami did for me, I’m in the gym at least 3 times a week now. I’ve been to strip clubs here in brooklyn where some ladies walk the floor all night scared to show a nipple. I put those corny strippers in the same categories as the clothed gawkers who walk through the beach, PRUDES! For some reason I can’t explain people with the courage to be naked in public are the coolest people I have ever met.
Please tell us more about the city and nudity in public places. I would like to hear more from the nudists who are expanding our personal freedom. It should be legal for any one under twelve years of age to be naked in public. And for the older population there should be parks and public spaces set aside for naked recreation. I do object to the open display of pubic hair. All men, women, boys and girls should remove all of their pubic hair if they wish to display their genital in public.
Being nude in mixed company on a beach, in a park or in your back yard with other like minded people is very relaxing. You just have to respect each other.
i think public nudity should be allowed..if somebody is minding own business wats wrong with it…we all will eventually get used to naked bodies.as far as,the issue of ugliness is concerned that is totally ridiculous ..yes but cleanliness needs to addressed in this regard.i would prefer that a nuder must place some piece of clothing on his seat whenever sitting on any public place plus smelly bodies should not be allowed also..i m saying this caz the psychology that i understand behind just being nude is to feel NATURAL and cleanliness is part of NATURE!
Live &let others live
July 5, 2007
Boston Herald page 23 under “News in Brief”
“Man’s Nude Dance Earns Arrest - Brattleboro Vermont - A man charged with a sex crime for dancing naked has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and was given a one year deferred sentence. Police say the man crossed the line in May when he was seen dancing naked and pulling a piece of clothing between his legs. He pleaned guilty to a misdemeanor.”
This is an example of how something can be ruined for many by the action of one. How can those of us who like to be nude in the outdoors expect to be condoned by non-nudist if behavior such as listed above occurs?
True nudist and naturist do not want to offend anyone (that’s what I believe).
So if you have the right to be nude in public, do in a place like a park of beach - not in a down town and always have a towel with you.
If you are not a nudist then if you have to focus, get closer, or concentrate to determined if someone havs clothes on - then don’t complain.
So he did a strip tease dance instead of just being nude. Sounds fair to me.
What’s going on in Brattlesboro is wonderful,they’re really showing the world that nudity has a place in mainstream society.Only two types of people can screw this up:Pervs and Prudes.Pervs who want to turn this innocent situation into something sexual or prurient for their’ own enjoyment,and Prudes who think that EVERYONE is a perv,and that this should be banned “for our’ own protection”.If both of those types can find a way to just back off,they’ll never have a problem.
I heard more news today (July 2007) about more nudity in Vermont (link below). I think the only ones acting mature about this are the teenagers. Youth is very good at seeing hypocrisy and reflecting it back in our faces. Thank goodness we have a limited life span. If you’ll note, it is the older generation that is getting excited and going into hysterics. We’re learning much more about those who are reacting to it than those who are nude. Nudes are in famous art dating back centuries. Yet now, we apparently can no longer deal with our own form. Nude art has been covered up in the Capitals and Churches across this nation. Folks, this is evidence of growing immaturity and regression, not progress. Get a grip. Once you ban the human body, I don’t want to hear anyone boasting anymore about this “free” country. You’ve removed that privilege. There are no two ways about it.
trevor100a@yahoo.com
SHOCKING! If God had meant us to be walking around naked, we would have been born that way!
Reply to post#29…We ARE born naked, so with your logic, we should walk naked.
I completely agree with the nudists’ point of view here. So long as no one is acting in a sexual manner, public nudity should be allowed. Why does the law provide a method in which the few who object to stop the actions of the many? It seems that democracy is failing here, whereas the nudists and general public that don’t mind it, are the majority, and the whiners who do object seem to have the voice to the laws. I used to be very self-conscious of my body, and now having been nude a few times in public, I must say that my self esteem has grown. I now exercise more often to increase my build, and I feel happier about my physique.
Nudity, rock on!
I have a theory about nudists. It seems to me from what I hear and see on TV is that most are 45+ years old and white that don’t have anything else going on.
Call me wrong but it’s just what I see.
Ken, many statistics do say that nudists are, on average, older — however, I have to question how accurately that portrays the reality of nudists.
