Alternative lifestyle organizations, aka. swinging organizations, aka. swinger clubs aka. recreation sex clubs, aka. open relationship, aka. open marriage have evolved from their birth in the sexual revolution in the late 1960's and 1970's. They are
genuinely more ethical, education and social (including nonsexual). Lifestyle
organizations to some degree are more open to single women. Historically lifestyle
organization memberships run 2 men to every 1 woman. Swinging remains largely a
couples and woman based activity.
Lifestyles organizations have 2 kinds of activities, (1) nonpermissive and (2)
permissive. Nonpermissive activities are social events where sexual intimacy is not
permitted. The most established lifestyle organizations have nonpermissive activities
such as discussion groups broken down by gender (a technique borrowed from
Polyamory support groups) and issue oriented workshops. Permissive activities are
events where sexual intimacy is permitted in an area designated by the host. Usually
at a permissive activity there will be an area where sexual activities are not allowed
for people who do not want to participate in sexual activities. During the early
evolution of swinging such issues as coercion, unwanted intimate contact, advances,
innuendos, personal attacks and emotional manipulation were common. Now in the
present evolution of lifestyle organizations with their code of ethics these issues still
exist in small numbers but there is a system for removing predators from the
community that would prey on others in these ways. Swinging is coming back from
the brink of extinction during the AIDS era in the 1980's. Obviously the Swinging
community is a little older, a little wiser and aligned with a movement that is poised
to change the family and relationship paradigm in the next century. Alternative
lifestyle organizations are allies of the Polyamory Movement. Not everyone in either
community feels comfortable with this alliance. Polyamorists are in search of
multiple, sustainable relationships and families. Swingers on other hand are in search
of nonpossive social, recreational activities where sexual intimacy is a possibility,
emotional commitment is not necessary and inappropriate in most cases because
swinging is monogamously based couples activity and a community that revolves
around events or activities. Both communities share a common language. Individuals inexperienced and youthful in the ways of both these communities will not be able to pick up on the subtle differences in the language they speak. Here is one example of this difference,
"We have been in the "lifestyle" for 12 years." (Swingers)
"We have been "together" for 12 years" (Polyamorists)
Finally you may ask yourself, why is the Society so interested in being supportive of
this monogamous community. Some of us in the Society understands that many
have searched for and found their way to Polyamory through their affiliation with
alternative lifestyle organizations and a percentage of swingers will take the next
logical step to a committed multiple partner relationship. So we the members of the
Polyamory Society support you in your journey in the pursuit of knowledge, fun,
love, commitment, family and community. Below is a list of Alternative Lifestyle
affiliated organization links. The higher an organization is listed toward the top the
closer their alignment to the Polyamory Movement. Furthermore if you know of a
Lifestyle organization that you feel should be linked to this page please e-mail us.
