2019.07.19 Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
A Facebook event indicates that the nipple will be freed on Honeymoon Island’s north beach next month. The event is titled “Top-Free Equality Day!” and set for August 25. It is being hosted by the Facebook page for Tampa Area Naturists (TAN).
On its
website, TAN says that the organization “is a Florida nonprofit advocacy group that is dedicated to working with government, business and the community to establish a European-style, officially-designated, family-friendly, clothing-optional section of beach in the Greater Tampa Bay Area.”
Part of TAN’s mission statement cites political figures — including Benjamin Franklin, John Quincy Adams, Theodore Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson, and Joe Biden — in its movement to “protect the American tradition of skinny-dipping at secluded lakes, streams and beaches.”
TAN’s
change.org petition for the cause has nearly 15,000 signatures.
“Some 35 years ago we naturists had many of our Florida naturist beaches taken away from us when beaches such as Honeymoon Island and McArthur Beach became Florida State Parks and the Park System imposed an anti-nudity park code,” the petition says.
WFLA wrote that a representative from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection confirmed a request for an event.
“...the group indicated the event attendees would be nude or partially nude,” the representative said, adding that activities of this type are protected free speech activities under Florida Supreme Court case law. “Based on this, the Division of Recreation and Parks plans to issue an authorization for the event.”
The Facebook event explicitly states the event is not nude.
“We are seeking a permit for this event to include women's equal right to be TOP-FREE just as a man can at Honeymoon Island,” organizers wrote.
Authorization of the event requires the organizers to pay and event fee, obtain insurance and install a screen to visually separate the event area from other areas of the park.
Organizers are also asking attendees who are serious about going to write an email to both Honeymoon Island State Recreation Area manager Peter Krulder and Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein.
Parking for the event is at the north beach lot. Organizers say you can find them by locating “our navy blue cabana and our TAN banner.” Or you could just look for the topless people.
