Gay men bath
I'm a bath house virgin. I've been near many, stayed next door to one before in Montreal as well as Chicago, but never took the steps to go into one. I've chatted with friends before about their visitations to bath houses, but the conversations did not get too colorful, maybe because I was not too interested and maybe because I didn't want to know about all the penetrating details.
Gareth Johnson has recently done some leg work for us that want to realize more about bath houses, but are too introverted right now to depart into one. Here is his chat with Twitter user and gay bathhouse enthusiast MännerSpa to talk about saunas, men, and sex.
When did you first stop by a bathhouse?
I was in my early 20s — it was Steamworks in Chicago. Around the same time I also visited the mythical Man’s Country in Chicago, it’s since closed. I see those visits as being my initiation into the world of the gay bathhouse— one novel school, one old school.
Did it live up to your expectations?
Although I mind I knew what I was venturing into, it was still a fairly surprising experience. The ambience and the concept was exactly what I was
The Freddie Guide to: Bathhouses
What is a bathhouse?
Bathhouses – also known as baths, saunas, or gay saunas – are spaces where queer men* meet to socialise, relax and contain sex. They are legal, licensed sex venues, as opposed to regular saunas or steam rooms where people cruise.
The number of gay bathhouses in North America peaked in the s. Most of them closed in the s, as local governments made public health rules to curb the HIV/AIDS epidemic. These rules were often rooted in homophobia.
Today, there are still bathhouses in most major cities across the world. You can find them through Google or on cruising sites like Squirt and Sniffies.
* Historically, bathhouses only admitted cisgender men. They are generally becoming more inclusive. Many have more relaxed door policies or assigned times and events that are safer spaces for trans and non-binary people. If this applies to you, it’s best to check online or notify ahead before visiting a venue for the first time.
When you arrive
When you arrive at a bathhouse, you’ll get to a front desk with an attendant. This is where you’ll pay for your entry along with any extras like private rooms (if the venue has them
The gay bathhouse experience is a staple of same-sex attracted culture that has survived police raids, AIDS, and the emergence of online dating and apps. Through the times, bathhouses contain remained true to their roots: they are places where men can have casual sex with men, socialize, and enjoy the facilities.
Personally, I quite enjoy visiting the baths. I find them refreshingly honest compared to apps where things are not always as they appear. But the baths are not for everyone. If you haven’t tried, I endorse going at least once to see what it’s all about. You never know what treasures rest just outside of your comfort zone…
Going for the first time can come across daunting. But us bathhouse pros are quite welcoming of newbies and there are always staff nearby to help you out if needed.
If you&#;re curious about visiting the baths, this will arrange you for what you can expect and provide you 10 pro tips for your first visit.
Each bathhouses is unique and may even have particular theme nights from occasion to time. Check out their website and peruse the most recent Google reviews for the specifics. Generally speaking, most bathhouses have one or more of the following amenities:
Sau
My Very Last Night in a Gay Bathhouse
THE LAST TIME I went to the gay baths, some years ago, I stepped in poop. Actually, more like a pile of poop, because it crept up between my toes for a horrific second before I realized what my bare feet had stumbled across.
I made the grim discovery while standing in the private room of another customer there, making small talk. While I had hopes of more meaningful communication, my plan was cut limited when I stepped forward and directly into the offending dung heap.
Lurching assist and out of the room, I limped posthaste in the direction of the wet area, walking on my heel, messy toes splayed upwards. As I negotiated the crusty terrain of the carpeted hallways, there occurred to me many questions.
Whose poop was that? How did it get there? Should I go back and tell the guy I stepped in it? Did he know there was poop in his room? Was it his poop? Did he want me to step in it? Was it a poop trap?
The episode spoiled whatever momentum my evening may have had. Later, sitting in the lounge area &#; same men, identical towels, but with smoking and less sex &#; I began doubting my choice of sexual venue.
In most big cities, there exist two opti
.
My Very Last Night in a Gay Bathhouse
THE LAST TIME I went to the gay baths, some years ago, I stepped in poop. Actually, more like a pile of poop, because it crept up between my toes for a horrific second before I realized what my bare feet had stumbled across.
I made the grim discovery while standing in the private room of another customer there, making small talk. While I had hopes of more meaningful communication, my plan was cut limited when I stepped forward and directly into the offending dung heap.
Lurching assist and out of the room, I limped posthaste in the direction of the wet area, walking on my heel, messy toes splayed upwards. As I negotiated the crusty terrain of the carpeted hallways, there occurred to me many questions.
Whose poop was that? How did it get there? Should I go back and tell the guy I stepped in it? Did he know there was poop in his room? Was it his poop? Did he want me to step in it? Was it a poop trap?
The episode spoiled whatever momentum my evening may have had. Later, sitting in the lounge area &#; same men, identical towels, but with smoking and less sex &#; I began doubting my choice of sexual venue.
In most big cities, there exist two opti
.