PLYMOUTH, CT (WFSB) - A swingers club in Plymouth was forced to close its doors following a town meeting Tuesday night.
The club had been open since a cease-and-desist letter was given on March 28.
The meeting was contentious and went on for hours. Club owner Steve Gagne and his wife, Jodi, presented their arguments for why it should stay open.
“That you may not like what we do, you may not agree with it morally. All the people here do not agree with it morally,” argued Jodi Gagne.
However, a pastor for the Riverside Baptist Church and dozens of parishioners said that the club was being illegally operated and violated zoning laws. The club’s location was 30 feet from the church.
“As I pray daily for the growth and love and protection of my own family, I have prayed and continue to pray for the owners and members of the Wicked Fun Club,” said Matt Marcella, a member of the church.
The board said that the line in the appeal that read “consenting adults engage in adult sexual activities” is what led them to vote to shut the club down.
The town has specific adult use regulations in place for businesses like adult bookstores and adult entertainment cabarets.
Plymouth officials said that the club fits into the adult use category of business, and one requirement is to be 1,000 feet away from a church.
People at the meeting against the club stated that its existence is not just sinful behavior, but also lawless behavior.
“Our church shares a parking lot and the operation happening there directly affects our congregation and families who use our building every week. We have no choice but to speak,” said assistant pastor Anthony Frazier.
Steve Gagne argued that the business is just a private members-only social club and doesn’t fall into the adult category.
“What our club is not, we are not a nightclub. We are not a dance club. We are not dance club. We do not serve alcohol. We are not open to the public as membership is mandatory. We are not a cabaret or adult entertainment venue. We do not allow drugs, smoking, or vaping anywhere inside the club. We are not a brothel or commercial sex establishment,” Steve Gagne said.
A club member also attended the meeting and believed that the community was being targeted for its moral beliefs, not its zoning.
“It’s about the discomfort of people living differently. And that’s not a standard, that’s a moral judgment. Frankly it starts to feel a little familiar. The last time we punished people for their private behavior well, it was the Salem witch trial,” said club member David Epstein.
“It’s wrong, but to whose standard is it to my standard to God’s standard? I’m torn tug of war here. If they’re not hurting anybody and it’s not out in someone’s face and in public showing everyone what it is then why should they get closed down,” said Tim Terwilliger, Bristol.
“I think they should let them do what they want to do. They were already in there,” said Billy McFarland, a Bristol resident.
Gagne said that he does plan to file a lawsuit against the town and is already looking for a new location for the club.
The club shutdown took effect immediately.
The building’s landlord said that he did not know what Gagne was going to use the space for and was going to start an eviction process.