gay gay known gay commercial spaces men sex men gay slang regions venues known colloquially confused public bathing gay primarily sex bathing men visit gay consider gay regardless sexual behavior offering similar opportunities sex women rare men occasionally lesbian women nights vary considerably size amenities small establishments rooms handful multi story variety room styles sizes steam swimming pools steam room wet dry showers small private rooms legal reasons membership membership generally open adult seeks usually paying small fee unlike customers pay use facilities sexual activity occurs provided staff establishment customers money exchanged gay legal reasons explicitly prohibit discourage prostitution ban known prostitutes history records men meeting sex men date 15th century tradition public dates 6th century ancient records homosexual activity greece west gay men sex late 19th early 20th centuries time homosexual acts illegal western countries men caught engaging homosexual acts arrested publicly men began cruising areas public parks train bus stations movie theaters public cottages gym changing rooms meet men sex owners tried prevent sex patrons profits prepared risk prosecution overlooked homosexual activity early records florence florence italy purge vice places homosexual acts sheds houses illicit sex gambling watch city leading criminal court issued associated april warned managers suspect boys penalty fine short period april february convicted men homosexual relations involving violence circumstances paris france recorded police raid men aged prosecuted offense public manager employees new_york united_states february new_york police conducted recorded raid gay hotel men arrested brought trial charges men received sentences ranging years prison early gay new_york_city nicknamed converted church gay men 1920s 1930s reputation best known damaged fire men died seriously injured closed popular 1910s street managed american painter favourite self portrait set turkish bath likely inspired hotel basement west 31st street popular gay location 1920s despite condition lack private rooms american composer wrote diaries visits new_york biography states great need boys home contained chose practice instrument favorite time players coming going games friend little experience great desire homosexual took meet gay men explore sexual interests supportive environment friend fascinated saw encouraged advanced forms sexual experimentation encounter man interested years earlier found man interesting experience men interviewed mid-1930s referred experimenting learning new pleasures london turkish street favorite spot opening remaining open september journalist wrote street represented twilight arena elderly men came sweat systems youths came strike poses turkish closely overseen provided place inspect young man offering cup tea regulars included rock hudson 1950s turkish rated fabulous diaries 1930s known frequently possible describes action behaviour times reasonably cautious road restraint immediately discarded small provided cover modern gay 1950s exclusively gay began open united_states subject vice raids oasis homosexual remain today places safe gay patrons identified homosexual gay offered safer alternative sex public places late 1960s 1970s gay primarily gay owned operated fully licensed gay establishments soon major gay institutions served informal gay meeting places places friends meet relax gay frequently threw parties pride day usually open busy public holidays thanksgiving christmas gay men particularly rejected families sexual orientation american writer regular new_york_city 1970s particular west street service offered voter registration run election new_york_city assistance conducted voter registration drive premises australia gay steam bath opened sydney oxford street following gay steam opened nicknamed called nicknamed melbourne gay street opened closed october gay commonly known australia new_zealand present large cities countries late 1980s homosexuality new_zealand australian states 1970s 1980s criminal conduct occurring premises sex site venues britain gay routinely raided police end 1980s example raids owner getting month jail sentence fine manchester 1990s increasing scrutiny costs operations charges gross normally needing expense undercover officers reduced likelihood successful prosecution concerns perceived little public interest crime gay free operate risk raided police police attitudes meant willing turn blind eye preferred activity place contained environment outdoors users committing homosexual sexual offence gross gross wiped statute books following sexual offences act today gay today continue fill similar function historically community aspect territories particularly gay men increasingly tend come men use convenient safe place meet men sex areas homosexuality accepted safety longer primary attraction open hours day seven days week typically single customer entrance exit paying main entrance customer main door system allows establishments screen potential refuse entry visibly known prostitutes areas particularly homosexuality illegal considered immoral viewed hostility necessary safety precaution sexual encounters frequently anonymous feel adds erotic excitement patrons goes encounters lead relationships usually men sex men identify gay bisexual including relationships customer choice renting room locker fixed periods hours room typically consists locker single bed doubles available thin vinyl mat supported simple wooden box frame arrangement easy cleaning patrons particularly outside