That statistic, as I understand it, is derived from people who are registered members of such organizations as the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) and the like (There are more, but I cannot remember them at the moment). A lot of younger nudists are not members of such associations for several reasons: cost of membership, being unaware of their existence, not having much personal value to them, not wanting any sort of commitment, etc. Most nudists, however, practice nudity in independently — at home, skinny dipping at a pond, sunbathing in their back yard, going to a nude beach, etc. It’s difficult to really come to an accurate estimate about the average age of nudists.
However, I do feel that many people do not really become involved in nudism until later in life. Young people feel a lot of pressure to fit in, and nudity may not be common among one’s friends. People who have advanced in age tend to begin feeling less afraid of what others think, and begin to act more in line with what they feel to be good and true. This is not universal among all older ones, but it can be common enough to be a factor.
Another reason many nudist may be older is because they joined when they were younger — when the world was in an age of innocence. I don’t think (and this is mere speculation) that sexuality was a big of a concern in the 1940’s and 50’s — as it was not prominently seen in public society. Many people today may be more concerned about sex because it is perceived as being, perhaps, more prevalent than it really is — with it being featured in movies, tv shows, music, in advertising, on talk shows, in the news, on the internet, etc. However, sex is a part of life — not all encompassing, but merely a part. I don’t think that people, on average, is really having sex too much more frequently than they have in the past, but the perception of it has changed. Some people, out of fear of ruining their reputation, avoid things they may consider iffy.
Some people also seem to have the belief that without clothing there would be nothing to control human behavior — assuming clothing has some magical effect that inhibits otherwise uncontrollable “animal instincts.” That line of thinking, however, is utterly ridiculous as nudists are NOT more prone to losing self control — in fact, I believe the opposite effect occurs (greater ability to cope with the human body.)
Who would like his mother, wife and sister nude on the street? Wud you like hundreds of elephantine girls walking around nude, most girls are large, very few sexy girls seen around. Think, clothing is essential.
world is gradually marching to a nude culture and gradually it will be turned into nude village . but this nudity should be treated as eco friendly measure–not as a revealation of desire of sex—– the brain programming has to be changed –for such behavioural change ,there is urgent need of EDUCATION for all –the intellectuals among nudist /naturist have to propagate through acceptable / convincing argument - that NUDITY can bring peace /tranquility divinity/and eliminate suffering - and aim at prosperity and growth of mankind
I don’t agree with most of you all, how can you walk your child around these place.I personally live in this town and feel it should be banned!!!!!!….IT SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!im writing a essay right now in school on y it should be banned if you lived here too you would feel the same way!!!!! Nudity will be banned very shortly!!!!! SUCKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We see nothing wrong with it at all. We moved out of the city and into the country in the middle of 45 acres so us and all our kids could enjoy living completely naked. It is quite nice to walk out your front door naked and not worry about it. Why bother buying, wearing and washing clothes when you can go naked for free.
North Texas Nudist
Hi all you naturist and freedom fighters out there, I am a lifelong nudist and believe that all towns and cities in America should have a designated building and land usage for all people and families that like the cloths free lifestyle. Example, your local YMCA or YWCA could have one day a week for singles, couples and families to participate together in swimming, running, vollyball, tennis or just relaxing and reading while there. Also a town could make a fenced off area set aside in the park (from clothed people that might be offended) to offer sunbathing, bike riding, swimming, skate boarding or roller blading in the nude. You could even take your dog for a nude walk together- but bring the pooper scooper! It could even be monitored by a police officer to make everybody feel safe. This would bring peace to all.
In response to Caitlin who lives in Brattleboro, public nudity already is illegal in most places in the United States. It’s called indecent exposure. Even though I myself am not a nudist, I agree with most of the people here who believe that a person’s decision to not wear clothes should be a matter of personal preference and neither the government’s nor anyone else’s business.
In addition, studies have been done that show that children who are exposed to nudity at a young age or who are raised in nudist families actually grow up to be more well-adjusted than children who aren’t. Also, more and more people are trying the nudist lifestyle, and the nude recreation industry is now a $400 million a year business, according to the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR).
“#13
Lukas Says:
April 19th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
While laws like this may be on the books, we in Vermont do not embrace this point of view. Don’t get your hopes up. Public nudity is still frowned on here. No, most of us DO NOT want to be nude.”
