Besides the intense urge to meet males for a roaring, anonymous good time, was it just insatiable desire that brought modern gay bathhouses into existence?
Many people like to claim that the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement began with the Stonewall Riots in 1969. However, was it bathhouses all along?
You could argue gay rights began in the 1920s when some of the first advocacy groups were formed by and for the LGBTQ+ community. Or, in the 1940s, when studies began to show that sexuality was more of a spectrum than a line. You could even place the beginning in 1962 when Illinois became the first state to decriminalize homosexuality.
However, one aspect of the LGBTQ+ community dates back to long before the movement or the cultural pressures that made it necessary for men who had sex with other men to fight back societal constraints, and that’s gay bathhouses. We'll talk more about these bathhouses and their fascinating history in this article.
The Concept of the Gay Public Sauna
What is a gay bathhouse? Bathhouses are in the USA, North America and Europe. Usually, large clubs with a daily or monthly membership cost (like a gym), these safe havens for gay men allow all sorts of horny males to drop on in and take a load off (or give a few to another fellow patron).
While the concept of gay bathhouses is relatively old, they were nowhere near the first public baths. Archaeologists have found evidence of hot springs used as far back as the Stone Age.
Public baths were the norm for most of history in many parts of the world. Perhaps the most famous bathhouses were in Ancient Rome. Ancient Romans used bathhouses for community members to frequent and discuss communal changes or decisions.
One could argue that modern bathhouses where gay males frequent provide the same concept of community and belonging.
Gay men can experience the one thing that bonds their experience together: the longing and desire to enjoy a raunchy (or romantic) time with another man between the sheets, slings or wherever a bare surface is available.
Roman baths were also not unisex. Roman men and women bathed at different times of the day. However, one fact that hasn’t changed with time is that bathhouses were also hotspots for homoerotic activity, or at least for the teasing beforehand.
The Rise of the Gay Public Baths
While sex and other communal activities took place in Roman bathhouses, they mostly faded with the fall of the Roman Empire. The Muslims picked up the idea of bathhouses from the Byzantines but didn't allow sexual activity (bummer!). Nonetheless, the communal aspects were still alive and well.
The adoption of bathhouses as communal areas for the local gay population didn't occur until the late 1800s and early 1900s. Oddly enough, it was propelled forward by one of America's favorite institutions--capitalism.
While many business owners had a policy of kicking people out for being gay, others didn't. A few were sympathetic to the gay community, while others simply didn't like the idea of turning away potential customers.
Yes, the idea that business owners could lose money from horny gays laid the foundations for the gay bathhouses still around today.
But, that isn’t the only point of reinforcement. Generally speaking, what happens at bathhouses, or gay clubs and bathhouses near you are very likely because of the owner of the fine establishment. If not gay themselves, these allies to the community understand what bathhouses provide to gay men across the world and see the need to ensure there are no “gaps” for the gay village to thrive, get together and reinforce all the qualities that make being gay great.
Difference Between Modern and Past Bathhouses
The most significant difference between modern gay bathhouses and gay bathhouses of the past is that modern bathhouses are legal in many states and decriminalized in all of them: this has led to them being a fixture in almost all major cities.
You can find gay bathhouses in Chicago, gay bathhouses in Las Vegas, gay bathhouses in Los Angeles, and many other locations. At Squirt.org, we can help you find bathhouses all in a click or a tap from your internet device.
They're not even exclusive to the United States. Australia is known for having some tremendous gay saunas, as is Germany.
Modern Gay Bathhouses: What Are They Like?
Gay bathhouses are almost precisely what they sound like--bathhouses and saunas that cater to gay men. There's a temptation to think of them as just for sex, but that isn't true.
Beyond the hot locker room and steam room hookups you may read online, you will find most of the same features you would find in most spas. There will most likely be an area for massages and perhaps a gym. Many places also offer a sauna or hot tub in addition to the baths (it may just be right beside the orgy room).
Some bathhouses even sell drinks in certain areas, but be as cautious as you would in any other bar. Like most bars, people usually drink and maybe find a partner to hook up with. However, there is always the possibility that somebody there might have nefarious goals.
The above doesn’t negate that sex isn't part of the experience. You may choose to engage in sexual encounters if you wish, and many do, but it isn't necessary.
Etiquette and Rules of Gay Bathhouses
To a certain extent, the rules in a gay bathhouse are the same as they would be in any other public building--be polite and respectful and don't make advances towards anyone who doesn't seem interested.
However, there are also a few rules that are primarily exclusive to bathhouses. For instance, if you're planning on having sex in the bathhouse, you may need to bring your supplies; this includes toys, condoms, lube, and anything else you'll likely need.
It's also important to be polite to those around you. Most of you are looking for the same thing, but politely turn the fella down and carry on if the feeling isn’t mutual.
There's a chance you'll run into someone you know, and maybe somebody you didn't know was into men. If this happens, just give a brief nod of acknowledgment and try to keep things from getting awkward.
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This world has a long history of gay bathhouses, and a thriving culture has grown out of it. These bathhouses have stood the test of time and borne witness to many historical events.
We've discussed a few reasons for this in this article, but the history of gay rights and the LGBTQ+ community is a long one, and there's no way we could fit all of it in one article. We encourage you to do more research on your own if you're interested.
In the meantime, Squirt.org makes it easy to find a bathhouse close to you. Our global cruising directory provides member reviews, amenity lists and the best venues to partake in a bit of fun, whether you’re in San Francisco or Perth for a hookup. The world is your oyster.