JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. -- The photos are in. Over two-dozen supporters of a petition to create a nude beach at Jacksonville Beach, posed in their birthday suits to promote their efforts.
Mike Fay, 65, is a retired musician who says he's been everywhere but Australia and Russia. He's not a nudist, or a naturist, just what some call a realist.
"I've traveled all over the world and to me one mile is nothing," said Fay.
He's one of over two-thousand who have signed a petition to designate one mile of Jacksonville Beach as a nude beach. And to prove his dedication, he took it all off for a promotional photo shoot.
"For the first couple of seconds you're stunned because I was expecting to go to the changing room, all the modest people with towels, and nooo, they were like 'drop you pants, put your shirt on that, throw your wallet and your shoes and jump in the pool and that was it," said Fay. "For the first four seconds, I was like 'ahhh' and then I shut my mouth and realized nobody cared."
Fay says the shoot was an example of what he's seen in nude beaches all over the world. Adults having a great time, with no alcohol, and in their very natural surroundings.
Related: "The Nudement" is gaining momentum
"So we pull out the guitar and yeah we're sitting butt naked playing guitar, singing rock and roll, nobody cared," added Fay.
Supporters held signs saying 'everybody is beautiful', 'we were all born naked', and 'nude is not lewd.' Fay says he understands why the idea is outrageous to some.
"This is the bible belt, so you have to be a little, you have to pedal, tread very softly."
But he also says this is the chance for Jacksonville Beach to add more diversity to Northeast Florida.
"Stop trailing behind everybody, first they want to see how it will run somewhere else and then they pick up the baton," added Fay.
Angela Anderson, the creator of the petition, says right now they are breaking down the numbers of people who signed the petition to figure out how many are from Jacksonville Beach and surrounding cities. They are asking people to write letters to the mayor and their city council members.
