Based on an article from
The Voice Swinging is increasing in popularity as an alternative lifestyle for Britain's black community. For 30-year-old Karen, it's the biggest secret thrill of her life:
You do a mundane job from nine till five, and this is something that when you look at people in the street, you think to yourself, 'you have no idea what I do with my clothes off!' It's as though you're part of an elite team, and it's so satisfying that
you don't need to tell anyone about it.
Despite our liberal society, the idea of swinging still provokes moral outrage, conjuring up images of seething orgies and wild abandonment. And as more and more black and Asian people get involved in the
swingers' scene, their parties have been enjoying a surge in popularity.
An investigation by The Voice can reveal a growing trend among black Britons to participate, organise, and manage swingers' parties. One woman of Jamaican parentage, known on the
scene as Goddess, told The Voice that black swingers make up as much as 40% of attendees at parties in London. Asians are about 10% at the parties.
Goddess explained how the scene developed: There is a connection between the launch of garage music
and black people going to swingers' parties. As more and more people started hearing about a good DJ, girls would bring other girls and they would tell their friends, and it just grew!
Since that first introduction, Goddess hasn't looked back, and
is now an established name on the scene, regularly hosting parties for between 20 and 150 people.
Richard Stanley and his black wife Janet organise parties for as many as 200 people at their home in Radlett, Manchester. Recruitment is largely through
their website: radlettparties.net.
He said: When Janet interviews new guys, she's checking out that they have a healthy attitude and don't see sex as a predatory fight and that they're sociable, and well bred.
Janet said: I try not to
have any body too young - usually people are from 25 to 60 years old. My parties are based around music and food and I introduce people to each other. Most places have four or five bedrooms, so some people may start out in the living room and chat, while
others may be in the bedroom. But we don't just eat and jump on each other! If you were at the party for the first hour, it will just look like any other dinner party until people drift off to the rooms.
For most swinging parties, couples pay a
minimal fee or no charge for membership. Similarly, there is no charge for single women, but single men, generally over represented, can pay as much as £100. However, party organisers point out that there is little if any profit to be made. There are
so many people these days throwing parties, said Goddess.
Despite the laid back attitude there remains the overriding concern about safe sex.
We do have condoms at the parties, Goddess explained: A lot of parties have condoms in the
bucketloads. My advice to everyone is to use condoms and my advice to guys who have come with their girls is to watch out for the girls to make sure than no one tries to slip in without a condom. People do look out for each other. We're very responsible.
So is swinging still a dirty secret kept hidden from friends and family? 90% of my friends know about it, and the family that I don't want to know, don't know about it, said Goddess.
And what about the long arm of the law? Police
aren't interested as long as we're not doing drugs or anything underage, said Goddess. There is nothing illegal - I don't pay girls to be there. If I was paying girls that would be running a disorderly house. It's a private party behind the closed
doors of a residential house.
Richard also boasted of a good relationship with the police, and claims some off-duty cops even attend his parties.
