By Jack Legg
A few weeks before my visit, the club administrator offered some warm advice.
"You should consider trying this social nudity thing. CAUTION: You may become addicted and want to join the club!"
He added, "You are welcome to use the hot tub, but you will have to be nude to do it. We may also have a massage therapist, but how nude you are would be between you and her."
Sounds like a party.
In March 2023, a Florida school principal was forced to resign after parents complained about "pornographic" content in an art history lesson for sixth grade students. The angry parents objected to the inclusion of a photo showing Michelangelo's "David" statue and other works of art, including Michelangelo’s “Creation of Adam” and Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus.”
Because the artwork depicts nudity, they argued, it is inherently inappropriate for children.
In recent months, teachers and librarians across the U.S. have been called "groomers and pedophiles" because of the books they have on their shelves. There has been an explosion of legislation seeking to outlaw the "dissemination of material harmful to minors" or "explicit sexual material," but the definition of harmful or explicit is often loose and vague.
While books are commonly targeted for including LGBTQ characters or themes of racial justice, some works face the chopping block for depictions of basic human anatomy or descriptions of sexual development. One Florida bill proposed banning any discussion of the menstrual cycle in elementary schools.
Across the pond, a British television series has sparked outrage for exposing young viewers to full-frontal nudity. The Channel 4 program Naked Education features nude adults talking with teenagers about basic anatomy and body positivity. In April 2023, the network received hundreds of complaints from angry viewers who took issue with the "pornographic" depiction of nudity in front of minors.
With all the recent hand-wringing and breathless hysteria about the human body, I couldn't help but wonder: what do our local nudists think?
"I admit that no one before has related nudism to politics. That is a first," said John, the administrator and co-founder of the naturist club Dayton Warm Breezes.
"Under normal circumstances, there are two subjects that are taboo in our meetings: politics and sex. We practice non-sexual social nudity. Sex and naturism do not mix. On the political side, we have people who cover the entire range. If it seems like conservatism would preclude someone from social nudity, that is not true."
Founded in October 2014, the mission of Dayton Warm Breezes is to provide a safe, friendly, fun, and non-judgmental environment in which to promote social nudity with "wholesome naturism principles."
Warm Breezes is a "non-landed" nudist club, which means they don't have a specific facility or location to serve as their home base. They hold events in homes, on private property, or at resorts throughout the area.
Their monthly clothing optional and clothes-free events usually draw 20 or 30 people, although their mailing list includes over two hundred. When I attended their April house party in Huber Heights, there were nearly 40 naked people in attendance.
Montgomery County, where Dayton is located, went to Joe Biden by a razor-thin margin in the 2020 election, but this Warm Breezes party took place squarely in Trump country. The city of Huber Heights extends across the interstate into Miami County, where Republicans won the election by over 40 points (71.4% Republican, 27% Democrat).
While the nude mixed and mingled, enjoying a veritable smorgasbord of finger foods and drinks, I spent the evening interviewing people about their political backgrounds, belief systems, and love of naturism.
"I'm a conservative Republican!" said one man, who has been a member of the club for around three years. An electrician who also serves as an umpire for little league baseball teams, he originally sought out naturist events on the internet as a way to meet new people and have fun. Politically he leans to the Right, but says he could be convinced to vote for a candidate from either party.
"What sort of political issues do you find yourself paying attention to most?" I asked, as one host popped in to make sure all the guests were sitting on towels. (It's basic nudist etiquette.)
Many of today's problems, he believes, go back to a lack of basic respect. He sees young people disrespecting teachers and making demands of adults. He wishes we could go back to the days when kids were taught to respect authority.
At times, he wonders whether our society has moved too far in the wrong direction. Kids these days are treated too gently, with adults being overly sensitive to avoid "hurting their self-esteem." Adults are too quick to medicate children, he suggested, instead of teaching "old-fashioned discipline."
Echoing a common complaint among conservative thinkers, he also relayed a story about a teacher who was disciplined for failing to use a student's correct gender pronouns.
"Nowadays, you have to use their right pronouns, or it can get you in trouble. Our schools are out of control!"
