The Gay Thread

Quote: AZDuffman

That gays go for random sex in bathhouses is a fairly well known thing. Same as gays cruising for sex or that most cities have a section of a park known for this. Like in the 1990s rest areas had this kind of problem.

That you are believing the sheltered, sanitized version of what gay males act like does not change any of this.

Watch "And the Band Played On" and you will see a scene of how the gays went ballistic when it was suggested to close the bathhouses to stop the spread of the then-new AIDS.

I see endless cruises advertised for single heterosexuals who are single (or perhaps not single, but want fun, whatever).... I even see some very niche straight cruises "older women young men cruises" etc advertised heavily.... I have never seen a cruise advertised publicly as a gay cruise (I am guessing you have no problem with straight sex cruises advertising publicly).

As for City Parks, that sounds like another fantasy, I have worked for multiple cities (in some cases even technically for the parks department), never have I seen a park have a "gay sex zone" designated on any parks map.... I also enjoy public parks in general (and no not for any adult reason), never have I seen any kind of area designed for gay hookups. My guess is one park in 1960s San Franciso had some kind of bust and you have the headline stuck in your head. Do people hookup in public parks? Of course (like anywhere else). Do some of those people happen to be gay? Of course. Is there a section of most parks designated for this? no....

As for rest areas, you have brought this up before, I have never heard of such a thing. But, I don't even like using the bathroom in rest areas. The idea of hookups sounds beyond unappealing. I could be wrong, but I am highly skeptical that in the 90s there were mass amounts of gay hookup events at rest areas...

I have never heard of that movie, a quick Google shows it came out in 1993 and is based on the book which looks at AIDS/HIV. I have zero doubt that less sex outside of marriage would lower the spread of STDs including AIDS/HIV, I also have zero doubt that this will never happen. In any case much of the AIDs research in the 80s/90s was spearheaded by Dr. Fauci who you seem to not trust at all (unless it relates to issues that you agree with I guess).... The best countries for low HIV/AIDs -and STDs in general- rates are where sexual activity outside of marriage is outlawed (and actually strictly enforced, not just on paper), which I am assuming you would oppose....

Quote: Gandler

I see endless cruises advertised for single heterosexuals who are single (or perhaps not single, but want fun, whatever).... I even see some very niche straight cruises "older women young men cruises" etc advertised heavily.... I have never seen a cruise advertised publicly as a gay cruise (I am guessing you have no problem with straight sex cruises advertising publicly).

Really? You do not know what "cruising" means in this context? Really??

Quote:

As for City Parks, that sounds like another fantasy, I have worked for multiple cities (in some cases even technically for the parks department), never have I seen a park have a "gay sex zone" designated on any parks map.... I also enjoy public parks in general (and no not for any adult reason), never have I seen any kind of area designed for gay hookups. My guess is one park in 1960s San Franciso had some kind of bust and you have the headline stuck in your head. Do people hookup in public parks? Of course (like anywhere else). Do some of those people happen to be gay? Of course. Is there a section of most parks designated for this? no....

Not a fantasy. Seen it in the news. Known guys who saw gays get rousted from such areas by the cops. Former NFL QB Kordell Stewart got arrested for cruising for sex in one here in town. News flash, it is not "on a map" and suggesting because it is not on the map it does not exist falls under what I keep explaining is "making a jerk out of yourself." OK, I will use the more PC term "living in denial."

Quote:

As for rest areas, you have brought this up before, I have never heard of such a thing. But, I don't even like using the bathroom in rest areas. The idea of hookups sounds beyond unappealing. I could be wrong, but I am highly skeptical that in the 90s there were mass amounts of gay hookup events at rest areas...

For crying out loud it was in a movie, IIRC "There is Something About Mary" but I could be wrong. There were enough that it made the news in my city. I heard a college professor upset because the cops told him to "get moving" when he was just there to use the facilities, it was such a problem they were rousting any loiterers.

