public sex

Public sex refers to sexual intercourse in a public environment. The term is increasingly used to describe an act just outside a private residence regardless of whether it be strictly public (e.g. a toilet, cubicle, or cemeteries). In the United Kingdom, sex in a semi-public place is commonly known as dogging.

Prior to the development of the Internet, some gay men met in public settings (parks, restrooms, beats, and other cruising areas) in order to have sex. The rise of the Internet allowed these men to connect virtually and meet in a private setting, resulting in a decline of the public sex subculture within the gay community.

A study concluded that people engage in public sex because the risk of getting caught during the act of sexual intercourse is an arousing situation due to an increase in the adrenaline being produced. Doggers seek places where there is less chance of being caught or harassed by the police and so change location.