


People in these spaces often feel they can only be their true selves while at play parties-they know they won't get judged. “Our friends were grateful to see familiar faces.” Play parties (whether they’re virtual are IRL) aren’t just a place to get off they're a way to connect and make friends with other open-minded, sex-positive people. “When you're sex-positive or polyamorous and part of a larger community, there’s a disconnect from your partners that feels daunting,” Shay says. Everyone interviewed said the event was a huge success-and not just because it offered a distraction and a plethora of orgasms.

By the time everyone was counting down to midnight for Shay’s birthday, most folks were undressed, masturbating, giving or receiving blowjobs, or having other kinds of sex on screen, Sandra says.
