The “free love” generation explored new sexual territory and defied taboos, and before long, swinger parties and “key” parties (where a group of friends swap car keys to decide how they will swap partners for the night) became relatively commonplace throughout the United States. By the 1980s, the emergence of HIV forced freewheeling sexual practices back to the fringes, but in recent years, in the urban African American community — swinging is once again becoming popular.
“Denise” is a 32-year-old African American professional and she and her previous boyfriend were attracted to the swinger lifestyle.
“It can be exciting — but you have to have an understanding if you’re going to travel down that road,” she says. “Like anything — for some people it can be addictive, so you have to know what your boundaries are and know how far you and your partner are willing to go.”
Alan Mostow, the owner-operator of the Trapeze Club in Atlanta, strives to not treat the enterprise in a clandestine manner, but as a social place where people from all walks of life come to share in a unique experience.
“We cater to a very upscale clientele; but we run the whole gamut — from 21 to 71, from [lower] middle-class to multimillionaire celebrities,” he says. “Race, religion, doesn’t matter here. Leave your prejudices at the door. We’re like Switzerland, so to speak.”
Mostow, a native New Yorker who moved to Georgia from Florida, had some reservations about whether or not a club such as his would be met with opposition.
“When I first came here, they said Georgia is very open-minded — but on the other hand you’re in the Bible Belt and I thought I’d have every religious person boycotting and everything else,” says Mostow.
But Mostow’s kept things subtle and understands people’s concerns. “I wouldn’t want [a shady business] in my neighborhood, either. If it’s not flashy or gawky, I can live with it.”
But the lifestyle isn’t for everyone. “I tried to go [to a swingers club] once,” says “Lisa” a 26-year-old accountant from the Atlanta area. “It was a very strange experience for me … certain things are better as fantasy than as a reality!”
But Mostow works to cultivate a friendly atmosphere for those that want to be there. “People here, in general, are very friendly. Some people stick to [cliques]; but most people are very open. There are no pretenses,” he says. –todd williams
