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Controversial sexologist Li Yinhe  has been rebuked by  a family planner for promoting  the rights of swingers on the mainland.

Dr Li triggered debate after writing on an online forum last month that swingers, or couples who swap sexual partners, were no threat to society as they did not breach the principles of confidentiality or consent among adults.

'[As a result], changing sexual partners among a small number of consenting adults to enjoy themselves should be among a citizen's legal rights,' the maverick sexologist said.

Dr Li also advised mainland swingers 'to get around the law by only sleeping with one person at a time'. Under mainland law, it is forbidden for more than two people to engage in sexual activity in one location.

But speaking at a forum on Saturday on the sidelines of the Guangdong Sex Culture Festival, the director of the Guangdong Provincial Committee on Population and Family Planning, Zhang Feng , joined the chorus of opposition to Dr Li's comments, according to  the Guangzhou-based Information Times.

Although he believed it was acceptable to speak out on such a provocative topic within academic circles, Mr Zhang said there was 'a fine line between sex education and promotion of sexual misconduct'.

The debate highlights one of many moral dilemmas on the mainland, where many believe social ethics are being eroded in the pursuit of economic development.

But Dr Li said the swinger lifestyle had become a trend, particularly among financially independent office workers. She estimated that there were about 50,000 swingers on the mainland.

Dr Li, a well-respected researcher who has established a reputation for campaigning on behalf of marginalised mainland groups such as homosexuals, said she was not surprised by the strong public reaction, as people were still uncomfortable discussing topics related to physical pleasure.

But she  denied she was trying to promote the swinger lifestyle, saying she was merely observing the phenomenon as a researcher.



Sexologist admonished for defending swingers' rights