Sex club

For the episode of Criminal Intent, see Sex Club (Law & Order: Criminal Intent).

Sex clubs are either groups that organize sex related activities or an establishment where patrons can engage in sex acts with other patrons. A sex club differs from a brothel in that, while sex club patrons typically pay a fee to enter the club, they have sex with other patrons rather than with sex workers employed by the establishment.

Sexual activities which a sex club organises can take place on-premises or off-premises, at a nearby location. Larger establishments may also include the facilities of an ordinary nightclub such as a bar and a dance floor. Each sex club sets the rules for activities which take place at club organised events. Some sex clubs organise events which cater to heterosexual couples or individuals, others to gay men or (rarely) lesbians, and others have no orientation policy. Some permit non-conventional activities, such as gang bangs, BDSM or fetish.

Typical sex clubs also differ from gay bathhouses in that they have few to no private rooms, encouraging sexual activity to take place in the open. In an effort to curb the spread of sexually transmitted infections, some jurisdictions have banned bathhouses, with their private rooms, while allowing sex clubs, where sexual activity can be monitored to ensure that safe sex guidelines are being followed.

Most sex clubs in the U.S. and Canada do not serve alcohol, but some allow customers to bring their own. Some sex clubs have formal membership and requirements that can include membership fees, showing proof of identity, attending a formal orientation, providing STD test results or showing that one is part of a stable, long-term relationship and is attending with that partner. Clubs with such requirements tend to cater to the swinging subculture. Other clubs are open to any person willing to pay an admission fee.

Genres

A similar type of club is a masturbation club in which members, either single-gender or mixed, masturbate together in public or private rooms. Sexual intercourse is generally prohibited in such clubs.

There is also a very large and growing group of private sex clubs across the U.S. and around the world that do not operate in a specified location. These organizations focus on private parties in homes or rented facilities and make use of the Internet to build their membership. There is usually a small door fee and most are invitation-only. In addition to sexual orientation, these smaller groups often stratify on specific criteria, e.g., heavy men with beards or those who are HIV-positive. The first sex club of this type exclusively for African American gay men was Black Jack, started in 1986 by Alan Bell.^[1]

One organization of such clubs is NASCA International, which lists affiliated and independent sex clubs, swing dances and events in the District of Columbia and 43 states, plus 38 clubs in Canada, and in 25 other nations.^[2]

Organizations

Some swinging couples engage in sexual activities at sex clubs, some of which cater for the swinging lifestyle. Most major cities in North America and western Europe have sex clubs, many in a permanent location, but they often keep a low profile. Over 3,000 swinging clubs are believed to exist worldwide, with slightly over 1,000 having an online presence,^[3] but there are believed to be many other small neighborhood clubs, which are known among members of the lifestyle community, without a website. The rules of these clubs vary considerably, and admissions are not necessarily limited to married couples.

Swingerclub Cäsars Palace, Spröckhövel near Wuppertal, Germany

In the US, many off-premises swinging clubs follow a bar or nightclub format, sometimes renting an entire existing bar for scheduled swinging events. Consequently, on weekends in suburbia, bars in large industrial parks that attract a mainstream clientele during weekdays and would otherwise sit empty or closed on weekends (when business offices are closed) are likely locations for a takeover. Memberships must be obtained and rules followed at these off-premise locations.^[4]

On-premises clubs usually have a similar format to off-premises clubs. Most on-premises clubs do not serve alcohol because of legal prohibitions on the sale of alcohol where sexual activity takes place.^[5] However, some permit guests to bring their own alcohol. Also, the vast majority of swinging clubs in the US do not advertise as such. The largest swinger society in North America is NASCA International. NASCA is an association of clubs, websites, publications, travel agencies, and events catering to the swinging lifestyle community. NASCA was established as an umbrella organization with the intent of encouraging the dissemination of accurate information about swinging lifestyles across North America. It publishes a guide listing clubs and events in 43 of the 50 US states and the District of Columbia, Canada, as well as 25 other nations.

