Why does Midwest Nudists condemn discrimination based on relationship status (even if for safety)?

Midwest Nudists does not allow discrimination of any kind based on a protected class. We also do not condone discrimination based on relationship status, even if it's a matter of safety (but we do not strictly enforce it as relationship status is not a protected class). A prime example of this is venues or clubs excluding single men from membership or participation.

While we understand the safety concerns surrounding why an entity may choose to discriminate based on relationship status, we believe this is a very toxic and bandage solution to a bigger problem.

There are numerous issues with banning people from nudist activities based on their relationship status. Here are a few:

• It is discriminatory and makes a wrong general assumption that everyone in the target group cannot control themselves in nudist environments.
  • For example, banning single men perpetuates in the nudist community that all single men are perverts or predators and cannot control themselves in nudist environments. This is far from the truth. While statistically speaking, most sex crimes (in the United States) are committed by men, this still overshadows the fact that an overwhelming majority of men are not like that. Furthermore, most men who commit sex crimes are not actually single, rather they are a partner of the survivor.
• It makes a wrong assumption that (in this example) single people are far more likely to be problematic than people who are married or are in a relationship.
  • This is not true. Those in a relationship can be just as problematic in a nudist setting as those who are single. The staff of Midwest Nudists can recall several incidents of couples doing things to get themselves banned from nudist resorts and clubs.
• In the example of excluding single people, it especially discriminates against those who choose not to be in a relationship or who are asexual / aromantic.
  • Arguably, those who are asexual / aromantic will be the least likely to cause any issues in a nudist resort because they have no interest in sex to begin with.
• Considering relationship status creates a paradox where, in order to keep sex out of nudism, we are considering a factor which, in our wrongful generalizations, is associated with how one perceives sexuality.
  • To explain in more simple terms, we are assuming those who are in a relationship are monogamous and much less likely to act sexual in a nudist environment than those who are single. By banning those who are single, we are creating a paradox where we are considering sexuality (the likelihood someone will act out sexually) in order to keep sex out of nudism. Therefore, we bring sex into nudism when trying to keep sex out of nudism.
• It is a blanket solution to a larger problem: not enough education and proper leadership / guidance in nudist communities.
  • We believe that banning people based on something like relationship status from a nudist function is a blanket solution which does not address the bigger problem. Instead, nudist venues / organizations / clubs should be taking the time to educate those on what nudism is and is not. They should also be taking the time to ensure proper training among their leadership, ensuring leadership will assert at all times the core values of the venue / club and nudism, taking prompt and appropriate action against bad behavior, and promoting a safe but inclusive environment.

While not explicitly against the rules to submit / promote entities which discriminate based on relationship status, Midwest Nudists discourages you from doing so. Instead, please bring this matter up with the entity and see if they are open and willing to re-consider their approach to safety.

Do remember that entities who discriminate based on a protected class will likely be rejected from promotion on Midwest Nudists; such is a violation of our Terms of Use. "Men only" or "women only" groups may be allowed providing they are not "men only" or "women only" for prejudiced reasons against other genders.