I point this out over and over again - the really irresponsible part of these types of stories is that it's quite likely that few if any of the men busted in this sting identify as gay. Other communities have discovered that the majority of men who engage in public sex at cruising locations like parks and public bathrooms in recent years tend to be married and straight-identified. This whole phenomenon speaks more to shame pressures on closeted men than an epidemic of well-adjusted gay and bisexual men who don't care about what children may or may not see in public places.

Two articles down from this is an article that says 32 percent of us may be morons.I would think given the long fight for rights and establishing ourselves as trustworthy citizens having casual sex in a public park even if it is concealed from public view might qualify as something a moron would do.More than anything when I think of public parks I think of children.Isn't it time to give the parks back to the children? What about Aids? On top of that if the guy who took the film wasn't doing something they knew was wrong they wouldn't of felt the need to take the film.There are better places than a park to have sex like in the privacy of your home.

I love that the article describes how "a young couple came to the overlook just minutes after this had taken place."

I'm guessing they didn't mean a couple of young guys looking for action.

And amym440, is so touching that "More than anything when I think of public parks I think of children." You're right -- children should be able to have sex in parks too!

And this is such an interesting question: "What about Aids?" I'm sure you know that AIDS isn't specific to public sex in parks, right? Or maybe you were just throwing in a rhetorical question, in a flourish of existential glee, yes I do sense existential glee...

But wait -- I'm sensing the need for a stroll...

amym440, I hear the homophobia in your comments. There have been studies on MSM in public parks. Especially in conservative areas like Alabama. The closet cases are aware of HIV. Most public park sex in conservative areas tends to be variations of mutual masterbation with occational oral sex. Generally forms of sexual behaviour which are low risk in nature. (The only zero risk is no sex at all.) HIV tends to spread more in private area where access to drugs and alcohol lower inhibitions and ecourage riskier behaviour.

It always comes down to the CHILDREN. Right wingers use children to get everyone uptight. I've jogged through parks and seen straight folks having sex in their cars, on river banks, etc., and I don't recall anyone being arrested. I'm sure it would have happened if they were gay. I know people who can't wait to watch that weekly show where pedophiles are filmed meeting with adolescents at their homes. Of course, pedophilia is a sickness; it's wrong and disgusting but I think there's something wrong with people who love to see people caught in that kind of crap and think it's funny or cool. They lose jobs, wives, families, status, etc. Rather than judge we should be thanking God we don't have that compulsion. We've become a country of gossipy, bitchy, self-righteous zealots who claim to be Godly or Christian and show little semblance of it in our actions. There's no more compassion, no more desire to understand no more love. People who have to go to public parks for sex probably aren't capable of a close, deep love because they've been screwed over from the start. It's just too easy to judge.

Yes Jesus was about forgiveness but when it came to those who harm children he said this:"If anyone harms one of these,it would be better they tied a stone around their neck and jump into the sea then face me.I would venture to say that when it comes to hurting children you can kiss that forgiveness goodbye.I can agree with you Dale that not all sex offenders should be viewed the same or rated the same.But for the worst of them life shouldn't be allowed to be enjoyable for one second.