Do You Have a Constitutional Right to Play Naked Twister?
In Duncanville, Texas, near Dallas, Jim Trulock likes to play naked Twister at his home with friends, and he says that it is his constitutional right to do so. The city in which he lives disagrees.
Trulock's house becomes "The Cherry Pit" on weekends and hosts sex parties with themes such as "Naked Twister." Some of the more successful parties have up to 100 guests. The group sex room, where six beds are pushed together in front of a fireplace, is apparently a popular feature of the home.
Duncanville city officials have called for a ban on sex clubs in residential areas, and recently approved a measure to stop the parties at Trulock's home. City officials say that there have been numerous complaints by Trulock's neighbors when he holds the parties. The quiet, upscale neighborhood apparently has a problem with the amount of traffic that the parties bring, as well as the noise coming from Trulock's house during the parties.
Trulock has filed a lawsuit against the City of Duncanville. He claims in his lawsuit that the city's ban on sex parties unconstitutionally targets his lifestyle and that the city had no "constitutionally acceptable" reasons to pass the ordinance banning his parties. He has already been issued citations for continuing to host the parties and city officials say that despite his lawsuit, they will continue to enforce the city ordinances and shut down Trulock's sex parties.
Town officials claim that Trulock is illegally operating a live sex business out of his home. Trulock advertises the sex parties on the Internet and does accept money from guests.
However, attorneys for Trulock say that his parties are simply a gathering of his friends, and that the city has no right to ban his social activities in his home. They claim that no one is charged for admission and guests can make donations to cover the cost of refreshments if they wish.
Some of Trulock's neighbors say that it just boils down to him not being a good neighbor. They are annoyed by the cars that line the streets on the weekends, the noise and lights that come from the parties, and the flood of strangers coming and going in their neighborhood. Some worry that the parties are even damaging their property value and want the parties in their neighborhood to stop.
City officials and neighbors say that it's not about trying to force an issue of morality on Trulock and his guests, it's simply a matter of law. The city ordinance bans the parties and the city will enforce that ban.
Notably, in Duncanville, Texas there are approximately 50 churches and places of worship, and not one registered sexually oriented business.
Trulock and his guests say that they are doing nothing wrong and are willing to go to court to stand up for the constitutional right they believe they have to play naked Twister.