To risk it or not to risk it? Sex at the cinemas
By Ali the Sexpert
July 9, 2008
 Now Playing
This column was intended to include a look at the history of people who have sex in the theatre, but after doing my research, I discovered that it is very hard to find this information.
So this column will not focus on the history, but on the modern pros and cons of engaging in sexual behaviour in the theatre. Exhibitionists – this one is for you!
Sexual Behaviour in the Theatre
It is a common social myth that it is acceptable and easy to have sex at the movies; however, it is not as easy as people may think.
It depends on a number of things including the time of day, how many people are in the theatre, what sexual act you are engaging in and the space and set up of the theatre itself.
All of this needs to be taken into consideration. And despite what people might think, spontaneous sex in the theatre is not a good idea at all! Now let me explain why this is something that needs to be thought out.
If you want to have sex in the theatre, it is important to consider the time of day that you are going.
If you want to go during the daytime, make sure it is not a weekend as there are often many children watching movies at that time of day.
It also depends if it is summer or not because in the summer adolescents sometimes get into movies that appear older than they are.
It is best to go to a movie where there is less of a chance of running into children or youth so you do not corrupt them with your depravity in public.
This brings me to my next point. It is best to engage in sexual behaviour when there are fewer people in the theatre. When there are more people, it increases your chances of getting caught.
Not to mention that regardless of where you are located in the theatre, the projectionist can see you at all times, so it is not a good idea to sit where you will be more visible – such as in the middle rows or closer to the front of the theatre.
If this is reported to the manager, you will be publicly humiliated and asked to leave, arrested, or you can be banned from the theatre. Now you know why the back seats at the theatre are always so popular!
Next you need to consider what sexual act you will engage in. If it is oral sex, then it is definitely easier to give to a male in the theatre than a female, however that can be part of the challenge when you want to have sex in the theatre.
Some people think that it is easier to have intercourse or penetration while in the theatre – but this can also be really obvious to others since one person is on the bottom and the person on top is bounding up and down.
Bringing sex toys into the theatre might actually make it easier, but then there are cleanliness issues (you do not know when the chairs have last been cleaned and what if you leak fluids all over the seats?), however, it is easier than one person sitting on the other.
Not to mention how difficult it will be for you to stay quiet with all the excitement from doing that in a theatre. The adrenaline rush might give you away.
Finally, it is important to consider the space in the theatre. New theatres have larger chairs and more space to move around in.
Some of the newest theatres give you the option to lift up the cup holder so you can cuddle during the movies with your partner.
According to Wikipedia.com, the theatre was the place you could go when you were under-aged to have some privacy in the dark with your partner. Some theatres have love seats, and one even has sofas (Parkway theatre in Oakland California).
Exhibitionism
When someone wants to engage in any sexual acts in public places or show their genitals in public places, this is a form of exhibitionism.
Exhibitionism is described as “extravagant and conspicuous behaviour intended to attract attention to yourself” or the “psychological need and pattern of behaviour to exhibit naked parts of the body to another person” which is considered to be socially taboo, distasteful, and even a mental health disorder!
What makes this illegal is that the person exposes them self to an unwilling participant and this is considered to be indecent exposure, which can lead to fines or jail time.
In Canada, the law regulates those who engage in indecent exposure in order to reduce public nuisances, street congestion and disorder, and to reduce children’s exposure to nudity and behaviour that are ethically and morally questionable. Therefore, you can be charged for engaging in sexual behaviour if you get caught and someone reports you to the police.
So it is important to realize that engaging in exhibitionism does have serious consequences, and you must consider the ethics involved. However, there are ways to engage in exhibitionism safely without bending the rules.
Acceptable Exhibitionism
One way to engage in acceptable and safe exhibitionism is to make sure that you are engaging in consensual exhibitionism, because if you involve unwilling people, then they may be unhappy, disturbed or annoyed with your behaviour. So make sure it is consensual! Engaging in exhibitionism with a partner is ideal for this. It is smarter to engage in socially acceptable forms of exhibitionism such as wearing revealing clothing, asking your partner not to wear underwear while out in public, or going to nude beaches or kink clubs if you feel that you want to engage in more sexually explicit exhibitionism. It can also be satisfactory to engage in some simple public displays of affection (PDA’s) such as holding hands or kissing in public. Riskier forms of socially acceptable PDA’s include grinding or other sexual behaviour on the dance floor at clubs. Usually when you are in a location that requires an age limit and alcohol is involved, it is more acceptable because there is less of a chance of exposing yourself to people who are minors. This tends to be more acceptable legally, and is often expected behaviour when at a bar.
Conclusion
Regardless of how or where you are engaging in exhibitionism, have fun and play it safe within Canadian laws. That is the best way to test your own limits and learn what other’s limits are as well. So now that you are informed about having sex in the theatre – it is your own choice to make. Do you risk it or not? That is for you to decide!
Ali the Sexpert is a researcher and teacher in the field of sexuality. She has an Honours B.A. in Sociology (Windsor); a MA degree in Sociology (Windsor); is currently pursuing a second MA in Social Work. Campus Kiss is currently syndicated at universities across Canada.
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