Subgroups

Bisexuality and same-sex activity

Attitudes to same-sex activity and bisexuality vary by culture and locale, and by gender.

As a rule, female bisexuality and bicuriosity are common in both the "selective" (see below) and traditional swinging scenes and tend to be the norm amongst participants;^[6] by contrast, male same-sex activity has a wider variation in its handling, and may be welcomed, accepted, frowned upon, or forbidden.^[7][8] One source, covering "Chicago's first and only all bisexual [club]" stated that in the founders' view "The lifestyle is pretty homophobic" and "male bisexuality was erased", although an "underground market" existed.^[8] Swing clubs and other facilities exist for gay and bisexual interests for both genders, but differ – for example bathhouses and the like for gay males, sometimes described as being "controversial" even in the gay community due to safer sex concerns, whereas women's clubs are "comparatively rare" and tend to be organized as private events, or niche clubs with high popularity for their events.^[9][10]

Selective swinging

Traditionally swingers' clubs do not discriminate in regards to physical appearance or age, the average age of a swinger is 39, while the ages when people first enter the swinging lifestyle average 31 for women and 34 for men.^[11]

Younger swingers seeking peer group options find this is not always possible at conventional swingers' clubs. Similarly, those seeking to exclude the physically unappealing from their sexual ambit are often frustrated at conventional swingers' clubs because guests are not screened. Beginning in 1998 with Fever Parties [2] in London, this gave rise to exclusive parties and clubs that selected by looks and/or imposed an upper age limit. Within the USA the phenomenon translated first to Los Angeles, then Miami and eventually to New York City.

'Selective swinging' events include mostly childless, unmarried young graduates whose average ages are as low as the late 20s, whereas traditional swingers events have average ages in the 40s. Selective parties are sometimes referred to as "exclusive" or "elitist" amongst older swingers.

The acceptance of singles varies by area and event. Some clubs, parties, and private events allow only couples and single females, but some allow single men on selected nights. Single females are often admitted at reduced price. Because of the high proportion of female same sex activity (and interest), interested single females are called "unicorns" in the context of their existence being a fantasy, rather than a reality.

Reasons against single males vary. Most but not all of the people in swinger events are male-female couples more interested in couples or single women than single men. Thus, swinger events strive to achieve a balance between male and female participants or have a slightly larger number of females.

A complaint is that single men change the tone of an event. While hostility towards single men is rare, an abundance of single males is not often looked upon favorably. When single males are permitted, their numbers are usually limited by higher fees or strict requirements.^[12]

By region

United States

The Bijou Theater in Chicago is the longest running homosexual adult theater and sex club in the United States.^[13]

Thad's in San Diego is a sex club that requires male patrons to be nude while female patrons are permitted to wear clothing.

The Red Rooster in Las Vegas is a popular swingers club that was established in 1982.^[14]

PartyPerks847^[15] is a swingers club in suburban Chicago and is one of the largest such clubs in the Midwestern US.^[16]

Canada

A court ruling in 2005 decriminalizing private sex clubs in Canada ^[17] has allowed many to open.

Club Eros^[18] opened in the 1970s in Ontario and still is active.

Wicked Club ^[19] opened in the Queen Street West area of Toronto in 2006. It is a swingers club that has a prominent store front and is located in a rapidly changing area at the western edge of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

GoodHandys^[20] opened in 2005 in downtown Toronto catering to alternative lifestyles.

Happy Hedonist ^[21] opened in 1994 as Club Privé and historically is the most popular swingers club in Toronto.

Menage a Quatre^[22] opened in South Etobicoke, a suburb of Toronto, in 2008. It is a swingers club.

OZone^[23] opened in central Etobicoke near Toronto Airport in 2009. It is a danceclub with a swingers club in the back.

