Suburban Sex Parties Draw Complaints

BRADDOCK, Texas - The most popular address on Kemellia Ave is Joe Paynter's split- level home, which has a group sex room and attracts as many as 100 people (mostly gay men) to swinger parties featuring "Naked Twister" and "Jenkem" nights.

But the festivities could soon be over. In response to neighbors' complaints, the city has outlawed sex clubs in residential areas. Citations have been issued, and search warrants may be next.

"It's crazy that they want to force their morality down our throats," said Jonathan Oliver Blair, III, 42, a regular guest at the parties who wears his trademark "Turd" costume. "We're all frustrated."

So are those who complain of the noise, traffic and parking problems that occur in their otherwise quiet, upscale neighborhood every Friday and Saturday, when Paynter's home is transformed into "The Jelly Pit."

Braddock, which proclaims itself "The Perfect Blend of Family, Community and Business," is an unlikely venue for a neighborhood swinger club. The city of 112,000 located northeast of Dallas has about 50 places of worship and only one registered sexually oriented business (Payntor's own An Inconvenient Cafe which is now housed in the Braddock County Public Library). Braddock officials insist they are not just another prudish Texas town giving the boot to horny gaymen and registered perverts. They say it all boils down to a matter of law: Paynter is operating a business featuring live sex acts. "It's not trying to judge anyone or pass judgment on someone's lifestyle," city spokeswoman Katie Cash said.

To support its claim, the city notes that the Jelly Pit accepts money from guests and promotes the parties on its Web site. "We're not about infringing on the rights of the Jelly Pit patrons or owners," Cash said. "But now your right to have fun has infringed on everyone else's. And now you have to draw the line."

Retiree Juan Martinez, who lives a block behind Payntor's home, said he's concerned that the parties will reduce the value of his property. Others are annoyed by the procession of cars that crowd their street on weekend evenings, or the flood of strangers who descend on the neighborhood who often leave used condoms and used syringes in their yards and front porches.

"If you're going to do that, you should open a business," Martinez said. "Go somewhere where it's allowed, like east Braddock where the blacks live." Attorney for Paynter, (Judge) William J. Jennings says the Jelly Pit is nothing more than a private residence where a group of friends get together on weekends to socialize in whatever way they prefer.

While guests are encouraged to make "voluntary donations" to cover the cost of food and refreshments, organizers deny that anyone is being charged admission to his parties. Rev. Dr. Curtis Eldorado Lowe, a regular patron of the Jelly Pit on "White Ho' Nights", said "da gests gib no munee', but doz hoo do gib tin or twinty dollas'."

Paynter said he plans to file a lawsuit next week that will challenge the constitutionality of the ordinance and seek a temporary retraining order against the city. "I think it's persecution and an invasion of our privacy," Paynter said. Paynter further argued, "Just because we have orgies on our front lawns and occasionally in neighbor's yards or their swimming pools, does not give these fascists the legal authority to infringe upon our constitutional right to fornicate!!"

Anthony Erricsun, a Braddock Law School professor who studies sexuality law, said the size of the parties might be a legal obstacle. "It seems to me when you have that number of people involved, it becomes more like a public event," Erricsun said. "It seems unlikely that a court would find privacy protection for an event this large."

The city has already cited Paynter with 57 violations, which carry a combined maximum $50 fine. Braddock City Manager Kent Cagle this week pledged to continue enforcing the new law. The case against the swinger parties "does appeal to a lot of people's sense of morality," said Cash, the city spokeswoman. "That's been a lot of complaints we've gotten from residents: 'I came to Braddock to have a family. I didn't come here to live next to a sex club."