Glory hole

Last updated

A glory hole in a restroom stall Glory hole in washroom (155966507).jpg
A glory hole in a restroom stall

A glory hole (also spelled gloryhole and glory-hole) is a hole in a wall or partition, often between public lavatory cubicles or sex video arcade booths and lounges, for people to engage in sexual activity or to observe the person on the opposite side.

Contents

Glory holes are especially associated with gay male culture and anal or oral sex. [1] [2] [3] They are not exclusively favoured by gay people, and have become more commonly acknowledged as a fetish for heterosexual and bisexual individuals. [4]

In more recent years, public glory holes have faded in popularity in many countries, [5] though some gay websites offer directories of remaining ones. Glory holes are sometimes a topic of erotic literature, and pornographic films have been devoted to their use. [2]

Motivations

Numerous motivations can be ascribed to the use and eroticism of glory holes. As a wall separates the two participants, they have no contact except for a penis and a mouth, hand, anus, or vagina. Almost total anonymity is maintained, as no other attributes are taken into consideration. [6] The glory hole is seen as an erotic oasis in gay subcultures around the world; people's motives, experiences and attributions of value in its use are varied. [7] [8]

In light of the ongoing HIV pandemic, many gay men reevaluated their sexual and erotic desires and practices. [9] Queer theorist Tim Dean has suggested that glory holes allow for a physical barrier, which may be an extension of psychological barriers, in which there is internalized homophobia (a result of many societies' reluctance to discuss LGBT practices and people). [9] For some gay men, a glory hole depersonalizes their partner altogether as a disembodied object of sexual desire. [9]

History

A Man Exposing Himself Through a Hole in the Fence, 1600-1635, by tr:Nev'izade Atayi Atai (Walters MS 666) - A Man Exposing Himself Through a Hole in the Fence.jpg
A Man Exposing Himself Through a Hole in the Fence, 1600–1635, by tr:Nev'îzâde Atâyî

The first documented instance of a glory hole was in a 1707 court case known as the "Tryals of Thomas Vaughan and Thomas Davis" in London, which involved the extortion of a man known in the documents only as Mr Guillam. [10] [3] At the time, gay sex in public places could lead to arrests by members of the Society for the Reformation of Manners. Often the authorities would wait outside the Lincoln's Inn bog house in London as one place to catch people.

The courts heard that a man (Mr Guillam) had visited a lavatory stall to relieve himself, when another male put his penis through a hole in the wall ("a Boy in the adjoyning Vault put his Privy-member through a Hole"). [11] Mr Guillam, surprised by the action, fled the lavatory, only to be followed by the male who cried out that he would have had sex with him. Mr Guillam was then confronted by Mr Vaughan who, knowing Mr Guillam's innocence, threatened to turn him in to the police and reveal him to his wife if he did not pay him a sum of money.

During the mid-1900s, police often used bathroom glory holes as an entrapment method for gay men, often recording the incidents as evidence to prosecute. [4] Such incidents were recorded in California and Ohio in the 1950s and 1960s, with archival police footage of "tearooms" appearing on pornography websites such as Pornhub.

According to the Routledge Dictionary of Modern American Slang, "glory hole" first appeared in print in 1949, when an anonymously published glossary, Swasarnt Nerf's Gay Girl's Guide, defined it as "[a] phallic size hole in partition between toilet booths. Sometimes used also for a mere peep-hole." [3]

Another reference to glory holes appeared in Tearoom Trade: Impersonal Sex in Public Places, a controversial book published by sociologist Laud Humphreys in 1970, where he suggests the "tearoom", or bathroom stall, as a prime space for men to congregate for sexual fulfilment. It also appeared later in the 1977 book The Joy of Gay Sex . [12]

Public glory holes started to fade in popularity as the decriminalization of homosexuality was introduced in many countries, and concerns over HIV/AIDS changed gay culture. A 2001 study in the Journal of Homosexuality found that public glory holes remained popular among many gay men "simply because they find [them] exciting and/or convenient." [3]

Despite the fading prominence of glory holes in public, some gay bath houses and sex clubs maintain the presence of glory holes in their establishments, and some people have acknowledged installing private glory-hole walls in their own homes. [4] Bathroom sex remains a fetish for a subset of gay men in particular, who engage in similarly anonymous acts below a bathroom stall separator rather than through a hole.