Quote:

I have never heard of that movie, a quick Google shows it came out in 1993 and is based on the book which looks at AIDS/HIV. I have zero doubt that less sex outside of marriage would lower the spread of STDs including AIDS/HIV, I also have zero doubt that this will never happen. In any case much of the AIDs research in the 80s/90s was spearheaded by Dr. Fauci who you seem to not trust at all (unless it relates to issues that you agree with I guess).... The best countries for low HIV/AIDs -and STDs in general- rates are where sexual activity outside of marriage is outlawed (and actually strictly enforced, not just on paper), which I am assuming you would oppose....

I am sure you never heard of it as your post here shows how much you have never heard of. You really come off naive about gay culture seeming to believe it is all just the rainbows and unicorns that the gay movement tells you it is. You need to learn reality.

Seriously, I cannot tell if your post is for real or just to mess with some of us. You never heard the term "cruising?"

Quote: AZDuffman

That gays go for random sex in bathhouses is a fairly well known thing. Same as gays cruising for sex or that most cities have a section of a park known for this. Like in the 1990s rest areas had this kind of problem.

That you are believing the sheltered, sanitized version of what gay males act like does not change any of this.

Watch "And the Band Played On" and you will see a scene of how the gays went ballistic when it was suggested to close the bathhouses to stop the spread of the then-new AIDS.

Where? I have never heard of any city that has this and have lived in two major cities. I guess I could believe rest areas, but I figured hooking was just a big thing at those, in general.

Quote: AZDuffman

I am sure you never heard of it as your post here shows how much you have never heard of. You really come off naive about gay culture seeming to believe it is all just the rainbows and unicorns that the gay movement tells you it is. You need to learn reality.

Seriously, I cannot tell if your post is for real or just to mess with some of us. You never heard the term "cruising?"

(Quote clipped, relevance)

By that standard, I think I'm also naive when it comes to straight culture, as well. I wouldn't have any idea where to go to get a prostitute. If there's a much more attractive woman than me who has ever hit on me, I just assume she's a prostitute and disregard her, but I wouldn't know where to easily find one if I actually wanted one.

I guess I could go to a, "Massage parlor," if I wanted a handjob...but I'd probably pick the only one that actually only gives normal massages. Or, not normal. I don't know what massage is normal. Yuck. Don't touch me.

In any event, you really seem to be paying A LOT of attention to what people who are not you are doing sexually. I don't care what anyone, straight or gay, does sexually...as long as all involved are consenting adults and as long as they don't want me involved.

Quote: AZDuffman

Really? You do not know what "cruising" means in this context? Really??



Not a fantasy. Seen it in the news. Known guys who saw gays get rousted from such areas by the cops. Former NFL QB Kordell Stewart got arrested for cruising for sex in one here in town. News flash, it is not "on a map" and suggesting because it is not on the map it does not exist falls under what I keep explaining is "making a jerk out of yourself." OK, I will use the more PC term "living in denial."



For crying out loud it was in a movie, IIRC "There is Something About Mary" but I could be wrong. There were enough that it made the news in my city. I heard a college professor upset because the cops told him to "get moving" when he was just there to use the facilities, it was such a problem they were rousting any loiterers.



I am sure you never heard of it as your post here shows how much you have never heard of. You really come off naive about gay culture seeming to believe it is all just the rainbows and unicorns that the gay movement tells you it is. You need to learn reality.

Seriously, I cannot tell if your post is for real or just to mess with some of us. You never heard the term "cruising?"

Your use of cruising was clearly stated in the context of taking cruises (like ships). Now you are trying to spin it as if you meant anyone wandering town for no reason (which is not a term anyone actually uses in 2021, not even the police in GA use this anymore) and that I should have known what you mean..... If somebody says "They are cruising and going for fun" while taking vacation, everyone knows what they mean (they are talking about going on a cruise)....

