Teen nudist law faces challenge

The law states that the Board of Health shall not issue a license to any camp that runs a nudist camp for juveniles when a parent, grandparent or legal guardian is not also registered for or present with the juvenile in the same camp.

Mr. Reid said he expects Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore, a Republican, will defend against a lawsuit, and said the law is “absolutely constitutional.”

“I don’t think the Constitution allows you to do anything you want to earn a living,” Mr. Reid said. “There are certain things society can say they feel is acceptable or unacceptable, and the overwhelming reaction in the General Assembly is that legislators didn’t want this camp for children taking place in Virginia. … We’ll let the courts decide.”

Delegate Richard H. Black, Loudoun County Republican, was the only co-patron of the bill. He said the law will be upheld in Virginia courts and said the camp is “bizarre.”

“There are laws against child pornography — and if you can’t put it in a picture, I don’t understand why you could put it at an outdoors camp,” he said. “I cannot imagine what type of parent would send their teenage child off to a nudist camp.”

Delegates Charles “Bill” Carrico, Independence Republican, and Terrie L. Suit, Virginia Beach Republican, were the only lawmakers to vote against the bill.

A spokesman for Mr. Carrico, who is on vacation, said the delegate didn’t feel the legislation went far enough.

“He wanted to ban juveniles from nudist camps, period,” said spokesman Stuart Higley.

Mrs. Suit voted against the governor’s amendment to the bill because she preferred the original version of the bill. Mr. Warner’s amendment required that the parent be present with the teen instead of just accompanying the teen to the camp. The amendment passed.

There are just a handful of states with nudist camps for juveniles, including Arizona and Florida.

Mr. Roche said the children are “at peace” with their nudity, and that the camp would teach them social interaction skills. At the camp, the juveniles do normal activities, including playing volleyball and swimming.