Other concerns relate to the loss of personal freedom. For example, there used to be campgrounds and other places where people could go to get naked, but in recent years, some locations have shut down or changed their rules.
"There used to be lots of places we could go. Then they went textile."
"I'm sorry. Did you say they went textile?" I asked. "That's a phrase I've never heard before."
"It means they switched to clothes," he explained, while another guest nodded in agreement. "Now you have to stay covered, or get a tent, or wear clothes."
When it comes to censoring Michelangelo's "David" statue, this umpire isn't sure that's the right call. For him, book bans and censored materials are not the answer. If kids are too sheltered while growing up, they won't be prepared to enter the real world.
"They say we need to protect children. Protect children from what? Do you want them to grow up in a box?"
Another guest, a computer programmer from Indiana, considers himself an independent, but sometimes leans a bit to the the Left. He is not happy with everything the Democrats are doing right now, thinking some on the Left take things too far. Regardless, the banning of books and censoring of nudity is not something he supports.
The reason he likes naturism in the first place is because it's entirely non-political. Serving on the Board of Trustees for the club and being involved in affiliate organizations, he is pleased to see that the nudist bodies in his orbit only get involved with political issues when it involves legislation which might impact the free practice of naturism.
Dayton Warm Breezes is a charter member of the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) and a supporter of the AANR Education Foundation, which invests in the next generation of naturists by offering scholarships to students who explore nudism.
"How long have you been involved in naturism?" I later asked the co-founder's wife, a former high school secretary who enjoys spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
"Since this all started," she replied, referring to the 2014 launch of the club. "It was easy for me to get involved, because my husband started all of this."
It all began in the hot tub. After relaxing in their hot tub naked, they began seeking other opportunities to disrobe. They also traveled to different nude events, including several nude cruises.
"We aren't the type of people who like to park our trailer in one place and stay there. We like to go to different places. We like to be around people."
She considers herself somewhat political, particularly when it comes to the importance of voting. In the past, she has even worked at the polls, "which can be a very, very long day."
She typically leans to the Right, but does not agree with everything Trump has done lately.
"He may have a high IQ, but he does some dumb things," she acknowledged.
Noticing a few religious items in the vicinity, I asked about her religious background.
"Oh, we're Lutheran," she replied. "We do what we wanna do."
Shortly after I arrived, I met a man who had driven about an hour to attend the event.
"I heard you are doing some interviews?" he asked, still fully clothed. "I thought you might want to talk with me. I have kind of an interesting angle. I am a Christian. And I can justify my nudism with my faith."
Later, once he'd had a chance to strip naked, we reconnected.
"I'm apolitical. Very apolitical," he explained. "Politics can be so divisive. Sometimes it makes me sick to my stomach. Politics can sow a spirit of disunity, but we as Christians are called to sow a spirit of unity."
He attends a non-denominational church and lives with a Christian roommate, who also attends his church. He is not embarrassed about his nudism, but he doesn't bring it up at church.
"I don't know how they would react to it," he said, taking a moment to verify that no names would be included in my article. "I think my roommate would be very offended if I did this in front of him. But the good thing about where I live is, I have a nice big bedroom. If I ever want to do something like this, I can just shut the door."
(Coincidentally, at this point, I stood up to close the front door, which had blown open with a chilly gust of wind.)
"You mentioned that your Christian faith is related to your interest in nudism," I continued. "Tell me about that."
"Well, God made us in His own image, so there is no need to be ashamed of our bodies," he explained. While some people may try to stigmatize or sexualize the human body, he enjoys walking in freedom.
"I'm here because of my faith. God calls us to go forth into all the world to make believers. God puts people in my life, and He is teaching me to meet people and to reach out."
(As someone who grew up in church, this marks the first time in my life that someone has spoken to me about Jesus' Great Commission while totally naked.)
And there is something about being nude, he said, which helps people connect in a deeper, more genuine way. Because they strip away all their outer layers, nudity puts people on equal footing.
"We could have senators in here, and we'd never know. I just know their name. I don't know what they do outside of here. I just know who they are. I don't care if people live in castles or in shacks. I'm no better than anybody else."
As someone who has struggled with body image issues for his entire life, he also finds naturism to be somewhat therapeutic. He has become more comfortable in his own skin, overcome feelings of shame, and learned to walk boldly as his true self.
