What is a gay sauna

The Freddie Guide to: Bathhouses

What is a bathhouse?

Bathhouses – also known as baths, saunas, or lgbtq+ saunas – are spaces where lgbtq+ men* meet to socialise, relax and have 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 1970s. Most of them closed in the 1980s, as local governments made common 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 enjoy Squirt and Sniffies.

* Historically, bathhouses only admitted cisgender men. They are generally becoming more inclusive. Many have more relaxed door policies or dedicated times and events that are safer spaces for trans and non-binary people. If this applies to you, it’s leading to check online or ring ahead before visiting a venue for the first time. 

When you arrive

When you enter 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

Gay Sauna Etiquette

So, you've finally summoned up the courage to get the plunge and visit a male lover sauna. Congratulations! This can be a hugely liberating encounter, allowing you to explore your sexuality in a secure and welcoming environment.

Gay saunas are sex-positive places. This means that sexual exercise is not only permitted, but actively encouraged! However, there are still some rules of etiquette that should be observed in decree to make everyone's experience as enjoyable as possible.

Gay Saunas are places where gay men assemble to drink, socialize, and have sex. They are often called bathhouses or SOPVs (sex on premises venues). Queer saunas vary in size and amenities, but most hold steam rooms, showers, small lockers for having a great time, and sometimes pools.

You are likely to encounter all types of men in a male lover sauna, from those who are just looking to chat and socialize to those who are there for more x-rated fun.

Dim lighting, corridors lined with doors, dark alcoves with moaning sounds, and private rooms are all part of the homosexual sauna experience, so it's best to leave your inhibitions at the door. It is not unusual to spot men walk around naked

Should you visit a male lover sauna in a strange city? We’ve got some gay sauna advice

When we’re away from home, it’s tempting to try recent things. Going to a gay bathhouse (or a gay sauna, as they call them in Europe or Latin America) in a different city seems particularly appealing because we won’t run into friends, colleagues or other people we wouldn’t want to see us cruising. It can be a swift way, other than bars and apps, to gather local gay and bi guys.

But then again: How do you find (or pick) a gay bathhouse in a strange metropolis and, once there, navigate all the rules and social rituals?

Though each same-sex attracted bathhouse has its hold way of doing business, certain elements are often standardized. You pay an admission price, which gets you a locker or a room where you can store your clothes after stripping down to a towel or less. A room can reach in handy because it’s a space of your own where you can invite other guys and close the door. There is usually a arid and a wet sauna, a hot tub and dark places, sometimes cabins, where patrons can obtain intimate with one another. Sometimes there is a bar and other amenities. Though some cultures are chatty (think Latin America and South Africa), mo

Did you know that men own been cruising each other for sex at bathhouses since the 15th century?

While the original intention of men’s bathhouses may own been hygiene, today’s gay bathhouses or saunas, along with other types of sex-on-premises-venue (SOPV) or sex venues, are intended as places where you can encounter others for casual sex. SOPVs offer a place to scout and play with a wider variety of people, many of whom might not appear on a dating app grid.

Walking around a gay sauna or SOPV, you might quickly realise a whole new set of rules is at play; with everything from navigating consent to entity comfortable in a sexualised cosmos, there can be a lot to learn. Here’s what you should know before heading into a sex venue for the first time.

How does a male lover sauna operate?

Like a hotel, you’ll arrive at your venue, and there will be a front desk where you’ll pay an admission fee, and in refund , you’ll receive a locker key and a towel.

From there, it’s a matter of heading to the changerooms to change into the towel and store your clothes in a locker. Upon arriving, many people will also shower to freshen up, and many venues may have douching facilities if you want t