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In later testimony, police reported witnessing anal sex. Breathe through the pain. Many still struggle with the stigma attached to them by moral crusaders who gunned for them during the worst years of the HIV epidemic. Focus on your inhales and exhales. Bathhouses provided a safe place for these men to gather. (Today, many cities actually recognize bathhouses as vital tools for addressing HIV by providing health services in a setting where it’s needed most.)

Bathhouses had really taken off around the 1950s in the United States.

And online opportunities for queer people to connect have replaced physical gathering places. Check the nearby clocks to time your plunge.

4. “Intense excitement among 60 persons inside,” read the New York Times coverage.

gay bathouse

Further reading:The History of America's Gay Bathhouses

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The Russian & Turkish Baths

268 East 10th Street, New York, New York 10009, United States, New York City, USA

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The Russian & Turkish Baths, located at 268 East 10th Street in Manhattan's East Village, have been a staple of New York City's wellness scene since 1892.

Even in cities where they’re legal, patrons would do well to keep their wits about them and watch out for law enforcement looking to target queer men.

Over a century may have passed since that first American raid, but progress remains to be made.

What did you think of our quick lesson in gay bathhouse history?

This article was originally published on Jan.

9, 2018. Now in its fifth decade, East Side Club is a popular New York cruising site. During the 1970s, New York had several gay saunas and bathhouses that were explicitly part of the LGBTQ+ scene, with some using similar "Russian & Turkish Baths" branding. “The conduct of some of the frequenters of the establishment was questionable.”

Police had been spying on the men at The Ariston Hotel Baths for days.

Get in the cold plunge. You can do hard things.

6. Explicit sexual activity isn't encouraged: if you want to do that you can go to East Side Club.

It should be noted that The Russian & Turkish Baths is not a gay bathhouse. This booking is not required for your first visit but highly recommended to get the most out of your Bathhouse experience.

Bathhouse vs spa

If you're new to the world of bathhouses and spas, you might think they are one in the same.

Repeat.