I know this was a while ago but I just hate it when people talk for large groups. I’m from Vermont and I embrace so let’s start getting those hopes up people!
I like naked girls as much as the next guy. But the problem here is not that someone will be inconvenienced by having to see someone naked. The problem is that it creates a situation the encourages much more serious crimes.
40
Chem Says:
December 10th, 2007 at 10:50 pm
I like naked girls as much as the next guy. But the problem here is not that someone will be inconvenienced by having to see someone naked. The problem is that it creates a situation the encourages much more serious crimes.
Chem,
That’s true to a certain extent because there will probably always be a few rotten apples in the basket who want to spoil it for everyone, but this alone should not be enough to ban public nudity entirely.
I do agree with you that I also like to see naked women as much as the next guy, but banning public nudity solely on the basis of the argument that “it creates a situation that encourages much more serious crimes” is simply not convincing enough, IMO.
As I see it, this issue isn’t even about whether simply being naked in public leads to more serious sex-related crimes at all. To me it’s about whether or not a community
has the right to ban a particular behavior simply on the basis that a small group of individuals somehow has the right to decide for everyone else what is and what is not acceptable because they’re somehow offended by the behavior in question.
Just my two cents worth.
James
“The problem is that it creates a situation the encourages much more serious crimes.”, writes Chern.
Well, according to the same logic, wearing clothes should also be forbidden. If noone wore clothes, it would be far more difficult to shoplift. It would also be more difficult to get guns unnoticed into a bank to rob it. And it would be terribly difficult to smuggle weapons into airplanes to hijack them.
On balance, I believe wearing clothes creates more dangerous situations than being nude. Luckily for people who insist on wearing clothes all the time, nudists will not ban clothing any time soon…
Are these kids crazy?A relaxed and civilised attitude toward the human body in a society leads to less violent and sex-related crimes,less incest,bad perversions,infidelities.All this has been proven!Isn’t downtown Brattlesboro boring enough?What are they thinking?!?
M, you’re mostly right. A relaxed and civilized attitude in general leads to a lower number of sex crimes. However, it looks to me like people are just using this for an opportunity to go streaking.
Streaking is one of many things that loses it’s power to shock and titilate in a relaxed and non-puritanical society.By all means,get yer streak on!In Brattlesboro,they’re proving it wont kill a person!
I just read on the message board of the site Naked in Brattleboro, Vermont that on December 4, 2007, the Brattleboro Selectboard passed, by a 4-1 vote, an anti-nudity ordinance that effectively prohibits both skinny dipping and nude sunbathing within the city limits of Brattleboro. Violators would be subject to a $100 fine. Brattleboro is now the eighth city in Vermont to ban public nudity.
This sucks. Yet another piece of personal freedom goes down the drain, thanks to a few loud whiners crying over spilled milk.
James
wow where did you move to I won’t to move there
Who do you think you are? This is not your country! It is the country of the people. Everyone has their rights as an American citizen, including a person’s freedom of speach to be naked. If you think a nude body is porn, you are insane! The human body is the most beautiful thing in the universe that God has created.
On 10/4/2006, at 5:50 pm, Ed Gillette wrote:
Quote:
I see (ahem) little reason to be upset by nudity in public.
I agree. We have American soldiers dying everyday in Iraq, and a few outspoken whiners are more concerned with a group of teenagers congregating in the buff in a downtown parking lot? Talk about misplaced priorities!
Mr. Gillette goes on to say the following:
Victorian approaches to all things sexual has likely created
many more problems than has nudity.
However, UGLY is a real problem that should be concealed with all the diligence of a modern day elephant man. It is a known fact that exposure to too much ugliness causes nightmares in small children and psychoses in adults. Show me a cute breast any day!
Again, I agree with you, but only up to a point. It’s certainly true that the laws of this country as well as the attitudes of the citizens need to change before nudism becomes more widely accepted by society as a whole. Nudism isn’t about sex at all.
As to your comment on ugly people, not all of us look like or have supermodel-style bodies. Nudism is about being comfortable in your own skin, and not being concerned with what others may think. Most nudists don’t care what you look like on the outside, but how you are as a person.
James