Swingers clubs don't harm society, top court rules (Canada)

CBC News ^ | 12/21/2005 | CBC news

[Buford T. Justice]

Clubs that allow group sex and partner swapping do not harm Canadian society and should not be considered criminal, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled Wednesday.

The high court, which was ruling on two Quebec cases, said Canadian standards can tolerate the activities, even when they are done amid spectators.

The judges, in a 7-2 ruling, said the test for indecency is the harm it causes, and not simply community standards.

The cases involve two swingers clubs in Montreal that allowed sex acts, including swapping.

One case involved James Kouri, owner of a club called Coeur a Corps.

He was convicted by a lower court on two counts of keeping a common bawdy house and fined $7,500.

The other case involved Jean-Paul Labaye who ran a members-only club called L'Orage.

He was convicted of keeping a bawdy house and fined $2,500.

At the Court of Appeal, however, the cases took different turns. Labaye's conviction was upheld while Kouri's conviction was overturned. Now the Supreme Court has given a favourable ruling in both cases.

[Buford T. Justice]

Dunno about this one.

[atomicpossum]

Dunno about this one.

Are you saying you could go either way? :-)

[lOKKI]

I think you mean "Could swing either way....

[Moleman]

Clubs that allow group sex and partner swapping do not harm Canadian society and should not be considered criminal, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled Wednesday.

Do they harm society? Don't know, probably.

Should swingers be considered criminals? No.

[sure_fine]

you don't have to go to these places, as an adult you should be able to make the choice

on the other hand, YOUR KIDS WILL GROW UP THINKING NOTHING IS WRONG OF IT

no telling what it will graduate into by the time they are grown

[ConservativeMind]

If adultery is no longer illegal, how could swinging be illegal? It is something both marital partners apparently want.

However, I do not believe this is good for society.

[wagglebee]

Moral absolutes ping.

I suppose it's possible that the moral decline of Canada is so far gone that these dens of hedonism may not actually harm society.

[ChrisFelice1]

Standards in society just continue to fall. Just think of what was acceptable in the 50's and compare it to today's debuchery. The 60's began the moral decay of America...this is just a continuation of it.

[sully777]

STDs don't come from sex; you get them riding a farm tractor--Seinfeld's The Burning

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

Consenting adults should not be considered criminals. Swinging is probably less offensive than hard core porn.

Does swinging harm society? Dunno. But I'd say it's something the vast majority of people aren't interested in doing, kind of like spiritual polygamy.

[giobruno]

Will Jeri Ryan be there?

[nyconse]

I don't agree. Such clubs should be banned; they do damage society.

[TonyWojo]

How society lives to regress, do you think these locations have vomitoriums?

[DonGrafico]

Might even end up turning into something like this:

"Well, I heard of this young girl. Eighteen years old. A Yassar student. For a price, she'll come over and discuss any subject - Proust, Yeats, anthropology. Exchange of ideas. You see what I'm driving at?"

"Not exactly."

"I mean my wife is great, don't get me wrong. But she won't discuss Pound with me. Or Eliot. I didn't know that when I married her. See, I need a woman who's mentally stimulating. And I'm willing to pay for it. I don't want an involvement - I want a quick intellectual experience, then I want the girl to leave. Christ, I'm a happily married man."

Woody Allen's "The Whore of Mensa"

[mcshot]

Ye olde family tree gets no respect these days.

mc

[bubman]

Yeah but light up a smoke in a swingers bar and bammmm you're branded a monster cancer spreader. When it comes to smoking in bars, they are nazis up here. But hey, if you want to u&%kfay my wife, no problemo!

Morally speaking this behaviour should not be sanctioned by society. Having the highest court rule that it's inoffensive sends the wrong message. Deviation down in full swing. (No pun intended!)

What's next pedophile camps? Daughter/mother Lesbian love swaps? Or how about S&M hardcore gay/boy weekend love fests?

A society that cannot define its moral boundaries is a society no more. It is a pathetic collection of hedonistic, narscistic fools. Tyranny is sure to follow.

Sad!

[Always Right]

Clubs that allow group sex and partner swapping do not harm Canadian society and should not be considered criminal, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled Wednesday.

However Christians calling this immoral do harm Canadian society and should be imprision for felony hate crimes acts.

[pointsal]

There is a social cost to the quality of life...

It's Canada, so health care is free.

[antiRepublicrat]

YOUR KIDS WILL GROW UP THINKING NOTHING IS WRONG OF IT

It's for the children!

[AntiGuv]

What's next ... S&M hardcore gay boy weekend love fests?

I take it you've never been to San Francisco?