united_states rooms freely available patrons areas designed facilitate sex areas rooms illuminated dim red exit sign possible sex continental new_york club washington close proximity public area provides place sex afford locker facilitated inclined porn room bar patrons men use cheaper alternative hotels despite limitations potentially crowded public venues rudimentary rooms limited non existent pass privileges guys actually home send date meet purely easier beer use ancient greek roman social centre fucking centre centre lounge sit relax coffee cigarette identifiable outside clearly marked lit marking street address door display rainbow flag commonly flown businesses identify gay run gay friendly commonly advertise widely gay press advertise mainstream newspapers media australia began airing possibly world television advertisements gay advertisements commercial television melbourne promoted wet wellington countries identified viewed press ireland november mainstream press gay priest died heart attack priests hand help known deliberately provocative comedy material refers gay sexual culture including gay layout typical amenities customer receives wear waist key room locker customer storing clothing locker provided free public areas typically include amenities traditional picture movie provide free establishments require piece identification item value left desk entry emphasized importance visiting downtown gay bath ways like high school gym wearing color body status consciousness social sense created sort equal status social group designed imagery music create surroundings visitors usually lit play music outdoors enclosed rooftop pool area uncommon laid manner allows encourages customers establishment space laid way referred maze space random anonymous sex occur spaces rooms glory holes illumination dim red exit sign sex clubs continental club washington beds placed near public area providing place sex afford rent locker chances watched inclined rooms usually grouped frequently decorated posters nude semi nude men explicit depictions sex uncommon pornographic movies playing wall mounted men typically wear provided according perfectly acceptable friendly hand feel received step sexual intimacy permit permit encourage total nudity nudity forbidden common areas establishments men wear underwear wear unusual customers remain fully partially dressed street clothes bare feet customary men prefer wear flip provided establishment foot protection room locker key usually suspended elastic band worn wrist ankle require customers purchase yearly offer special entry rates members students military groups countries restrict entrance men certain age ranges apart general requirement adult physical types places considered illegal discrimination hold occasional leather underwear theme nights 1970s began install fantasy environments recreated erotic situations illegal dangerous rooms encouraged group sex glory holes recreated public toilets took place bushes public parks steam rooms reminiscent video rooms recreated rows movie theaters popular chicago called man country provided size model truck visitors sex cab rear served room offered fake prison cell rubber bars sell food drinks cigarettes pornography sex toys provide non sexual services serve venues testing sexually transmitted takes place regular pre announced times customers typically divide time showers main areas establishment customers rented rooms free access room customers rooms leave room doors open signal available sex open door invitation watch join sexual activity occurring room occupied single person men position suggest like joining room like penetrated bottoms lie face bed door open prefer penetrate tops receive lie face past served community spaces gay men men choose friends necessarily sex men talk forming long lasting friendships relationships preferring reasons recently new_zealand away found strange know guess smaller city people generally knew highly environment look nod frequently express interest areas establishment including video rooms group sex areas hot generally showers toilets café areas men usually free touch patrons expected welcomed shake head pushing away hand means attention welcomed normally find people don away area grab hand push away times times actually message times actually fuck establishments allow encourage sex specific group sex areas jurisdictions activity prohibited sex confined private rooms sex pools reasons united_kingdom requirement set local authority department high risk behavior sexually transmitted diseases mid-1980s onward lobbying gay blaming focus infection encouraging spread sexually transmitted diseases particular hiv forced closure jurisdictions legal issues countries fears spread prompted closing private rooms favour sex clubs sexual activity takes place open observed monitors job enforce safe sex practices proponents point closing facilities prevent people engaging unsafe sex claim responsible spread sexually transmitted diseases claim proved known spread unprotected sex membership agreement condition entry require customers writing practice safe sex premises venues frequently provide free latex gloves available purchase new_zealand australia constituent members provide safe sex information sex site venue users anti activists argue measures especially given virtually impossible monitor sexual activity acknowledge closing gay force men unsafe illegal situations public parks point likely engage anal sex participants risk contracting situations counter claims pointing major source safer sex information provide pamphlets post