Their annual run was held last weekend at the fated Meco beach in Sesimbra, in fairly frisky conditions, but the 50 or so naturists were glad of the intemperate weather, as they told Correio da Manhã newspaper that they are tired of discrimination from people in bathing suits.
“Naturism is legalised in our country, but there are those who don’t reveal their taste for it for fear of suffering reprisals,” president of the naturism federation Rui Elias told CM.
“It is a social taboo. People are afraid of joining a club or association of this kind as then they will be exposed. It is a stigma for relatives and the circle of friends for many naturists,” he added.
And as others contended, naturists have come to be confused with people with bizarre sexual habits.
As it was, the 2nd Légua de Nudistas run was only authorised on payment of €143 to the Sesimbra ports authority.
Nonetheless organiser José Sousa told CM that this year there were more participants than last – despite the extremely cool conditions.
The timing, said naturists, was perfect as “textiles” (their name for people wearing bathing suits) were not in evidence.
“Practitioners of nudism don’t like to be on the same beach as ‘textiles’,” explained Sousa. “We feel we are being watched.”
But the choice of venue – the high-profile spot where six university students drowned in December last year – was perhaps an odd one for anyone wishing to keep a low profile.
