It’s easy to find someone to fuck. Finding someone to get to know deeply, though, is an entirely different—and more difficult—endeavor. What if there was a way we could connect on an intimate level without sex being involved?
Thanks to Phil Miner, there is. Since 2018, He’s produced Natural Pursuits, an event series and magazine dedicated to celebrating the beauty of male nudity—without an overtly sexual overtone. Enter a Natural Pursuits event, and you’ll immediately go full Garden of Eden; stripping off all your clothes before stepping into the party. You’ll meet other guys, chat in the nude, and get to know each other.
There’s just one rule: no sex allowed.
In an interview with Miner that’s been edited and condensed for clarity, we chatted about acceptance, body image, and the importance of non-sexual nudity.
How did you get the idea to throw naked, non-sexual parties?
I learned about World Naked Gardening Day, and I thought, “How do I celebrate this holiday in an apartment in New York City?” So I created this concept that we were going to create the content for a magazine. I threw a nude photo shoot, and that’s how Natural Pursuits was born.
Because it was always framed as an art-making event, it was automatically non-sexual. People told me that they felt really accepted and validated in their bodies, as opposed to when sex comes into play, and then all of a sudden their insecurities come to the forefront. Then it grew into a body acceptance thing because I had to constantly specify, “This is not a place to get laid.”
What happens at a Natural Pursuits event?
It’s very much an afternoon house party. People get naked, mingle, have snacks and drinks. Usually there are candid photos being taken of everyone hanging out while there’s also some sort of project—anything from pumpkin carving to playing board games or video games—or portrait photography happening.
Why do you think non-sexual casual nudity is important?
We live in a culture where there’s so much shame around being naked, so we don’t get to experience the wide variety of human bodies. Instead, we see the naked bodies that are popular online, which don’t represent most people.
When you see a lot of people naked simultaneously, it helps you realize that the things you’re hung up about really aren’t that important. In the gay community, just having a fun and engaging conversation with someone is often automatically construed as sexual interest. Removing that aspect makes gays nicer.
Do people ever break the “no sex” rule?
I’d say it happens every other event. When people are clicking they sometimes lose themselves in the moment. I just gently remind them that now isn't the time for that and recommend they swap numbers or continue after the event at a different location. People are usually apologetic and understanding.
Have people ever been uncomfortable?
I’ve found the most self-conscious are the OnlyFans creators — people whose job is being hot online. They can’t control their angles. There’s no editing in post. They want final say in what images are released. They have this perception to maintain.
Has anyone ever told you it changed their perception of themself?
At least three times I’ve had someone tell me they came to the event expecting to be rejected. They were unprepared for the reality that they would be accepted and everyone would be friendly. It called into question a lot of their personal assumptions about what’s holding them back.
What’s the wildest thing that’s happened at a nude hang?
We had one on my rooftop. No one’s windows face my roof, but the apartments below have giant skylights. So someone came upstairs to let us know that their 1 year-old was fascinated by all the butts passing above their head.
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