ARE SEX VENUES HARMING THE GAY COMMUNITY?
A British LGBT rights campaigner has controversially argued that gay sex venues like saunas and steam-baths should be closed down if gay people want to be accepted as “normal” by society.
James Wharton, an openly gay former soldier who served with Prince Harry, made the statement in an article published by Wing magazine.
He wrote that “Sex saunas need to be history. The time has come to close them down,” reported The Independent.
Wharton argued that these venues encourage unsafe sex and drug use and are “thorns in our side that mark our community as different for the wrong reasons.”
“If we don’t, we feed the haters and we hand the bigots who remain a vocal minority ammunition with which to attack us,” he said.
“For me as a gay man, the notion that there exist within our communities a series of places that actively promote the convening of gay men for participation in sex of shades various and in groups of all sizes rather revolts me – and I’ve been round the block a few times, believe me.
“I’m no prude, not even close, but the days when we gathered in clandestine fashion for the want of a network or a sexual outlet are surely long gone,” Wharton added.
Gay rights groups were sceptical of Wharton’s approach and noted that closing these venues won’t stop people from hooking up in other ways.
Matthew Hodson from GMFA told the newspaper: “If someone says that they don’t like gays because we have sex with lots of partners, they’re probably just searching for an excuse to justify their prejudice. Most people with homophobic attitudes will be uncomfortable with gay men in long-term monogamous relationships too.”
Wharton’s view suggests that all gay men want “to be normal,” based on traditional heterosexual ideas of normality. While this may be true for many of us, should others have to conform to these rules to be accepted as legitimate members of society?
Is our community’s diversity of views, behaviour and openness to challenging norms not among our strengths?
Tell us what you think of Wharton’s argument below.
James is totally wrong here: the issue of gay rights and lifestyle is a matter of choice and gay sex venues are part of gay culture for what is a small minority of gay men. It is small minded to believe that gays will be perceived as focused on only sex: there are ample examples out there that this is not so and that the majority of the LGB do not frequent sex haunts. It would be interesting what James thinks about drag, gay mardi gras, effeminate gays, lesbians who are distinctly masculine and other ‘obviously gay’ behaviour. It seems his time spent as a soldier has instilled in him a deep conservatism and that he would prefer gays to appear as the what is perceived to be heterosexual in all but what they do in the privacy of their bedrooms.
Personnally I thing steam baths etc are abnmormal and not for me. I am concervative in this regard. On the other hand, who the hell am I to decide what is normal. Every person has a different perception of what is normal. Anyway abonormal is far more interesting
I respect your opinion Wayne, but think you are using the wrong word when you say it is abnormal. I think millions enjoy sex venues (gay or straight).
And, if only I could spell.
Personally, I think steam baths etc are abnormal and not for me. I am conservative in this regard. On the other hand, who the hell am I to decide what is normal? Every person has a different perception of what is normal. Abnormal is far more interesting
I do not often visit gay sex venues, and if they all close it would not cause any change in my behavior. I have not done any ‘scientific’ research, but I do believe that there is no city in the world with more gay sex venues, than venues aimed at the straight market.
I believe that most of us are much to anal about sex, and think that it should be more open and is something to be enjoyed by all adults. Sex workers should be legalized, taxed and controlled and not driven underground. The purpose of a sex venue is for me not to meet in a clandestine fashion, but simply to enjoy sex (responsibly and with protection) with multiple partners.