The Bay Area Sex-Loving Commune That's Still Going Strong episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 18, 2026 · 19 MIN

The Bay Area Sex-Loving Commune That's Still Going Strong

from Bay Curious · host KQED

In the 1960s and 70s the San Francisco Bay Area was home to many intentional communities and co-ops. A lot of people were interested in living situations that went counter to how they'd grown up, often in separated, single family homes. As time passed, many of those communities have broken up or morphed. But Lafayette Morehouse, in Contra Costa County, is still going strong. Bay Curious listener Sabrina McQueen remembers seeing members of the community around Lafayette when she was growing up. They drove purple cars and lived in a purple house, so the locals called them the "Purple People." She's curious to know what they're all about. Additional Resources: This Bay Area Sex-Loving Commune Is Still Going Strong Read the transcript for this episode Sign up for our newsletter Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Jon Brooks. Bay Curious is made by Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale and Olivia Allen-Price. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 1960s and 70s the San Francisco Bay Area was home to many intentional communities and co-ops. A lot of people were interested in living situations that went counter to how they'd grown up, often in separated, single family homes. As time passed, many of those communities have broken up or morphed. But Lafayette Morehouse, in Contra Costa County, is still going strong. Bay Curious listener Sabrina McQueen remembers seeing members of the community around Lafayette when she was growing up. They drove purple cars and lived in a purple house, so the locals called them the "Purple People." She's curious to know what they're all about. Additional Resources: This Bay Area Sex-Loving Commune Is Still Going Strong Read the transcript for this episode Sign up for our newsletter Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Jon Brooks. Bay Curious is made by Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale and Olivia Allen-Price. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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The Bay Area Sex-Loving Commune That's Still Going Strong

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This episode was published on June 18, 2026.

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In the 1960s and 70s the San Francisco Bay Area was home to many intentional communities and co-ops. A lot of people were interested in living situations that went counter to how they'd grown up, often in separated, single family homes. As time...

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