It’s been twenty years since the rather malicious incident that brought Broward County’s swinging subculture to an undesired worldwide audience. If such an incident happened today, you’d probably ask, “What is wrong with two or more adults engaging in consenting sexual activities?” Well, maybe if Trapeze Club hadn’t thrown in as many resources and as much energy into the case, we’d still have been watching our backs in nightclubs. That raid by overzealous sheriff’s deputies in a bid to nab adult swingers on February 7th, 1999 led to exposing the secret lives of 24 noncriminal adults to the world in numerous newspaper articles, magazines, and national TV shows. You might have seen the story appear on 60 Minutes, 48 Hours, Hustler, and much more.
The role that Trapeze Club played in this struggle gave birth to the legal freedom enjoyed today by on-premises swingers clubs in the United States. The owners of Trapeze risked it all to stand for victims of the February 1999 raid and the Swinging Lifestyle. The club owners refused to fold. They footed the bill for the defense of their arrested members and fought on their behalf until all charges were dropped. It was a long battle but what mattered was that in the end, justice ensued.
To the owners of Trapeze, this case was more than fighting for their interest and whatever they stood to have lost. It was about fighting for the Lifestyle and fighting against injustice in the legal system that if allowed, would have entangled a part of the freedom granted to the American people till now. Their efforts almost singlehandedly led to the freedom swingers clubs have to operate everywhere today. The next time you share your wife in your favorite on-premises swingers club, remember that Trapeze fought for you to have that right.
Happy Swinging!
You can read more about the story and all that happened at that time in these news articles and videos:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2003-02-16-0302150439-story,amp.html
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.miamiherald.com/latest-news/article1929685.html
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