In 2018, the Western Australian Museum added a "historic glory hole" to its collection. It had been situated in the toilet stall of the Albany Highway-side of the Gosnells train station, but was removed and saved in 1997 before the toilet was demolished. [13] [14]

The Leather Archives & Museum was loaned a glory hole from Man’s Country in Chicago in June 2019. [15]

A 2020 BuzzFeed article collected anecdotes from gay, straight and bisexual readers recounting their experiences with glory holes at swinger parties. [4]

A blocked glory hole in Chengdu A blocked glory hole in Chengdu 03.jpg
A blocked glory hole in Chengdu

Public sex of any kind is illegal in many parts of the world, and police undercover operations continue to be used to enforce such laws. [16] Adverse personal consequences to participants in glory hole activity have included police surveillance and public humiliation in the press, often with marital and employment consequences, and imprisonment following a criminal conviction. Gay bashing, mugging and bodily injury are further potential risks. For reasons of personal safety, as well as etiquette, men typically wait for a signal from the receptive partner before inserting their genitals through a glory hole.[ citation needed ]

Potential health advantage

In June 2020, a New York Health Department COVID-19 advisory suggested sex through "physical barriers, like walls", but did not specifically reference glory holes, as part of broader measures on dating and sex during the pandemic. [17]

About a month later, the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control went a step further with its COVID-19 precautionary recommendations by suggesting using "barriers, like walls (e.g., glory holes), that allow for sexual contact but prevent close face-to-face contact" as one way to lower the risk of exposure to the virus. [18]

Glory holes are a recurring theme in pornography. Straight porn often features scenarios involving them; in some instances, it involves kink mistresses, who see it as a form of women's sexual agency and mastery. [4]

The early 20th-century pornographic cartoon Eveready Harton in Buried Treasure depicts the use of an improvised glory hole for zoophilic purposes.

Jackass Number Two features a stunt where cast member Chris Pontius dresses his penis in a mouse costume and inserts it into a glory hole that feeds into a snake's cage.

In The Illuminatus! Trilogy a glory hole, in the form of a giant golden apple with an opening in it, is used as part of the Discordian initiation ritual, causing the main character to wonder who or what is on the other side.

American glam metal band Steel Panther's album All You Can Eat features a song entitled "Gloryhole", about the narrator's frequent visits to a local gloryhole.

In the "Mac and Charlie Die (Part 1)" episode of the sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia , the gang discovers a glory hole has been added to the men's bathroom in their bar.

In 2024, comedy duo Rhett and Link gamified the glory hole for their annual Good Mythical Evening livestream. The game included a "Gory Hole" as the event was Halloween themed. The participant was instructed to guess what inanimate object was poking out of the hole while blindfolded and unable to use their hands.

See also

Related Research Articles

Anal sex or anal intercourse is generally the insertion and thrusting of the erect penis into a person's anus, or anus and rectum, for sexual pleasure. Other forms of anal sex include anal fingering, the use of sex toys, anilingus, pegging, as well as electrostimulation and erotic torture such as figging. Although anal sex most commonly means penile–anal penetration, sources sometimes use anal intercourse to exclusively denote penile–anal penetration, and anal sex to denote any form of anal sexual activity, especially between pairings as opposed to anal masturbation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Group sex</span> Sexual behavior involving more than two participants

Group sex is sexual activity involving more than two people. Participants in group sex can be of any sexual orientation or gender. Any form of sexual activity can be adopted to involve more than two participants, but some forms have their own names.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Double penetration</span> Both anal and vaginal penetration at the same time

Double penetration is a term that usually refers to a vaginal and anal sex act involving one penis penetrating a vagina while another penetrates the anus. It could also refer to the simultaneous penetration of either a vagina or an anus by two penises or objects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cottaging</span> Gay slang term

Cottaging is a gay slang term, originating from the United Kingdom, referring to anonymous sex between men in a public lavatory, or cruising for sexual partners with the intention of having sex elsewhere. The term has its roots in self-contained English toilet blocks resembling small cottages in their appearance; in the English cant language of Polari this became a double entendre by gay men referring to sexual encounters. See also gay beat in Australian English.

