A Message from the President

Welcome and thank you for visiting Gay Naturists International.

Many come to know GNI through The Gathering. It's our signature event and for 39 years it has introduced thousands of men to the freedom, community, and self-acceptance that social nudism offers. I love our event and I just attended my 14^th year where we welcomed 480+ men, including 100 first-time attendees.

As I step into this office, I want to talk about something bigger: what GNI is, beyond any single week on the calendar.

Our mission is simple, but it's ambitious:

Gay Naturists International's mission is to serve as a resource to male naturists by hosting and sponsoring men's naturist events and providing information and resources to individuals and local clubs. In addition, GNI is a voice for gay naturists in wider naturist efforts to educate society about naturism and to advance the interests of naturists worldwide.

Read that closely, and you'll notice it's really four commitments, not one:

1. Hosting and sponsoring events - this is where we've always been strong, and where you likely met us.
2. Providing information and resources to individuals - for the guy who's curious about naturism but doesn't know where to start, or the longtime member looking for guidance, wherever they are in the world.
3. Supporting local clubs - helping the smaller, regional communities that do the day-to-day work of keeping gay naturism alive between our larger gatherings.
4. Being a voice for gay naturists in the wider naturist world - making sure our community is seen, heard, and represented as naturism advances as a whole.

Like many volunteer-run organizations, GNI has felt the effects of the broader economic, social, and political climate over the past several years. We're glad to say that's beginning to turn around. We recently welcomed someone into the dedicated clubs coordinator role, and it's already making a difference. But other key areas, like building out resources for individuals new to naturism, are still waiting for the hands to fill them. That's the honest state of things.

But I see real opportunity here, not a shortfall. These are exactly the areas where a renewed push can make the biggest difference for our members, and I'm committed to finding the people and the momentum to make it happen. Part of that momentum must come from welcoming a new generation into GNI. Our membership has skewed older for years, and a community's long-term health depends on renewal. So, bringing in more members under 40 is a priority I'm putting front and center, not a side project.

Over the next year, you'll see us focus on:

• Resources for individuals - clearer, more accessible information for anyone curious about naturism, wherever they are in that journey and wherever they are in the world.
• A dedicated clubs coordinator - now in place and already strengthening our connection to local clubs, with a focus on keeping the club directory accurate, current, and making sure clubs are properly linked back to GNI online.
• A growing voice in the broader naturist movement - making sure gay naturists have a seat at the table as naturism advocates for itself worldwide.
• Outreach to a younger generation - actively welcoming more members under 40, so GNI's community and its future keeps growing.

None of this means our events become less important. If anything, they'll be stronger for being part of something larger: a GNI that shows up for its members every day of the year, not just at our gatherings.

I'm genuinely excited about this chapter. Thank you for being part of this community, and for giving me the chance to help lead it forward.

Naturally Naked,

Brian Becnel
President, Gay Naturists International
September 2026