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unbranded – Lifestyle
New York is among one of the states in the nation where the swinging lifestyle is popular, according to a recent study. The Empire State ranked second on the list, behind neighboring state Pennsylvania, among the top American states interested in swinging, or the practice of exchanging partners for sex.
Adult novelty toy outlet Joy Love Dolls, perhaps experts in the field, analyzed Google Trends data over a 12-month period to reach its conclusions. The study tracked searched queries such as “swing lifestyle,” “wife swapping” and “sex parties” to find that many New Yorkers were both curious and intrigued by the swinging community.
How common is the swing lifestyle in New York?
The study found that New York’s monthly search volume was 590 per 100,000 people, landing the state at number 2 in the country for those searching for swinger terms.
Myths and misconceptions about swinging
While still largely taboo, some members of the swinger community are pushing for acceptance. Here are a few common myths, according to swinging couples:
Swingers are only focused on sex: “Often the people that you meet, you don’t always have sex with them, you just make really good friends, and you can be open with them,” said Simon Hopper, who cohosts the Bed Hoppers podcast alongside his wife Carolyn. They told USA TODAY that they seek to create “friendships with benefits.”
It’s easy to dive into the lifestyle: The Hoppers said that it took a while for them to adapt to the community. “It took us a long time to find people that we liked,” Simon said. They host events where those interested in the lifestyle “can come along and find people to hook up with at a later date or later that night when our event has ended.”
Swinging will fix a broken relationship: Allison Moon, author of “Getting It: A Guide to Hot, Healthy Hookups and Shame-Free Sex,” previously told USA TODAY that swinging won’t fix a broken relationship, but “it can add new adventure and excitement to already solid ones.” Moon noted that opening a relationship works best in an already established relationship that’s stable, honest and communicative.
Fun fact: A married couple in Ohio made headlines in 2015 for swapping sexual partners as they hosted swingers parties with their suburban neighbors, as reported by ABC News. The couple, Tony and Diana, made an appearance on the A&E reality series “Neighbors With Benefits,” to try and summon a new couple. After the show, they distanced themselves from the lifestyle and stopped hosting swinger parties in favor of a more ‘ordinary’ lifestyle.
Where else is swinging popular in the U.S.?
Here is a roundup of the top 15 states ranked by monthly average search volume for a swinger lifestyle per 100,000 people. While New York is ranked second, two of New York’s neighbors also rank in the top five.
- Pennsylvania: 660 per 100,000
- New York: 590
- Delaware: 537
- Michigan: 526
- New Jersey: 512
- Virginia: 501
- North Carolina: 498
- South Carolina: 481
- Nevada: 460
- Ohio: 459
- Maryland: 458
- Florida: 453
- Rhode Island: 453
- Connecticut: 439
- Tennessee: 437
How do you tell if someone is a swinger?
Sex education expert Amy Nguyen identified a few telltale signs for those active in the swinging community. They don’t always indicate someone is into the lifestyle, but these may be some common symbols for swingers:
- Pink flamingo, garden gnome, or Pampas grass in the front lawn
- Upside down pineapple displayed in front yard, patio, or mailbox
- Black ring on the right hand
- Large mirrors in the home
- Hot tub in the backyard
