August 2018 Issue #20 August 2018 Issue #20 | Page 80

18 Tips for Gay Cruising at the Gym
Some gay men see cruising as a lost art — killed by hookup apps, an evolved social climate,
changing queer norms, and everything else. These people have never been to a gay gym.
Maybe that’s not fair. Sure, Grindr made hooking up easier. That’s what technology does. It
makes things easier, not better. Now we regret the ease and effortlessness of which we can
find a guy nearby who meets all our specs with just a few clicks.
If you want to try your hand at the tried-and-true, old-school art of cruising for sex in public,
grab your shorts (no underwear necessary, commando only) and some lifting gloves. It’s time
to get sweaty.
Here are my top tips for cruising at the gym:
1. Find a “gay gym”
If you’re in the Castro, West Hollywood or Hell’s Kitchen, every gym is the gay gym. But, if you
don’t live in a queer city, you’re going to have to ask around. Ask the locals for suggestions on
gay-friendly gyms.
Asking around is extra work, but don’t lament this step in the process. In established gay-
borhood gyms, the staff are extra vigilant and on the lookout for fuckery (also called “public
indecency”), which means you may have a higher chance of getting caught in those establish-
ments. Some of the naughtiest sessions happen in small-town gyms.
80