Genital piercing has become a "hot button" topic for some clubs across the United States today.  Should it or should it not be allowed?  And why would people want to, anyway?

 

Naturism at its core is the expression of body acceptance and indivuality.  We all are beautiful because of how we look, no matter how different we look from others.  We accept one another for what is inside, rather than the package.  Many naturists have added to their blank canvas as a way of self-expression.  It is common-place for women to have their ears pierced and to accessorize their bodies and beings with the earrings they wear at a given moment.  Mainstream America has accepted other forms of piercing to be normal, too.  It is not at all uncommon to know [or to be] someone whose navel is pierced and adorned with jewelry.  Similarly, genital piercing is an extension of that self-expression.  We believe that genital piercings are not only a sign that someone accepts and embraces their bodies fully, but also that they are proud to be the person they are.

 

Discreet genital piercing, meant as an adornment for the body, is becoming more common than it was even 5 years ago.  Gone are the days when someone who was pierced was an offbeat individual who you rarely encountered.  Tracy has had a vertical hood piercing with a small gold hoop for more than three years.  She got it for herself because she thought it would be a fun way to express her body freedom.  Few people notice it, and it is not her goal for everyone to see it.

 

It was recently brought to our attention that our home club, Berkshire Vista, prohibits genital piercings.  The reasoning, we are told is that "the line has to be drawn somewhere."  It is important to note that AANR has no by-law regarding the issue and leaves that policy entirely to the club.  The pertinent question, however, is what is this line we are drawing, and what are we trying to define?  Some believe that piercings below the waist are a sign of overt sexuality or that they call unneccessary attention to the genitals.  But does a piece of jewelry make a person a sexual predator?  Does it imply that a person is not nude for the sole purpose of enjoying the outside in their natural state, but rather they want to act out sexually?  We believe the answer to both of these questions is "No".  Those who display overt sexual behavior do so regardless of the body adornments -- piercing, tattoos, even breast enchancements.  There is no stereotype that covers all problem individuals, least of all the presence or absence of genital piercings.

 

We believe that it is entirely appropriate [for clubs] to draw a line about what behavior is acceptable.  Social etiquette is a must no matter what environment a person is in.  However, generalizations based upon someone's appearance go against the naturist ideal.

 

Our recent conversations with management and members of our club have motivated us to research the policy on genital piercings in AANR clubs across the United States.  The data below were collected by reading club policies as published online. Clubs without published policies were contacted via email with the following message:

We encourage you to check out the results below.  If you have experiences with a genital piercing at a campground or club, please share them with us.

 

**Update (June 27, 2005):  After grappling with this issue for numerous weeks and dealing with the emotional strain, Tracy has decided to remove her jewelry while at Berkshire Vista.  Our ongoing attempts to discuss the matter with the owners have resulted in an adamant refusal [on their part] to consider revising the rule.  We don't want to lose the joy of naturism in our limited New England summer.  However, the fight to preserve body freedom will continue.  As the summer progresses we will ponder the decision if Berkshire Vista is a club where we can be comfortable to express ourselves.