I don't know a lot of your pop culture or sports reference (actually any in the immediate above post) so I am not even going to get into that. As for what I should know about "gay culture", I am almost positive I know far more non-straight people than you do, and probably spend much more time in progressive establishments than you (what you would probably call "gay bars"). So I know what people think on the ground (not in a Hollywood or mythical setting).

In any case what you view as "reality" seems to be narrow, because you keep sliding away actual data and instead focus on anecdotes and urban legends.... And, then seem to think that because I don't know some obscure movie or some ancient reference to be some ultimate gotcha.... You dismiss maps, you dismiss STD/STI rates, you dismiss historical data, and hyperfocus on what you think people do because of what you have head at some point in the 90s. I am not sure that I am the one living in denial (though I am open-minded enough to leave open the possibility). I have already conceded that any sex outside of marriage increases the risk of STD/STIs (including AIDs/HIV amongst countless others), I don't think anyone denies this.

What is your solution for dealing with "gay culture"? Outlaw it? Ban all sex outside of marriage (which often leads to an exclusive focus on gay sex)? If you don't want the government involved in personal/medical decisions how do you change behavior that you deem undesirable or dangerous?

Straight people hook up with strangers for sex all the time.

Bars, classified ads, lots of ways and lots of nooky.

So what if gays sometimes meet in bath houses, it's their business, not yours.

Quote: missedhervee

Straight people hook up with strangers for sex all the time.

Bars, classified ads, lots of ways and lots of nooky.

So what if gays sometimes meet in bath houses, it's their business, not yours.

I've always thought of bars as where you run into people and end up having sex with them. I don't think that, even in my younger days, I went to the bar specifically looking for a woman with whom to have sex...that's just how things happened to go down sometimes.

I know that some people go hoping to find a sexual partner, but I don't know of any guys who were looking for that specifically that actually succeeded.

I've done it both ways.

I met my current wife in the lounge of a Mexican restaurant; she was sitting with her friend whom I knew and who introduced us.

I've also gone to known "meat market" bars with the sole idea of finding a woman for a one night stand: I found them but it was somewhat cheapened and unsatisfying.

Quote: Gandler

I find it amusing that conservatives who are straight (making an assumption), seem to know more about gay bathhouses than most gay people. I don't even think I have heard of such a thing until this thread, and it keeps becoming some focal point popping up, every couple of months here.... I would bet most gay people under 60 have never seen (possibly never heard of) a "gay bath house".

I can't even think of the last time I have seen any kind of regular "bathhouse" or public showers around. I am pretty sure they rarely exist anymore (unless you count shower/bathing rooms in gyms). I know as a kid there were some bath/showers businesses on the beach in various beach towns, but they have been long closed (and if there somehow were remnants tucked somewhere, COVID probably killed them off -the last one I am sure of existing closed when I was a teenager, and I only know because I worked a few doors down in the summer- ), and they were definitely intended for families who stopped at the beach for the day without a hotel and wanted to shower before driving home, never actually went in one, there is no way any kind of adult activity -gay or straight- would even jokingly be allowed (not where I grew up). I honestly can't think of any kind of shower or bath business that that still exists on the beach or anywhere (I am not saying they don't exist anywhere, but I am sure they are rare)... It's certainly not the epidemic the right makes it out to be....

Bold added for emphasis.

This is half right. Everyone knows about bathhouses (assuming you live in the vicinity of one), but most young gays wouldn’t go anywhere near them because it’s pretty much just creepy ass old men who visit them.

Quote: ams288

it’s pretty much just creepy ass old men who visit them.

I guess they were young when they first started going. : )

I had no gay friends when I lived in Vegas, but one day decided to check out The Clark County Wetlands Park over in East Las Vegas. I was kind of surprised to see how many people were there in the middle of the afternoon on a weekday. After about 5 minutes, it finally dawned on me it was a gay meetup place. I never did end up walking through the park though. Of course, this was quite a few years ago, so have no idea if it is still active for that.