Are swingers the next group ripe for discrimination?

November 16 2013 - In News

We stumbled upon an article on the Examiner.com, dated Jan 2010. In this article the editor asks himself and the audience the question whether or not swingers are the next group ripe for discrimination. Is this question still valid now, November 2013? Do you feel discriminated when you tell about your lifestyle or do you keep silent about it?

Quotes from the article:

“Two articles arrived in my inbox this morning from The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, an organization that protects the rights of people in alternative sexuality communities. This month's news roundup seemed to be all about swingers - and the ways in which the communities in which they live try to shame, oust, or even prosecute them.

First up is a swingers club in West Virginia, where the small rural town of Gallipolis Ferry is trying to shut down The Riverside Club for operating without a business license. As a private organization, the club is not breaking any rules. But because it accepts donations, the city is arguing that it is technically a business.”

What might this mean for swingers in rural communities, or even more suburban areas? It's a bit different in cities, where there is higher population density and bigger things for the law to worry about than consenting adults getting together to have sex. But much of swinging takes place in the suburbs, or even rural areas.

“Many swingers keep their adventures a secret from their children, their neighbors, and their coworkers, preferring to swing in private and keep it separate from the rest of their lives. This can cause problems for people who are living otherwise "normal" lives if people find out.”

The other issue is about a couple in Aurora, IL, who were accused by their neighbors of being swingers via an email that went to nearly 200 of the couple's friends, neighbors, and PTA parents at the school their children attend. "Their conduct is truly extreme and outrageous, and goes beyond all possible bounds of decency.” Naturally, they are trying to defend themselves after two members of their community attacked them and attempted to have them and their children shunned by their neighbors and friends. But wouldn't it be nice to hear a different story, for once?”

Our question to you: Is it still so that there will always be ways for people's lives to be destroyed because of their consensual, adult activities? Are swingers, who are less visible and tend to lead more "acceptable" lives than some other subcultures, next up for discrimination?