Public Sex and the Law

This book examines the current legal status and regulation of public sex. Activists have been reluctant to defend public sex, let alone campaign for legal reform. This book draws upon research into the operation of the ‘public sex community’ to highlight the battle between the law enforcement and the cruising, cottaging and dogging communities.

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Public Sex and the Law: Silent Desire examines the current legal status and regulation of public sex. Legal reform of sexuality appears to have focused upon the lesbian, gay and bisexual communities. But whilst ‘gay’ sexual acts and identities have seen a raft of legal reform and international debate – most notably in North America – sexuality activists have been reluctant to defend public sex, let alone campaign for legal reform. The men and women who engage in public sex and their expression of desire remains silent not only in the somatic encounters that take place, but also within the policy making process. This book draws upon original and multi-disciplinary research into the operation of the ‘public sex community’ to highlight the unacknowledged battle being waged between the law enforcement and the cruising, cottaging and dogging communities.