"I will say this: it is my strong belief that there are two problems with the world today. One is being a prude and the other is being overly sexual."
When people try to use nude events as a way to "hookup" or for lustful interactions, it's a real problem. He believes people must be able to get undressed in a safe, open environment without feeling preyed upon.
"Even children," he added. "I've been to many events where people bring their kids. At another event, we get together and swim, and the kids are undressed and swimming with us. They have a great time!"
He was not the only club member who mentioned the benefits of nudism for children. Everyone I spoke with mentioned attending events where families enjoyed social nudity together.
At Dayton Warm Breezes, each host reserves the right to exclude minors from specific events, but in most cases, children can attend as long as they are accompanied by a responsible adult and have parental permission.
One guest described the way he's seen parents invite children to participate in nude events without forcing them, by letting each child choose whether or not to wear clothing. Another guest shared how much her grandchildren enjoy naked swims.
"They run around naked all the time at home. Sometimes I have to tell them, 'I know you like being naked, but you have to put on underwear sometimes.'"
"It's all about family. It's about community," said another guest who enjoys seeing people of all ages coming together.
As I prepared to leave, a married couple asked if I still had time to chat. Describing themselves as committed Catholics who are increasingly becoming an "every Sunday type of couple," they discovered nudism while they were dating, four years ago.
"We had a nude wedding!" she declared, glowingly describing the outdoor event. The bride and groom were naked. The minister was naked. All 350 guests were naked.
"Well, I wasn't completely naked," said the husband. "I did wear a bow tie."
"My sister asked why she has never seen any of our wedding photos. I was like, I have some photos, but I don't think you want to see them!"
On what they like about naturism, they explained, "It's so freeing! It's so liberating! Everyone is so open and welcoming and friendly. You're stripped of all your status and everyone is equal."
When asked if their Catholicism and nudism relate to one another, both were quick to say there is no conflict whatsoever. There is nothing immoral about the human body and they see no reason for their naturism to clash with their faith. They still hold conservative values, but don't necessarily agree with the censorship of nude artwork.
"I don't believe pornography qualifies as free speech," he said. "But art is fine."
Our discussion of Michelangelo's "David" reminded the wife of another statue-related political disagreement: "And now they are taking down a lot of statues from the Civil War. And removing monuments. How are people supposed to learn if we take down all of our history?"
The husband used to consider himself Republican, but has recently shifted to become more of an independent. He doesn't agree with everything Republicans have done lately and he's hoping for a better candidate to come along.
"I don't get angry about it. I don't cuss at the television when Joe Biden or another politician says something I don't like."
What can we learn from our naturist neighbors? For starters, maybe it's worth considering some of the naturist beliefs they hold.
In all its shapes and sizes, the human body is intrinsically beautiful and a source of pride. By itself, the human body is not indecent, shameful, or immoral.
Children have the right to know what humans look like. Children raised to respect their own bodies and the bodies of others will mature into emotionally strong and sexually responsible adults.
People should be accepted for who they are, not what they wear. We must engender self-respect and respect for others regardless of shape, age, gender, size, color, or ability.
And when it comes to politics, perspectives can be as varied and diverse as human bodies. We're going to disagree. Often. But we've still got a lot of work to do.
While it's tempting to make assumptions or surface-level judgements about our political allies or opponents, it's often more fruitful to strip away the outer layers and look for the person underneath.
It sounds simplistic and trite to suggest we should all just come together and find common ground. Our values will clash, our opinions will vary. Some hold their views loosely, others with an iron fist.
In some areas, we cannot compromise. At times, we will actively work against each other. But when we find ways to honor our shared humanity... perhaps by declaring a truce for snacks and nudity... it just might increase understanding and foster positive intent.
And if we don't build on a foundation of respect and dignity for every single human body, none of this works.
Maybe more conversations should happen naked.
Metaphorically. Literally. Whatever floats your boat.
Because even when we fiercely disagree, arguments about liberty, restraint, and autonomy may begin to sound different when the truth is laid bare: no matter the strength of our convictions, no matter the volume of our voice, we are always talking to, and about, other humans.
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