A Brief History of Tearooms and Cruising
For generations, gay men found one another in spaces that were hidden, coded, and often risky. “Tearooms” — public restrooms in parks, bus stations, and other transit hubs — became meeting grounds for men seeking intimacy at a time when homosexuality was criminalized and socially forbidden. Cruising extended beyond restrooms to parks, beaches, piers, and roadside rest stops, creating an underground geography of connection.
These spaces were both liberating and perilous. They offered men, often married or closeted, a chance to explore their desires in a world that refused to acknowledge them. But because they operated in the shadows, tearooms and cruising spots were also easy targets for police raids, entrapment, blackmail, and violence. In the 1960s and 70s, undercover sting operations were common, and men arrested in these settings risked losing jobs, families, and reputations.
Despite persecution, cruising has remained part of queer culture, a reminder of how men carved out intimacy under oppression. Today, with apps and bars more visible, these spaces still exist — though they’ve changed, often framed less by secrecy and more by subculture.
Why Cruising Still Matters
Cruising is not just about sex. It represents freedom of expression, erotic exploration, and queer history. For some men, it’s a ritual of belonging to a lineage of resilience; for others, it’s simply about pleasure, convenience, or the thrill of anonymity. Recognizing this cultural heritage is important in destigmatizing practices that mainstream society long demonized.
Safe Cruising Tips: Protecting Yourself and Others
If you choose to cruise, you can honor the history while protecting your health and safety. Here are some tips:
STI Prevention:
Consider Condoms and bring lube: the former is still solid defense against HIV and other STIs.
PrEP: If condoms aren't your thing and you’re HIV-negative, daily or event-based PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is highly effective in preventing HIV.
PEP: If you’re not on PrEP and think you may have been exposed to HIV, PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) can be started within 72 hours — the sooner, the better.
DoxyPEP: Many men now use doxycycline as “post-exposure prophylaxis” against syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. Taken within 72 hours after sex, it has been shown to reduce bacterial STIs by over 60% although it does not so great with gonorrhea.
Regular screening: Get tested every 3 months (or more often if you’re very active) with three-site testing (urine, throat, rectal). Many STIs are silent but transmissible.
Personal Safety:
Trust your instincts. If someone feels off, it’s okay to walk away.
Stick to areas where others are present — isolation increases risk.
Carry minimal valuables.
Share your location with a trusted friend if possible.
Be aware of local laws and enforcement — not every jurisdiction has moved past criminalization.
Where Tom of P-Town Health Can Help
If you cruise, or are thinking about it, having a reliable provider in your corner makes a difference. At Tom of P-Town Health, we offer:
Comprehensive STI screenings with throat, rectal, and urine testing.
PrEP prescribing and monitoring.
PEP access if you’ve had a possible HIV exposure.
DoxyPEP counseling and prescriptions if appropriate.
Sex-positive, nonjudgmental care tailored for gay and bisexual men.
Closing Thoughts
Tearooms and cruising spaces are part of our shared history as gay men — stories of resilience in the face of criminalization and erasure. Today, we can honor that history by making cruising safer, less stigmatized, and more affirming. Pleasure and safety don’t have to be at odds. Protecting yourself — and your partners — ensures that our community continues to thrive, no matter where we find connection.
Comments
Post a Comment