> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.gtv.blue/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Naked Men Talking: Brian Becnel - URL: https://www.gtv.blue/naked-men-talking-brian-becnel/ - Published: 2026-09-24T16:05:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-25T12:35:31.000Z - Description: We talk camping, acceptance, and why we need to question what we're told about our bodies. - Author: Gareth Johnson - Tags: Naked Men Talking For our podcast, [Naked Men Talking](https://www.gtv.blue/naked-men-talking/), I caught up with Brian Becnel who has recently taken over the role of President of GNI - [Gay Naturists International](https://www.gaynaturists.org/?ref=gtv.blue). In the conversation, we talk camping, acceptance, and why we need to question what we're told about our bodies. You can listen to an [audio version of the podcast on Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/68eEHit8cxP0YMOb5LDQLF?si=37yfLfDzQD6wIA0tjNeZzg&ref=gtv.blue) or you can watch a video version below. ### Part 1 0:00 /3:52 1× ### Part 2 0:00 /4:39 1× ### Part 3 0:00 /4:15 1× ### Part 4 0:00 /4:18 1× ### Part 5 0:00 /5:01 1× ### Part 6 0:00 /3:22 1× ### Part 7 0:00 /2:53 1× **You've recently taken over as president of GNI - why was that a responsibility that you wanted to take on?** I have been really fortunate to have been on the board of directors since 2019\. As we progress into the next phase of where we are with everything, I just wanted more responsibility. I wanted to take on a few more challenges, I wanted to lead a little bit more than I have the opportunity to as a member of the board. **How did you first come into contact with GNI?** I think it was April of 2010\. I had just ended a two-year relationship and I needed to get away from I was living in Atlanta Atlanta at the time and I needed to get away. I was going to Key West. A friend of mine had given me the use of his condo in Key West, so I didn't need to find accommodation but I had looked at Island House which is clothing-optional. My bestest friend in the whole wide world, Rick, said if you like Island House you might really like Naked Camp - that's how it started. August of 2010 was my first year at camp. I was the popcorn volunteer. I made the popcorn every night for all the men in the dining hall. **Why was the clothing-element of Island House something that appealed to you? Had you already explored clothing-optional spaces?** The relationship I mentioned - the one good thing that came out of that was he introduced me to a clothing-optional campground outside of Atlanta. I had never heard of such a thing. I had never experienced such a thing. A quick backstory about me. I came out when I was 43\. I've been married to a woman for twenty-three years. We have three amazing children. I have four amazing grandkids. We went to this campground outside of Atlanta and the freedom that I felt in that moment was incredible. When I went to Key West at the end of the relationship, I was looking for clothing-optional things to do. **What was your relationship with your body like when you were growing up?** My relationship with my body growing up was really full of shame and embarrassment - a lot of that was taught. My father was very Roman Catholic and very involved in the Roman Catholic Church. I just remember so many times as a young person - especially coming into puberty - all I was taught was to be embarrassed about my body, embarrassed that I was growing hair in various places, embarrassed that my penis might get big sometimes. It took a very long time to rid myself of that shame. So, going into this clothing-optional campground was so freeing, to shed that shame and the fear. Nobody cared what my body looked like. The thing that changed the most and continues to impact me is acceptance. Acceptance of my body and then I learned to accept the other person's body. All the judgement went away. That is a huge part of what GNI does for me and for our members, teach the acceptance of our bodies. **Is that part of GNI's mission?** I believe it is. It is a thread throughout everything that we do at camp - it's very much about loving each other for who we are. From a organisation perspective, it's what we try to promote through throughout all of our work - to just love each other and love ourselves and it's going to have that impact on others around us. **What happens at GNI's Naked Camp?** We call it the Gathering. It's about ninety minutes outside of New York City in Pennsylvania in the Poconos. We take over the entire property. This year, we had four hundred and eighty-two members attend throughout the ten days. It was just an incredible vibe this year. We have the pools, we have volleyball, we have workshops of all sorts. We have a cocktail social hour every night. We have a dance club - if you've not danced naked on top of a box in front of 300 men, you have not lived! **Is it a sex-positive space?** We are a sex-positive organisation. We respect that we are sexual beings, we are sexual men. We set up the camp in such a way that the main side of camp is focused on naturism. Then, we have another section of the camp, across the lake, where anything consensual can happen. **Does GNI run any other events or activities besides the Gathering?** The Gathering is our signature event. we just completed our thirty-ninth year, so next year will be our fortieth anniversary. For the last several years, we've also been creating smaller events. We've done two events in Toronto. We've held events in Zipolite, Colombia, and Australia. We're focusing on international members because they're not coming to the US at the moment. **What are some of your priorities for GNI?** As well as engaging with our international members, one of my areas of focus is outreach to younger people. One of the things that made this year so different and so electric is that of the 100 first timers at camp, many of those were in the 30 to 45 age-range - they just brought a new energy which became beautifully contagious. I want to attract more younger people to naturism, to our group, to camaraderie, to brotherhood. **Given the journey that you've been on with your body, with your sexuality, with GNI, are there any insights or lessons learned that you wish that you'd learned earlier?** Don't listen to them. I truly wish that as I was coming into my adolescence and high school years, I wish I even knew that there was an opportunity to question those teachings and just begin the self-acceptance. When I got into college and then I got married - I brought all that shame with me into that relationship. I just wish I had started earlier to question what I was being told about my body. [Naked Men Talking: The PodcastExploring intimacy, sexuality, and masculinity.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e8/3f/e83f7e76-af4a-4e9f-a171-931e3df7b588/content/images/icon/favicon-31de584a-1b83-4262-8e94-a770d6d60211.ico)Naked Men TalkingGareth Johnson![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e8/3f/e83f7e76-af4a-4e9f-a171-931e3df7b588/content/images/thumbnail/AdobeStock_6338611761-a0a277d6-b817-4210-9d48-cb1582702880.jpg)](https://www.gtv.blue/naked-men-talking/)