The sex-positive movement is a social movement with a goal to combat the negativity and social stigma surrounding sex within society. Although there are several definitions of what exactly “sex-positive” means, the basic idea of the sex-positive movement is that consensual and non-harmful sex is essentially good and beneficial to the society. The movement does not target any specific demographic or age group and also encourages sex education, and in that sense, it is quite progressive

 

The term sex-positive, and conversely sex-negative, are usually attributed to the 20th century Austrian psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich. Reich has been called the father of the sexual revolution for his then, and possibly still, radical ideas of sex. During the period of right before World War II, Reich combined politics and sex in a way that suggested political revolution can occur once sexual liberation has been achieved.

 

Although political revolution is not the eventual goal of the sex-positive movement, the followers of the movement still see the need to change the way society views sex and how it looks down upon those who stray from the “vanilla,” or normal, sex lifestyle. To them, they could care less who you do, or do not, have sex with, how you do it, or how often, as long as all people participating are knowledgeable of what is happening and give their consent.

 

The sex-positive movement is expressed in dozens of ways ranging from a practice called orgasmic meditation  to polyamorous relationships and couples who participate in “The Lifestyle,” more commonly known to “vanilla” people as “swinging couples.” Within the areas of and surrounding Los Angeles, clubs and organizations hold various events every month to exercise their preferred sexual lifestyle.  This site is dedicated to exploring these practices and  experiencing the sex-positive movement from within these groups.