What is a gay sauna

However, the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s profoundly affected these establishments, as many were accused of contributing to the spread of the virus. Although both of these historic venues have since closes, others have opened across both Sydney and Melbourne, as well as in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

However, as many began to blame the HIV/AIDS crisis on promiscuity within the gay male community, saunas became a significant target.

City authorities in the United States used the crisis as a way to shut saunas, closing popular venues in big gay cities such as  San Francisco and New York. If you visit one, you will still find many gay men, of all different ages, sizes and ethnicities, who frequent them regularly. Saunas were seen as dirty, disease-ridden places— key incubators for the HIV/AIDS crisis.

 

Saunas today face even more challenges. In 1492, authorities engaged in a purge against the “vice of sodomy”, convicting 44 men for homosexual relations, who they picked up in taverns, baths and casini (sheds and houses used for illicit sex). 

While smatterings of similar recordings exist in the following centuries, it wasn't until the late 19th Century that saunas became a standard place for gay sex to occur.

The late 19^th and early 20^th centuries were defined as an era when queer people began to gather more regularly in public spaces, and in turn, came to be defined under the banner of ‘homosexual’.

The Hudson Valley and Catskills regions have become prime destinations for this new wave of wellness travel.

Resorts like the Urban Cowboy Lodge are revitalizing bathing and sauna culture by offering modern, luxurious takes on these age-old therapeutic practices.

There are foam parties, naked nights and themed events - check their Facebook. This is a continuation of the history of an important institution that has been core to gay culture for many years.

The first known recording of same-sex sexual activities in saunas dates all the way to 1492 in Florence, Italy. Designed for the general public to come in, relax, and unwind, gay men used the relative anonymity and privacy of saunas as a safe space for sexual encounters.

Initially many saunas operators reacted strongly against this, with some calling the police on gay men, or hiring private guards to protect their facilities.

This sort of oppression occurred even when men had sex in the confines of their own homes. In the UK, prominent gay activist James Wharton made a splash a few years ago, calling for saunas to be closed and stating that they are “thorns in our side that mark our community as different for the wrong reasons”.

Unfortunately, we have seen many of the most famous saunas close in recent years, often due to these various challenges.

Continue for about 7 minutes, take a left on Alley 4. And if all else fails, at least you get a relaxing spa and sauna! Los Angeles recently lost Hollywood Spa, one of its largest bathouses, while the famous Chariots branch in London’s Shoreditch closed in 2016, with its building being bulldozed to make way for a new hotel. Aside from governments, many gay men also turned against saunas, blaming them for the growing epidemic, calling from within the community for them to be closed.

While these venues were officially allowed to reopen in the US following the end of the crisis, the position of saunas has never quite returned to that of earlier years.

As campaigns for marriage equality have dominated the queer movement, others still have continued to actively call for saunas to close. Whether it’s a rejuvenating stay at the Urban Cowboy Lodge or a rustic escape at Scribner’s Lodge, these destinations offer the chance to experience the best of what the Hudson Valley has to offer—without sacrificing privacy or comfort.

Embracing a New Wellness Era

The move from public spaces to private wellness experiences reflects a broader cultural shift in how we view LGBTQ+ sexuality and community.

As society became more accepting of LGBTQ+ identities, the allure of secretive spaces like saunas faded, and nightlife in queer clubs and bars took over as social hubs.

The Rise of Wellness Travel in the Hudson Valley

While gay saunas may no longer be as prominent in New York City, the desire for wellness and community experiences hasn’t vanished—it has simply evolved.

Although these venues continued to face police raids and intimidation, as gay-owned and operated spaces, they became a sexual mecca for many gay men. Many LGBTQ+ individuals and groups of friends are seeking wellness retreats that offer privacy, relaxation, and a connection to nature.