safer sex posters prominently walls room common areas provide free require patrons safer sex premises cities larger gay populations hiv testing counseling offered site charge drugs alcohol countries prohibited selling alcohol canada serve alcohol holding liquor license required submit liquor activists claim pretext regulating gay sexual activity deny entry visibly regulate consumption drugs typically alcohol marijuana cocaine crystal patrons use drugs alcohol people likely engage unsafe sex sex clubs private areas potentially find easier regulate consumption drugs premises use crystal known lead sexual behaviour gay crystal users tend seek users engage sexual activity prefer arrangements internet prostitution countries straight gay rent boys find customers offering services complete service sex asked exception said having sex clients talked drugs taken pure alcohol crack cocaine maybe times injected crystal cocaine heroin legal issues canada toronto raids february police raided gay toronto ontario club barracks badly damaged raid reopened raid resulted arrests men immediate angry response gay lesbian community people gathered protest second demonstration took place february included people gathered queen park marched metro toronto police division raid palace toronto police raided women night called club toronto police male entered establishment walked taking names addresses women aggressively questioned volunteers palace organizer stated women event deeply angered judge held police violated canadian charter rights freedoms male police officers raid describing police actions analogous strip search raid december calgary police raided resulting charges men men arrested raid thirteen customers charged found ins found common house legal excuse staff members charged offense keeping common house customers faced years prison addition owners staff member later charged keeping common house judge ruled police reasonable justification raid defense lawyers countered anonymous information police acted example live sex shows staged drugs sold premises featured charges seventeen men pointed police failed force gay community liaison officer reopened little month raid november crown stayed found charge remaining patron saying longer public interest pursue case case owners managers expected come trial february found patron actively fighting charge accused crown dropping charge lawyers given notice plan challenge house law way supreme_court february remaining charges case dropped court cited lack community support evidence poll community supported existence gay small margin raid hamilton august hamilton bath inspected task force officers police public health city building licensing department fire department alcohol gaming commission men arrested charged committing acts united_states california adult sex bill passed january gay sex took place legal time 1970s popular gay san_francisco located neighborhood interior designed like palace barracks near room designed accommodate different sexual fantasy group police officers raided liberty neighborhood san_francisco arrested patrons conduct public place district attorney office soon dropped charges fear aids caused department support gay activists opposition gay activists ask courts close gay city court judge instead issued court order limited sexual practices renting private rooms sexual activity monitored public health measure tried live strict rules court order felt easily business new rules closed eventually remaining actual succumbed economic pressures continuing legal pressures city finally closed sex clubs officially continued operate indefinitely operate day following strict rules court order city regulations operate outside city outside laws berkeley ordered city gay closed result sex clubs shut city passed gay rights ordinance allowing clubs remain open closing gay establishments violation ordinance los_angeles chicago atlanta louisville seattle berkeley cleveland portland las_vegas detroit indianapolis dallas houston denver tampa miami american cities operation china march series police raids gay gay meeting spots beijing resulted arrests included raids branches oasis known popular beijing police arrested men gay spa charges prostitution homosexuality china germany austria switzerland german speaking countries lot gay homosexuality later oldest ones vulcan cologne berlin vienna japan japan japan 1950s built 1970s notable patrons author wrote visits openly gay british spent night roman spa suicide press reports authorities planning charge sexual assault fact warrant suicide note claimed sexual encounter youth contacted police refused pay blackmail influential 20th century french philosopher visited california 1970s early 1980s new_york died aids related causes erotic author editor hundreds visits bath composer wrote visits quotations given poet novelist composer known time known friendly gay men provided provide sexual services fee diary writes visit evening urge simply stylish fun harvey milk openly gay american politician vowed stop visiting gay ran supervisor russian dancer known frequent new_york past door composer wrote visits author documented patron celebrities continental singer known getting start famous new_york_city early 1970s earned nickname accompanied pianist like patrons wore white created stage persona divine miss getting start remarked despite way things turned aids crisis proud days got start singing gay feel like forefront gay liberation movement hope help forward kind wear label betty pride famous performers appeared continental include flowers
Gay bathhouse