- Nudism is as old as time itself. However, organized nudist clubs and resorts are a fairly new concept, with the oldest dating back to approximately 1980. The Naturist Society was developed to help nudists around the globe live and enjoy a natural lifestyle. The gay pride movement of the early 1980's added another layer to the nudist lifestyle as more and more gay and lesbian participants looked for places to vacation naturally. The two entities culminated with the formation of the Gay and Lesbian Naturists in 1983, which has held fully nude gay and lesbian gatherings yearly since 1985.
- Gay nudist resorts offer those in the lifestyle a place to enjoy their nudism and homosexuality openly and freely, without ridicule from society at large. The open nature of gay resorts allows travelers to relax and enjoy both the freedom of nudity and the acceptance of fellow gay and lesbian individuals. This acceptance and bonding is important for those in the lifestyle as it gives them downtime to play and enjoy themselves as they truly are, as homosexuals and nudists.
- Most gay nudist resorts are very secluded, offering visitors complete privacy from the outside world. They are typically in isolated locations that allow visitors to travel around the resorts nude and engage in common activities such as swimming and sports without fear of outside observation. These resorts normally screen travelers carefully to make sure they are not a risk to fellow vacationers and that they are truly a part of the lifestyle. A number of gay resorts are strictly men only or women only, depending on the focus of the clientele. This gender segregation helps to keep all parties involved comfortable and at ease with fellow visitors and allows the resorts to cater specifically to their chosen clients.
- A number of misconceptions revolve around gay nudist resorts. In most resorts, public displays of sex or affection are strictly prohibited and can result in termination and banning from the resort. It is often thought that nudist resorts are dirty and unhygienic due to the amount of naked participants staying in the facilities. Nudity is normally restricted from areas such as cafes and dining halls due to the chance of contamination, although by and large nudist resorts are very well maintained.
- Research is necessary in finding an acceptable gay nudist resort. Some resorts have fallen into disrepair and are not very pleasant to visit, so checking out a resort in depth before booking a stay is important. Publications such as Naked Places, A Guide for Gay Men to Nude Recreation and Travel, GNI Informer and Naturist Gay-zette keep current listings of resorts and can be an invaluable tool in planning your gay resort adventure.
