Bad news for anyone thirsting in the UK: legislators there have made sex with anyone outside the same household illegal for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis.
Officially, the law bans any two or more people from congregating in an indoor place unless they share a household. The bill itself states “No person may participate in a gathering which takes place in a public or private place indoors, and consists of two or more persons.” The bill also prohibits staying overnight anywhere but home. Furthermore, amended language to the bill also states that anyone caught hosting an overnight guest can also be prosecuted.
“Afraid to say this is correct,” Human Rights Barrister Adam Wagner tweeted in response to the passage of the bill. “I can’t believe I’m about to tweet this. From tomorrow sex between two (or more) people in a private place who do not live in the same household is a ‘gathering’ between 2 or more people and is therefore illegal.”
Related: Comic Matt Lucas destroys UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in hilarious new video
Anyone breaking the law can be fined £100. Enforcement remains another matter entirely.
Afraid to say this is correct.
I can't believe I'm about to tweet this.
From tomorrow sex between two (or more) people in a private place who do not live in the same household is a "gathering" between 2 or more people and is therefore illegal. https://t.co/aEiGIoweee pic.twitter.com/b0KZBACSQ4
— Adam Wagner (@AdamWagner1) May 31, 2020
Approval of the new, amended language hasn’t come without controversy, of course. For one thing, the governing body of Parliament is not required to vote on the new language, leaving it without democratic approval. Moreover, in the UK where sex work is legal, the new law could infringe on the rights of sex workers.
Legal scholar George Peretz shared his thoughts on Twitter: “As I read this, unless you live together, it’s now unlawful to have sex with your lover indoors, but fine outdoors (subject to public decency offences); but you can have sex with an escort indoors, as that is reasonably necessary for their work purposes,” he wrote.
As I read this, unless you live together, it’s now unlawful to have sex with your lover indoors, but fine outdoors (subject to public decency offences); but you can have sex with an escort indoors, as that is reasonably necessary for their work purposes (see 7(d)(i)). https://t.co/QXbT1EYikt
— George Peretz QC (@GeorgePeretzQC) May 31, 2020
Under present UK COVID-19 regulations, people may only gather indoors with persons outside their household for funerals, providing medical or child care, facilitating a move or for necessary work purposes.
WSnyder
So, if you pass the person you want to have sex with a couple of quid, you should be ok? So if you simply pass them a fiver, it might be less than take out and a pint anyway. IMHO.
controversial2019
I love how Queerty is posting this to make us Brits look ridiculous.
Heaven forfend our government doesn’t want people from different households mingling and spreading the virus.
GayMafiaKingpin
I’m curious which part of the article makes you think they’re trying to make you look ridiculous. All it does is state what the new law is. Any ridiculousness you saw was a projection of your own feelings, I think.
Bromancer7
Clearly, you don’t need any help looking ridiculous by passing such a bill.
controversial2019
I would say that “Bad news for anyone thirsting in the UK” attempts to trivialise the situation and trivialisation is often used as a method to mock or make people look silly. That’s my opinion to which I’m entitled.
But (to me) the entire article could be questioned (if mocking was not the intent). The article is nothing to do with the LGBTQ+ community, and the rule of “do not mix in enclosed spaces with those outside your own household” Has been a common rule throughout the world during this time. To single the UK out about it is intentional.
WSnyder
Was this just recently passed? Does it involved sexual relations between 2 [or more] people? Is it News and News of a sexual nature? Does it impact sexual relations for the LGBTQ+ community?
DarkZephyr
It doesn’t make you Brits “look silly” but it does make your government look slightly disturbing. Rant and rave all you want about your imagined notion about Queerty’s intent, but they DID report on facts. And these facts are disturbing.
barkomatic
It seems quite late to be imposing this restriction now. Also unnecessary.