When private sex goes public

OUR OPINION
Published: June 22, 2008

The government has no right to dictate what two consenting adults do together in the privacy of their bedroom. Let us reiterate — in the privacy of their bedroom!

But when two consenting adults decide they want to bring their sexual behavior out in the open where the public can see, then we support efforts to stop them.

We commend the Prince William County Police Department for its attempts to stop sex solicitation in public parks. Sting operations at Locust Shade Park in Triangle have captured a number of people
looking to have a good time in its parking lots and restrooms. Evidently, Locust Shade, and other parks, are seen as places where people can solicit sex. That perception has got to go. People must
know that behavior will not be tolerated. 

Let’s be clear. We have absolutely no problem with the sexual predilictions of consenting adults. But we want to know that our public parks are safe places where we can go. It seems absurd that we
would have to say this, but we don’t want to see anybody having sex when we go to walk the dog at the park.

When two consenting adults decide to have sex in a public setting, it is not a victimless crime. The victim is whoever feels less comfortable using the public facility because of what goes on there. The
victim is whoever accidentally bears witness to the illicit activity.

It is the fault of those who decide they must use public parks to have sex that there is stigma attached to their behavior. The stigma comes from their actions, not from the police who are just trying to
make sure that everybody can enjoy the parks in the way they were meant to be enjoyed.

So, to those who think the parks are there for their own sexual amusement, we have a message: Do what you want in the privacy of your home, but keep it out of the parks.