Sexclamations: As Weather Warms, Temptation Strikes: Sex Outdoors Can be Alluring, and Illegal

By ERIN HILL

Mungo Jerry once sang, “In the summertime when the weather is hot/You can stretch right up and touch the sky/When the weather’s fine/You got women, you got women on your mind.”

Perhaps there is a bit of truth to those lyrics. Perhaps you have men on your mind, too. Either way, when the weather heats up, it is hard not to let your mind work its way into the gutter upon observing the fine bare chests of guys playing soccer or ladies tanning in their bikinis. It’s only natural to have such carnal thoughts and desires.
In addition to the sexual urge, most physical issues are in your favor. Clothing is easily removable. That empty grass field suddenly looks like a warm, fluffy bed made for lovemaking. That abandoned spot in the woods may seem like an erotic, raunchy place to do the dirty deed. You may begin to think about getting it on “au natural” amongst all of the other woodland creatures experiencing their mating season.

Sure, these are quite primal thoughts. Some would argue that they’re downright wrong. In fact, those opposing such indulgence in public acts of sexual pleasure have the law on their side. Even when two consenting individuals have sex in public, they can be charged for a victimless sex offense.

Sex in public often falls under the crime of “indecent exposure,” with punishments that range from fines and community service to incarceration and, at worst, felony charges. In general, charges for indecent exposure tend to be less severe compared to other sex offenses, such as sexual assault of children, voyeurism, prostitution, solicitation, rape, and other lewd acts. Nevertheless, public indecency is against Virginia law.

That said, charges on public indecency, especially relating to couples that have sex in public, are not frequent. Apparently, couples have been skilled and secretive at mating in public, law officials are not at the right place at the right time and few people actually get charged.

If you and your partner are willing to risk being caught and are willing to accept any punishment that goes with it, attempting to have sex in public can be exhilarating. The release of sexual urges in nature can feel natural and primal.

Because the risk of being caught increases around large populations, I recommend trying it in forests or other isolated nature areas first. But for some people, the pending threat of being caught is arousing.

If you find the chance of being caught thrilling and want to have sex in populated, public areas, make sure your partner is completely comfortable with the concept, too. The last thing any person wants is a serious charge on his or her record for something he or she didn’t want to do in the first place.

Otherwise, go forth and be adventurous. Take a walk on the wild side—but be careful. It’s risky business.