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Jeff and Kris Booth Neither Jeff nor Kris ever imagined that they would found a school for adult sex education, or become a spokescouple for an alternative lifestyle, or wind up on national television discussing their sex lives. In fact, for the most part they had a very traditional marriage. They met in college when Kris was just 17 and Jeff 18, fell in love, and have been happily together ever since.
What changed the course of their lives was an almost accidental discovery of an alternative lifestyle they knew nothing about. Their first encounter with swinging was while on vacation at a hotel that turned out to have a swinger's dance. They decided to try it just to see what it was like. What they discovered was that swingers were just like the folks next door, but that they had a whole lot more fun. While they just danced and observed, on returning to Los Angeles they checked out local swing clubs and within days were at their very first swing party.
"A lot of people think that you get involved with swinging because there is something missing in the relationship," Jeff says, "Actually, it really only works for people who already have good sex lives, as if your sex life is bad, you usually have a lot of problems you need to sort out first. Our sex life was terrific and we sort of fell into swinging almost by accident. It turned out to add a whole lot to what was already pretty great."
They immediately got into the swing of things, so to speak, and at that first party Kris got to explore her emerging bisexuality. "Afterwards," Kris says, "We both went, are you okay, was it okay with you? And we both said yes!" They've never turned back.
Jeff and Kris never do anything half way. Soon they were participating in a planning meeting for the Lifestyles Convention (the largest convention for swingers in the country), they were talking with other swingers for a book on alternative lifestyles, and they began focusing more on researching and writing about sexuality. "Once we got into swinging," says Jeff, "We realized that while we thought we knew a lot about sex, there was clearly so much more to know. As writers, when you start learning about something, you naturally want to write about it and learn even more."
In fact, it was that quest for knowledge, along with Jeff's writing about the sorry state of sex education in the schools, which led them to create Erotic University. It is the first school in the country dedicated to teaching sexuality to adults, both online and with their regular schedule of live classes in Los Angeles.
Since then, they have explored many areas of sexuality, both as part of their own personal quest and for their writing. Kris has been a centerfold and cover girl in a men's magazine. They have appeared in adult videos, gone to sex resorts, and hosted their own swing parties. They've explored bondage and discipline, nudism, polamory, and many other alternative lifestyles.
As the editors of Sex in Review, they have personally tested dozens of adult products, both with each other and with volunteers in the SiR Play Testing Lab. They've been on adult sets covering new productions, interviewed porn stars, and attended adult industry and sexuality conferences.
As their expertise grew, they became more in demand as teachers. They currently teach several of the recurring classes at Erotic University, including Swinging 101, Adult Toys Master Class, and their popular Erotic Games seminar, which had people spilling out the doors every time they presented it at the Lifestyles Convention.
And, of course, they have done many interviews. Both have show business backgrounds (they met in a theatre class) where they appeared on stage and television, so they are comfortable in front of an audience or on camera. As Jeff notes, "Plugging a show or a project is easy, but it felt a little strange at first going on television and talking about sex, including our personal lives. I think what got us through that initial discomfort is that we are really passionate about sexuality and the importance of teaching people more about it."
They have appeared on national and local television and on a special for the BBC, in online broadcasts, and have been interviewed on radio throughout the country and as far away as Ireland. They've been profiled in mainstream publications, including Los Angeles magazine, which called them the most knowledgeable experts on swinging second only to Robert McGinley, founder of the Lifestyles Organization. While they discuss a wide range of sexual topics, the one thing most people seem to want to hear about is swinging.
"People ask us about swinging all the time," Kris says. "Most people are interested, and we are often the first people they get to talk to who have experienced it and know a lot about it. People are often surprised when I tell them how empowering it is for women. Swingers have a saying: 'Men bring women into swinging, but it is the women who keep them in it.' Swinging offers women the opportunity to explore their sexuality in a safe and supportive environment. Women can be as sexual as they want without worrying about people criticizing them or calling them sluts. If they do get called that, it is only meant in the nicest way."
Jeff and Kris have clearly taken the road less traveled, and neither ever expected to become known as sexual adventurers and educators. What makes it all work is their partnership and the passion they share.
"In a lot of ways," Jeff says, "We have a very adult version of a fairy tale marriage. We are incredibly happy together, we both feel that we have found our true love even after many years of marriage, and we have incredible sex with each other and others. It may seem unusual for some, but for us, we are definitely living happily ever after."