Oasis Aqualounge^[24] opened in downtown Toronto in 2010. It is located in an old mansion in downtown Toronto with a outdoor pool on the roof. Prior to 2010, it catered to gays and lesbians.

The X Club^[25] opened in Mississauga in 2006. It is a large dance club for swingers.

See also

• Exhibitionism
• Fetish club
• Gay bathhouse
• Happening bar
• Swinging

References

1. ^ Jim Merrett (1992-04-15). ""A Safe Place for Pud Pounding"". The Advocate. http://www.jacksofcolor.com/JOCADVCT.html. Retrieved 2008-02-10. 
2. ^ [1], NASCA.com list of clubs and events
3. ^ Kasidie, the Swinger's Lifestyle Magazine maintains a database of all know swinger clubs' websites from around the world
4. ^ from a Frequently Asked Questions section of an off-premise club, Playful Encounters in CA
5. ^ Kasidie Magazine's July, 2008 article on the legalities regarding swinger clubs in the USA
6. ^ "In a study on female bisexuality within the swing community in 1984 by Dr Joan Dixon, she noted that the prevalence of sexual activity between females in the swing community was high. She also found that 'the generally positive reactions of these subjects to their first sexual experience with other females after a lifetime of strict heterosexuality progressed through repeated experience to an overwhelming general rating of excellent'.", Behind closed doors: The swinging Noughties The Independent, (21 January 2007).
7. ^ "It's also worth noting that swinging is largely a phenomenon amongst male-female couples who enjoy socializing with other couples, and that as it stands female bisexual behavior is widely accepted but male bisexual behavior generally is not." A New Look at Sex, Society for Human Sexuality, (September 27, 2007) an organization based in Washington, USA
8. ^ ^{a b} White, Rachel. "Feature article: Exploring Chicago's All-Bi Swingers Club". 2010-06-14. gapers Block. http://gapersblock.com/ac/2010/06/14/exploring-chicagos-all-bi-swingers-club/. Retrieved 2010-06-24. 
9. ^ "[Bathhouses and Sex Clubs] are controversial even within the gay community, and there remain concerns about the degree to which they serve as a vector for STD transmission (at least when safer sex is not being practiced)... [Women-only] are comparatively rare, and are typically either private events or events associated with the women's BDSM community. In Seattle the few times men's bathhouses have been rented out to fund-raising organizations which sponsored women-only events of this nature the response has been incredible...", A New Look at Sex, Society for Human Sexuality, (September 27, 2007)
10. ^ "[Some clubs] meanwhile, encourage single women to attend on their own and the clubs are, in fact, aimed at women who want to experiment with their bisexuality.", Behind closed doors: The swinging Noughties The Independent, (21 January 2007).
11. ^ from a study by the Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality
12. ^ "Confessions of a Single Male Swinger" from Kasidie Magazine, May 2008 issue, successfully accessed 7/16/2008
13. ^ U.S. v. Toushin, 714 F.Supp. 1452 at 1454 (M.D.Tenn. April 21, 1989).
14. ^ Doug Elfman (2003-03-16). "RECREATIONAL SEX: Pursuit of Pleasure". Las Vegas Review-Journal. http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2003/Mar-16-Sun-2003/living/20766753.html. Retrieved 2009-12-31. 
15. ^ URL=http://www.partyperks847.com
16. ^ http://www.swingingplaces.com/swinger_clubs/swingers.php?city=Kankakee&state=Illinois
17. ^ http://www.canada.com/nationalpost./news/story.html?id=df5ac2e9-351c-4973-bbf2-756403fb1184&k=46743
18. ^ URL=http://www.cluberos.ca
19. ^ URL=http://www.wickedclub.com
20. ^ URL=http://www.goodhandys.com
21. ^ URL=http://www.happyhedonist.com
22. ^ URL=http://www.clubm4.com
23. ^ URL=http://www.ocouplesclub.com
24. ^ URL=http://www.oasisaqualounge.com
25. ^ URL=http://www.thexclub.com