For years, at any social event in the USA, intrigue was sparked when someone discovered I once managed gay bathhouses, what you would call in the U.K. saunas. Even though I now live a completely different life in France, far from North America, where I worked in bathhouses, the fascination with this part of my past persists, and I’m always happy to share.
Typically, the first questions are, “What kind of people go to a gay sauna?” and, “You must have a lot of sex stories.” Faces light up with interest, and after a couple of jaw-dropping stories, someone inevitably suggests, “You should write a book about your experiences.”
So I did. And Bathhouse Babylon – Full Release was born.
There are many books out there filled with sex stories from regular bathhouse visitors, but I wanted to offer a behind-the-scenes perspective. Diving into the diaries I kept for over more than a decade of my experiences, I chronicled my journey from casual patron to the manager of several saunas.
Many people still assume that bathhouses are seedy places filled with ugly, old men. But gay bathhouses are important cultural hubs, and they continue to be places not everyone is privy to, so I wanted to examine and inform others about that.
I aimed to provide a raw, tell-all, and, most importantly, truthful view of the industry. My goal was to confirm and debunk assumptions, demystify urban myths, and present the reality of these establishments.
Who visits a gay bathhouse?
Men of every age, body type, financial background, and educational level visit bathhouses. The diverse mix of people is what makes these places so enticing, whether the individual comes to celebrate, simply have sex, or to escape the outside world for a short time.
These are places where men can find a sense of freedom while exploring their sexuality without judgment, yet there are also men who go to gay saunas just to have a feeling of belonging while perhaps also abstaining from sex…as odd as that sounds.
In a bathhouse, a person can be whoever they want to be. When everyone is stripped down naked or just has a towel wrapped around their waist, many assumptions are left behind and possibly new sexual experiences can begin. Communication in a bathhouse is also about using your senses and gut instinct. A subtle touch while passing each other in a corridor or a specific look can lead to things you never imagined.
What are bathhouses like in the USA?
For those that have never been to a bathhouse, they are like nightclubs, with more enhancing and erotic lighting, usually with an equally great sound system, and possibly drinks if licensed for it, except in these places, you can have any kind of sex you desire in every corner of the venue if you would like. One-on-one, threesomes, gang bangs, whatever and how often you want.
What aspects of bathhouses does Bathhouse Babylon explore?
Beyond the numerous outlandish and titillating stories in Bathhouse Babylon, I explored the sociological aspects: how the time of day or night can affect behaviours, how opposites definitely attract, the ways men may choose to push their sexual boundaries and evolve sexually.
The book delves into the business side of gay bathhouses in the USA while also discussing drug and alcohol use, escorts, celebrity encounters, money-driven owners, diversity challenges, business competition, and sex addiction.
Bathhouse Babylon also highlights the integral role gay bathhouses play in the LGBTQ+ community in the USA. These businesses are a part of our history, representing a time when just the suspicion of being gay could cost someone their job or home. The book also addresses how the AIDS crisis in the ’80s forced bathhouses to adapt by providing the basics like free condoms, introducing on-site health nurses to educate, privately testing for STDs, and safe sex information in full display to stay open.
The book also examines the possible future of these establishments, as they were once considered central gathering points in a gay community. Now, bathhouses compete with hookup apps and numerous other socialising options available, so they must continually integrate with what is happening or risk closure.
If you can imagine it, it can happen in a bathhouse.
Bathhouse Babylon can currently be found on Amazon and other online retailers.
Images supplied by Jameson Farn
