People travel for different reasons. Some travel for work. Others for vacations. Sometimes it’s travel for a wedding, funeral, or another important event. There are solo travelers, families of travelers, as well as couples who want to see the world. And, if given the opportunity, some of these adult travelers would love to participate in a VERY adult activity…in public.
For better or for worse, people from the U.S., on the whole, tend to be more puritanical than those in some other parts of the world, to the point where some unenlightened Americans still think that breastfeeding in public shouldn’t be allowed. So, of course, nudity is still a controversial topic. With that, there are some select places around the country where public nudity is indeed allowed. However for the most part, not only is being naked in public illegal in most parts of the U.S., but you’d have less open-minded people metaphorically “clutching the pearls” at such a sight.
With nudity being illegal in most public places in this country, it should be obvious that there’s no place in the United States where you can legally have sex in public. From CriminalDefenseLawyer.com:
Sex in public can lead to charges for public lewdness, indecent exposure, or even disorderly conduct. In most states, the laws that criminalize public sex make it a misdemeanor crime. Some state laws explicitly criminalize public sexual activity. Other laws are broader and cover a variety of indecent or lewd conduct.
That being said, despite most of the rest of the world being significantly more open about public nudity, the topic of public sex is still iffy at best. In fact, there are only six places in the world that allow it:
Canada
Outdoor sex is technically legal in Canada. However it needs to be done in a place where no one else can see you.
Toronto criminal defense lawyer Stephen Hebscher told Huffington Post in 2017 that, “If it’s done in the presence of one or more other persons, or there’s a reasonable likelihood that it’s going to be seen by one or more other persons,” then you’ll be in trouble with the law. Well, if you’re caught.
England
According to an article in the New York Times from 2010, having sex in public is treated as a crime only if someone witnesses it, is offended and is willing to make a formal complaint.
However 2010 is a long time ago, so I did some research and yep, it’s still a thing.
- Bristol Post, 2021: A spokesperson from Avon and Somerset police said: “Having sex outdoors is not specifically illegal. “However, anyone having sex in public could be arrested for exposure under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and for the common law offence of outraging public decency.”
- The Sun, 2024: Article: Is Public Sex Illegal in the UK?
Germany
Germany has a long history of being comfortable with nudity, and the country’s laws allow mixed-sex public nudity in designated areas such as beaches and parks.
It’s also legal to have sex in public, as long as nobody complains (much like Canada and England). However, there is one caveat – you have to be covered (a blanket or towel is fine) while you’re in the middle of the act. Being exposed during sex in public can earn you a fine.
Guadalajara, Mexico
In the summer of 2018, a new law was passed in Guadalajara – public sex was no longer a criminal act. The law wasn’t passed because of open-mindedness as much as police extorting couples who were caught in the act.
The new legislation was meant to protect “vulnerable groups,” such as young couples who, in the presence of parents being at home, would go to parks and vehicles for intimate relations. And this way police could pay attention to more serious crimes.
Hey, whatever works… 😉
Ørstedsparken, Denmark
Public sex in Denmark is legal in just one designated place – Ørstedsparken, which is a public park in central Copenhagen.
The rules for sex in the park are on display:
“Sex in the park is allowed but show some consideration. Many children institutions use the park.
Therefore, please avoid:
- Sex in the playground and visible places between 9 am and 4 pm.
- Loud sex in hiding between 9 am and 4 pm.
Remember to:
- Remove semen from the benches after the act.
- Leave condoms and used napkins in the bin.
The city hall of Copenhagen calls for safe sex.
Enjoy!”
Vondelpark, the Netherlands
“Attracting 10 million visitors per year, the Vondelpark is Amsterdam’s largest – and most famous – municipal park. The lush 47-hectare (120 acre) site includes a famous open-air theatre, numerous children’s playgrounds and several cafés and restaurants, making it a thriving hub of activity in any season.” (Holland.com)
Not only is it the largest city park in Amsterdam, but Vondelpark also holds the status of being the only place in the Netherlands where public sex is legal.
As of September 2008, adults were legally allowed to have sex in the park. The 3 caveats of participation are:
- Sexual activities are to be limited to the evening hours and night
- People take their garbage with them when they’re done
- Never have intercourse near the playground
I’d say that’s all pretty reasonable. It sure made dog owners really mad, though.
See, the park had originally been owned by the foundation that developed it. When ownership of the park was transferred to the Municipality of Amsterdam in 1953, one of the stipulations was that dogs must be able to run loose in the park at all times.
But then the public sex rule came down in 2008 and the city tried to get more control on the loose dogs:
Dog owners in Amsterdam are angry after the city legalized public sex in one of the city’s most famous parks.
Councilors agreed that heterosexual and gay couples could have sex in the Vondelpark which has ten million visitors a year.
But they promised to clamp down on dog owners who let their pets walk in the park without a lead.
One dog owner protested: “As long as the park has existed, we’ve been allowed to let our dogs run freely. It’s outrageous that we will be punished from now on but public sex won’t.”
A spokesman for the council which runs the southern part of Amsterdam said: “When the dogs are not kept on a leash they pee on whatever they see and they cause a lot of nuisance for other visitors.”
Alderman Paul Van Grieken defended the decision to allow public sex in the park from September.
“Why should we impose a rule on something you can’t impose a rule on. Moreover it isn’t a nuisance for the other visitors and gives a lot of pleasure to a certain group of people,” he said.
“There still are rules,” he added. “They must take their garbage with them afterwards and never have intercourse near the playground. The sex must be limited to the evening hours and night.”
A compromise was eventually made.
So anyway, if you were ever interested in knowing where you could go and do some bow-chicky-bow-bow in public and not get arrested, there ya go. As they say in Ørstedsparken, enjoy!
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