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. The term is also used when technology is used to find casual sex, such as using an Internet site or a telephone service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gay bathhouse</span> Commercial space for male-male sex

A gay bathhouse, also known as a gay sauna or a gay steambath, is a public bath targeted towards gay and bisexual men. In gay slang, a bathhouse may be called just "the baths", "the sauna", or "the tubs". Historically, they have been used for sexual activity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frot</span> Penis-to-penis sexual contact

Frot or frotting is a sexual practice between men that usually involves direct penis-to-penis contact. The term was popularized by gay male activists who disparaged the practice of anal sex, but has since evolved to encompass a variety of preferences for the act, which may or may not imply particular attitudes towards other sexual activities. This can also be used as some type of foreplay.

Robert Allan Humphreys (1930–1988), known as Laud Humphreys, was an American sociologist and Episcopal priest. He is noted for his research into sexual encounters between men in public bathrooms, published as Tearoom Trade (1970) and for the questions that emerged from what was overwhelmingly considered unethical research methods. He influenced generations of scholars who research issues related to sexuality and sexual identity.

Gay cruising describes the act of searching about a public place in pursuit of a partner for sex. This activity has existed in England and Wales since at least the 17th century and has a colourful legal history. It differs from prostitution in that the parties involved do not seek money for sex, and from gay nightclubs or bathhouses in that they are not on private premises, although they may take place on private land to which the public have been granted access.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Male prostitution</span> Act or practice of men providing sexual services in return for payment

Male prostitution is a form of sex work consisting of act or practice of men providing sexual services in return for payment. Although clients can be of any gender, the vast majority are older males looking to fulfill their sexual needs. Male prostitutes have been far less studied than female prostitutes by researchers. Even so, male prostitution has an extensive history including regulation through homosexuality, conceptual developments on sexuality, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic impact. In the last century, male sex work has seen various advancements such as popularizing new sexual acts, methods of exchange, and carving out a spot in cinema.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adult movie theater</span> Movie theater designed for the exhibition of pornographic films

An adult movie theater is a euphemistic term for a movie theater dedicated to the exhibition of pornographic films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gay sex roles</span> Positions during sexual activity

In human sexuality, top, bottom, and versatile are roles during sexual activity, especially between two males or between males and intersex people. A top is usually a person who penetrates, a bottom is usually one who receives penetration, and someone who is versatile engages in either or both roles. These terms may be elements of self-identity that indicate an individual's usual preference and habits, but might also describe broader sexual identities and social roles.

Troll and trolling are slang terms used almost exclusively among gay men to characterize gay, bisexual and questioning or bi-curious men who cruise or "wander about looking" for sex or potential sex partners or experiences "in a notably wanton manner and with lessened standards of what one will accept in a partner." The term can be used positively or negatively depending on the speaker, usage and intent and can describe the person or the activity. Although often referring to "an unattractive older gay man" and although troll as a slur "is primarily a visual, not a behavioral" judgment, the phrases can be used for anyone who is trolling, regardless of the putative troll's age or perceived attractiveness.

<i>Tearoom Trade</i> 1970 book by Laud Humphreys

Tearoom : Impersonal Sex in Public Places is a 1970 non-fiction book by American sociologist Laud Humphreys, based on his 1968 Ph.D. dissertation "Tearoom Trade: A Study of Homosexual Encounters in Public Places." The study is an analysis of men who participate in anonymous sex with other men in public lavatories, a practice known as "tea-rooming" or "cottaging". Humphreys asserted that the men participating in such activity came from diverse social backgrounds, had differing personal motives for seeking sex in such venues, and variously self-perceived as "straight," "bisexual," or "gay."

<i>The Surprise of a Knight</i> 1929 film

The Surprise of a Knight is a gay pornographic hardcore film from the United States. Most likely released in 1929, it is notable for being the earliest known American pornographic film to depict exclusively homosexual intercourse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gay pornography</span> Pornography depicting sex acts between males

Gay pornography is the representation of sexual activity between males. Its primary goal is sexual arousal in its audience. Softcore gay pornography also exists; which at one time constituted the genre, and may be produced as beefcake pornography directed toward heterosexual female, homosexual male, and bisexual audiences of any gender.

