# Why is sex in public illegal? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 27, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sex-in-public-illegal/184870 "2003-06-27T22:35:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sex-in-public-illegal/184870/1 "2003-06-27T22:35:52Z")
(I’m hoping for opinions here, so I figgered IMHO. If a mod disagrees, please feel free to move at will.) As most people know, sex in public places is illegal. I was wondering why that is. If it’s between two consenting adults who aren’t endangering anyone else or any fragile restaurant tables, why should it be against the law to do it in public? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sex-in-public-illegal/184870/2 "2003-06-27T23:04:55Z")
Frightens the horses. ---
**Author:** ![Panzerfaust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Panzerfaust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panzerfaust)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sex-in-public-illegal/184870/3 "2003-06-27T23:09:18Z")
It’s my opinion on the subject (imagine that! An opinion in the opinion forum!) that a society is maintained by its taboos more than anything else. Sex being a major component of human behaviour, it would naturally follow that sexual taboos would be the most prominent. Once you get taboos in there, you get repression, and the first effect of repression is avoidance of being exposed to the stimulus. So, public sex becomes taboo, in that vicious circle, and taboo things typically become illegal. ---
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sex-in-public-illegal/184870/4 "2003-06-27T23:09:59Z")
Well, if a couple decides to have sex in public then they are involving everyone who can hear, see and smell them. Unless they get consent from all of those people, then it would be a violation of their rights and thus would be immoral and therefore made illegal. and I would have to agree it does frighten the horses. The dogs get a kick out of it tho… cats dont care. ---
**Author:** ![Bandanaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ab097/32.png) [@Bandanaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bandanaman)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sex-in-public-illegal/184870/5 "2003-06-27T23:14:21Z")
My guess would be that indecent exposure laws would prevent outdoor romps. And for that, I give my thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sex-in-public-illegal/184870/6 "2003-06-27T23:44:22Z")
Sanitation issues. Same reason it’s illegal to go around spitting on the ground in a lot of locales. ---
**Author:** ![lovelee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@lovelee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lovelee)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sex-in-public-illegal/184870/7 "2003-06-27T23:48:17Z")
Because people don’t like to feel jealous. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sex-in-public-illegal/184870/8 "2003-06-28T00:10:47Z")
**X-Slayer** I don’t buy it, you don’t need consent from others to wear strong perfume, or outrageous clothes. The only time something becomes illegal in public is when it is deemed to cause unreasonable discomfort to others (like playing music very loud). I think **Neurotik** has the most logical answer, sanitation issues would be important, the same way urinating outside deignated areas would be illegal. Though I susspect the reason for the law’s existance is more due to prudishness than logic. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sex-in-public-illegal/184870/9 "2003-06-28T00:23:25Z")
Sex is a much more intimate act that wearing strong perfume or outrageous clothing. This alone practically guarantees that it will cause “unreasonable discomfort to others” in a way that perfume and accoutrements can not. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sex-in-public-illegal/184870/10 "2003-06-28T00:23:48Z")
Same reason we can’t take a dump in public, even if we clean up after ourselves-it’s something private, and it’s something most of us don’t care to see. ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sex-in-public-illegal/184870/11 "2003-06-28T00:24:18Z")
Perhaps because there might be small children around who don’t understand the concept yet? I dunno, but it’s not something I’d want to see at my local grocery store. Yes, prudishness, as **Bippy** stated, probably has much to do with it – however, I have to wonder if even Amsterdam (sp?) has laws against public sexual adventures. This is a lead-in for the “when did you have sex in public?” thread. I just know it. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sex-in-public-illegal/184870/12 "2003-06-28T00:35:14Z")
Prudishness, plain and simple. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sex-in-public-illegal/184870/13 "2003-06-28T00:37:01Z")
Yeah, because I don’t care to expose myself to the world, nor do i wish to see someone ELSE doing it, I’m a prude. Yeah…that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sex-in-public-illegal/184870/14 "2003-06-28T00:52:16Z")
Uh…We need the space for parking? ---
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sex-in-public-illegal/184870/15 "2003-06-28T01:03:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bippy the Beardless \* > \*\ ***X-Slayer** I don’t buy it, you don’t need consent from others to wear strong perfume, or outrageous clothes. The only time something becomes illegal in public is when it is deemed to cause unreasonable discomfort to others (like playing music very loud). \*\* Hey, some people SHOULD be arrested for some of the clothes they wear! However, you nailed your own point here. “_The only time something becomes illegal in public is when it is deemed to cause unreasonable discomfort to others…_” I would think that certain people would find open public sex as unreasonable and extremely discomforting. Prudes certainly would but so would parents of young children, jealous wives or husbands, certain religious people, people trying to abstain from sex, people who recently broke up from a relationship, people who hate sex, people who love sex but cant have any for the moment, people trying to eat, people who may want to join, homosexual people disgusted by straight sex… there are so many varied people that might have serious and reasonable objections to being forced to experience other peoples nookie that it is made illegal to do in public. However if you get implied consent (by selling tickets for example) then its not illegal. Its called a show. That touches on other legal grounds but that would be a hijack. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sex-in-public-illegal/184870/16 "2003-06-28T01:45:14Z")
I don’t know why it is illegal, but it makes it more fun. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sex-in-public-illegal/184870/17 "2003-06-28T02:26:19Z")
> [@](#): > > **X~Slayer(ALE):** However if you get implied consent (by selling tickets for example) then its not illegal. Its called a show. That touches on other legal grounds but that would be a hijack. :twitch: :twitch: Hijack or no, here’s a reflexive link from today’s _Globe & Mail_: [Live sex show goes off without hitch](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030627.wsexshow0627/BNStory/Entertainment/) > [@](#): > > There were no uniformed police officers visible in the audience and no arrests occurred immediately after the show finished, despite promises from the Vancouver police department to investigate if the highly promoted oral sex act by two actors went ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sex-in-public-illegal/184870/18 "2003-06-28T02:47:21Z")
Yeah, **Larry** , that’s the show I saw on the news that got me thinking about this. So let’s say sex anywhere isn’t a great idea, but how about in public places where there aren’t likely to be people who don’t know what they’re getting themselves in for (say, for example, they bought tickets to a live sex show). ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sex-in-public-illegal/184870/19 "2003-06-28T02:50:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mockingbird \* > \*\*Prudishness, plain and simple. \*\* Right. It’s prudishness to not want to have people squirting possibly nasty, disease-ridden bodily fluids in public places (and if you aren’t squirting bodily fluids, you aren’t doing it right). ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sex-in-public-illegal/184870/20 "2003-06-28T03:24:45Z")
Well, personally my vote goes to “Not wanting to explain to a 2 year old what those two people are doing.” coupled with “Please keep your bodily fluids to yourself.” topped off with a big helping of “I don’t even want to see most folks in swimwear, let alone shluping each other, thankyouverymuch.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sex-in-public-illegal/184870.md?page=2)