Cruising gay definition

Cruising for sex or cruising is walking or driving about a locality, called a cruising ground, in search of a sex partner, usually of the anonymous, casual, one-time variety. [1][2] The term is also used when technology is used to find casual sex, such as using an Internet site or a telephone service. [3][4]. What, exactly, is the true definition of cruising? While there isn’t a hard and fast definition of cruising, it basically boils down to two people who “look at each other and know that.

Gay cruising refers to the practice of men (usually, but not exclusively gay men) seeking out sexual encounters in public or semi-public spaces such as parks, restrooms, beaches, or specific locations known to be popular among other gay men. Cruising refers to searching for partners in outdoor or public places such as parks, beaches, or streets. It involves walking or lingering in specific areas known for this purpose.

Cottaging refers specifically to engaging in sexual encounters in public restrooms or “cottages” (a British slang term). Cruising for sex happens in many different places, such as secluded areas of parks or woods. Sometimes cruising happens in venues such as public toilets and this is generally called cottaging. A recent survey conducted by LGBT HERO () showed the different types of places people often cruise for sex: In a park – 69% In a public toilet – 63%.

Home - Sexual Health - Cruising. You may be looking for somewhere new, seeking thrill or adventure, or just not be able to have the sex you want within your four walls. You may have heard someone talk about cruising, or have been asked if you want to go, but what does it actually mean? Cruising is walking or driving about certain areas, called cruising grounds, looking for a sexual partner. These meetings are usually one-off, anonymous encounters.

Cruising: The word originated as a gay slang term, sometime in the early s, as a way for people who knew its meaning to arrange sexual meetings. It was a way to plan sexual encounters without attracting the attention of people who may wish to report them to the authorities, or inflict harm. Cottaging: The term cottaging originated in the early s in the UK.

It was used to describe public toilet blocks in public areas that resembled small cottages. Like the word cruising, cottaging was a code word for gay men to plan sex meetings without attracting unwanted attention. The term is only used in UK. So, although both terms originated around the same time, and they both describe having sex in a public place, there is one major difference between the two.

There is no law specifically against cruising having sex outdoors , as long as you are ensuring that you are not visible to other members of the public or causing a nuisance. Cottaging, on the other hand, is a different matter, as it is a criminal offence. Having sex in any public toilet or facility is against the law, even if you are doing it in a closed cubicle.

Police or security often patrols these areas. If you are caught then you could be banned from the area or even arrested and potentially charged for sexual offences, which will be on your criminal record and would be flagged any time you have DBS check. Some of the most popular cruising sites tend to be in large parks, by canals, and in lay-bys.

This is because there are often lots of nice, secluded areas that you can disappear into and not be seen by passers-by. Due to the secluded nature of cruising sites, you are not likely to just stumble upon one. So, if you are thinking you might like to give it a try, it is best to look on certain websites, such as Squirt. You will be able to find a full list of areas local to you, with directions of how to get there, safety advice for each particular site, and a message board to see who else may be going at certain times.

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Once you have found an area you would like to visit and arrived there, what do you need to do? You will often spot other people walking around on their own, maybe looking at their phones, or just slowly looking about. It is unlikely that someone will just walk up to you and announce what they are there for, so it is important to keep a look out for signals, such as eye contact, a nod of the head, or something along those lines.

If this happens, it generally means that they are interested and you can approach them. Making sure you are safe at all times is of the utmost importance. Due to the types of areas you are visiting, it is very unlikely that there will be CCTV in operation, or even lighting. It is advisable to keep all your personal items, such as mobile phones, wallets, and keys, well hidden on your person at all times, or leave them at home if you can.

You may not want to tell people that you are going to meet somebody for sex, but it is advisable to tell someone that you are going out and check back in with them when you are home, so that they know you are safe. People can often be worried that if they go cruising, the police will be patrolling. The police would only tend to visit cruising grounds if someone has reported an annoyance complaint, or if there had been reports of an attack or offence there.