ABSTRACT
Gay bathhouses, affectionately referred to as ‘‘the tubs,’’ are commercial establishments where
men gather for sexual encounters. They can be found in many large and medium-size US
cities, and operate as private membership clubs. Bathhouse patrons pay a nominal member-
ship fee and then can choose to rent either a locker, to store their clothing, or a private
room, typically equipped with a small bed, a nightstand and a hook for hanging clothing.
The amenities inside bathhouses often include saunas, steam rooms, stages for live perfor-
mances, video screens upon which pornography is projected, and small gyms. Today, some
bathhouses have even added high-speed internet connections to the services they offer. In
the US, bathhouses have served as meeting places for men interested in sex with other men
since at least the turn of the twentieth century. They have played an important part in the
development of modern gay identities, politics and culture.