Bathroom sex is the engagement of sexual activities in the bathroom or toilet, either private or public. Bathroom sex occurs in many parts of the world and in many places, including stores, hotels, bars, restaurants, airplanes, and universities. Bathroom sex is depicted in many films. There is specific jargon which is applied to initiating and having sex in a bathroom, as well as the sex positions that are most commonly used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sexual practices between men</span> Sexual activity between men

Sexual activities involving men who have sex with men (MSM), regardless of their sexual orientation or sexual identity, can include anal sex, non-penetrative sex, and oral sex. Evidence shows that sex between men is significantly underreported in surveys.

The Working Man Trilogy is a landmark American gay pornographic trilogy released in the late 1970s. The films were created and directed by Tim Kincaid under the pseudonym Joe Gage, with Sam Gage serving as producer on all three. The series featured universally masculine, working class male actors engaging in various sexual activities with each other, a notable divergence from the usual masculine/feminine partner roles found in earlier gay porn.

<i>The Tearoom</i> 2017 video game

The Tearoom is a 2017 game by independent developer Robert Yang. Described by the creator as a "historical public bathroom simulator", The Tearoom is an erotic game that simulates the experience of participating in 'tearoom' public sex, also known as cottaging, with the goal of avoiding interference with the police. Taking inspiration from the 1970 non-fiction book Tearoom Trade and a 1962 public sex bust by police in Mansfield, Ohio, Yang developed the game as a political commentary on the past and present traditions of queer sex and persecution of sex by police. Upon release, The Tearoom received attention from publications and academics about the relevance of its historical subject matter and the effectiveness of its gameplay to convey themes of uncertainty and danger.

References

  1. ↑ Murphy, Timothy F. (1994). Gay Ethics: Controversies in Outing, Civil Rights, and Sexual Science. Haworth Press. p. 237. ISBN   978-1-56023-056-4 . Retrieved 31 December 2007.
  2. 1 2 Burger, John Robert (1995). One-Handed Histories: The Eroto-Politics of Gay Male Video. Haworth Press. ISBN   1-56024-860-2 . Retrieved 31 December 2007.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Murphy, Rhodes (29 July 2019). "Who Do We Have to Thank for "Glory Holes"—Glass Blowers or Gays?". Slate. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "We Asked People Why They Use Glory Holes. Boy, Did They Answer". BuzzFeed News. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  5. ↑ DiMauro, Anthony (1 September 2020). "A Forgotten Sex Act's Unlikely Renaissance in the Pandemic". Slate. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  6. ↑ Blachford, Gregg (2002). "Male dominance and the gay world". In Plummer, Kenneth (ed.). Sexualities: Difference and the diversity of sexualities. Taylor & Francis. p. 301. ISBN   978-0-415-21275-5.
  7. ↑ Bapst, Don (June 2001). "Glory Holes and the Men who use Them". Journal of Homosexuality. 41 (1): 89–102. doi:10.1300/J082v41n01_02. PMID   11453517. S2CID   43917317.
  8. ↑ Tewksbury, Richard (2004). "The Intellectual Legacy of Laud Humphreys: His Impact on Research and Thinking about Men's Public Sexual Encounters". International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy. 24 (3/4/5): 47. doi:10.1108/01443330410790867.
  9. 1 2 3 Dean, Tim (2000). Beyond Sexuality . University of Chicago Press. ISBN   0-226-13934-4 . Retrieved 31 December 2007. gloryhole.
  10. ↑ "A History of Homoerotica". rictornorton.co.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  11. ↑ "Homosexuality in Eighteenth-Century England: Trials of Thomas Vaughan and Thomas Davis, 1707". rictornorton.co.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  12. ↑ "A Probing History of Glory Holes". MEL Magazine. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  13. ↑ "Loo door 'too tacky to display'". PerthNow. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  14. ↑ Herald, Your (7 December 2018). "WA's glorious history". Perth Voice Interactive. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  15. ↑ Rhodes, Adam M. (29 October 2020). "Gay bathhouses were barely surviving. And then came COVID-19". Chicago Reader . Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  16. ↑ Jaffe, Harold (2005). Terror-Dot-Gov. Raw Dog Screaming Press. p. 28. ISBN   1-933293-09-8 . Retrieved 31 December 2007.
  17. ↑ Parker-Pope, Tara (11 June 2020). "Masks, No Kissing and 'a Little Kinky': Dating and Sex in a Pandemic". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  18. ↑ "Try 'glory holes' for safer sex during coronavirus, B.C. CDC says". Global News. Retrieved 27 July 2020.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.