Running for Cover

patrons scatter in the light

The Adult Business of Paranoia and panic-brokers

When was the last time you met a fire marshal at your playspace club? Was it during a "RAID", with members scurrying to abandon scenes and feign innocence of the spanking sounds that preceded his arrival? Were your feelings of impending doom popping to the forefront, or was it a comfortable, "Hi, how are you?" moment?

 For many adult playspace clubs, (both Swingers clubs and BDSM clubs) the visit by any local authority is stressful and disruptive, if not the managers worst nightmare. This doesn't have to be the case!

 One of the local adult playspaces in TN gets it right. They don't run from officials, they welcome them in. The membership invitation is public and honest, and I can tell you personally, that invitation is accepted in good faith by many. Their website states the welcome to

potential members within the law enforcement community:

 "We are huge fans of any men out there risking themselves for us !! If you are a policeman, fireman, or EMT we at the club thank you and appreciate all you do for us. For this reason we will happily pay the membership fee for all people showing valid ID's identifying you as a current employee in any of these fields until the end of the year. You will still need to fill out the membership paperwork and become a Member ... but the FEE will be covered by us. Just our way of saying THANK YOU !!"

 The owner of this private swingers club has never shied away from public scrutiny. It's well known this is a swingers club, with a small dungeon to boot. The proprietor is well known in the business community, both adult and non, and politicians and newsmen alike are familiar with his name and his business.

The panic-brokers will continue to tell us BDSM is illegal and we must hide what we do or face arrest.   They're Wrong. Dead wrong, stupid wrong. Don't believe them.

 As a business in Nashville, the members-only club is subject to the same codes inspections as any other establishment. Members expect a safe assembly area that is up to fire codes. Those enforcing those standards are not our enemies, they are our allies. A club that is maintained safely, with no illegal activities ensures us we have a play to gather next week. Sounds like a great deal to me. I appreciate a proprietor that enables me to get my best return for being a member. As for fire marshals, let 'em in!

 Cops? Sure! A working peace officer on his off time, seeing what we do in the wider context is an informed officer. They're not showing up mid-scene, not knowing that lady standing at the St. Andrews cross is there by choice, getting what is to us, essentially a hard back-scratch. A cop who is a regular attender knows what is consentual, even though it might not be easy to delineate on paper. Human experience is the only context for interpreting some things. As a member, he's gained the context needed to evaluate activites that might be questioned by those kept at bay.

 The paranoia brokers would tell you, "Our activities are illegal! You're at risk any time local authorities can hunt you down! Learn the laws (and deceptions) you need to protect yourself!"

 There is a whole industry popping up, supposedly to "educate us" about how our illicit ways can land us in jail or worse. They have the answers, and for a small fee, will come share their insights with your group or club. Because common sense can't rule, if they can be paid to convince you otherwise.

  They imply your club should have a civil defense lawyer on retainer!(Hire me!) Private detectives should background check prospective members, lest dangerous local authorities infiltrate the membership! (Hire me!) Your building should be checked for spy-devices and the facility secured! (Hire me!)

Bull-pucky.

What we do is NOT illegal.

Authorities look for illegal things when they come peeking.

Fire code compliance. (Good! We want safe buildings)
Exchange of money for sex. (Good! We don't want that either, we're not in a prostitution ring.)
Drug use. (Good! WE don't want to play with anyone stoned. Keep the drugs out of my club, thank you.
 
 Drinking? (not all BDSM clubs, but many mixed kink clubs allow it.) Yes, some adults drink legally in many adult places. Even in our own homes. If you get drunk and act the fool at Wal-Mart, or at your neighbors backyard BBQ, there may be cops coming for you. The same rules hold everywhere: disorderly conduct is tended to in public or residences. If you do it at a private membership club, you'll also face loosing membership, and a lot of friends. And yes, quite possibly, cops. Duh.

 But BDSM play activities? In a full-membership setting, what we do is no more illegal than dirty dancing. Or anal sex at home. Both of those are prosecutable under some circumstances, but I haven't heard of many anal-sex prosecutions lately, have you?

 The Tennessee Incident Based Reporting System (TIBRS) defines four forcible sex offenses and two non-forcible sex offenses. The forcible sex offenses include Forcible Rape, Forcible Sodomy, Sexual Assault with an Object and Forcible Fondling. Forcible Sex Offenses are defined as "Any sexual act directed against another person, forcibly and/or against that person's will; or not forcibly or against the person's will where the victim is incapable of giving consent." The non-forcible offenses include Incest and Statutory Rape. Non-forcible sex offenses are defined as "Unlawful, non-forcible sexual intercourse."

 There are those paranoia brokers that will say that the law states nobody can give consent to another to commit a crime. (of battery, referring to resultant bruising from spanking for instance)

 Not so! The recent confirmation of mixed martial arts as legal in TN equals a form of consent to commit battery within the confines of the game. That is only one example of consentual impact upheld as legal, within certain parameters. Don't let the paranoia brokers establish as fact that we're guilty of crimes we need to hide. They are just plain wrong. Or worse, greedy. They have financial reasons for promoting the need for a shield which only they can provide.

 The best way to combat them is to provide a safe, open, educated environment for assembly. Be in the phone book. Have a business phone line. Take a Taxi ride. Taxi drivers know where everything is, and people know to ask them. Get on the radar in places the curious look. Observe ALL local laws and regulations. Your membership deserves it. The community, both Adult and municipal, demands it. We all should.

 Things for business to ponder:

Is your club up to snuff for safety inspections by codes and fire marshals? If not, why not?

If I, a practicing member of the community, have to ask what do you have to hide, no wonder the "outsiders" don't trust us. I won't attend a cockroach club. My money goes to the club with nothing to hide, and nothing to hide from.