Have Health Clubs Become the New Gay Bars?
Published February 24, 2007
There’s nothing wrong with being homosexual. After all, some of the greatest priests, congressmen, internet muckrakers, as well as actors, are homosexual (even if they don’t want to admit it to themselves). I am also someone who fully supports gay marriage. So how can I be homophobic (as some have accused me of being when I talk about this topic) when my golden retriever, Cody, is gay (well, judging from all the times he tried to hump my leg). It is also important to note that I consider Barbara Streisand to be one of the greatest entertainers of our time and also check out The Drudge Report a couple times per week. But why do I feel like health clubs have become the new gay bars?
I used to belong to Bally’s Total Fitness. I found the staff there to be very friendly and the equipment to be very reliable. But now, lets turn to the right a little bit where the men’s locker room is. Here’s where the problem starts. There is always some guy that is at his locker forever, trying to get a glimpse at other guys when they take off their clothes. Don’t tell me that you other gym rats haven’t noticed this! Maybe it’s because I live in Los Angeles where there is a huge gay population. But this isn’t 
West Hollywood mind you! That guy is always there. Three nights ago, it was an Indian guy in his mid 40s (they always seem to be middle aged). He was putting on his clothes and his eyes nearly popped out of his head when a young tattooed Latino with muscles flowing everywhere arrived. I have to admit: it would be nice to look like this young man! As I noticed the Indian man sexually molest this young man with his eyes, I kept wanting to say to this man, “Wait till he turns 30 and the belly starts to come out!” But I was really embarrassed for this middle aged desperado and the young Latino man, who didn’t have a clue that he was being “checked out.”
Ok, so the actual gym part just isn’t really part of the new gay bar. Most people are too obsessed with their exercises to look around. If they do, it’s usually not that noticeable. But once you walk in the locker room again, Studio 74 opens for a new round. It’s time to go through the bathroom into the shower area. First, there’s the sauna. How pathetic is it that Bally’s allows people to enter the sauna naked? I usually keep my bathing suit on because I realize a sauna is a great place for a homosexual lurker. Just as I expected, there were two fat middle aged guys waiting for a decent looking man to walk in. Just as I sat down on the bench, I could feel the steam; but it had nothing to do with the temperature of the room. It was the type of steam I didn’t want to feel, especially when one of them asked me, “Do you know what time it is?” Yeah, right! I was pissed and wanted to walk out. But soon, a young, muscled Armenian man walked in and I knew that the attention would no longer focus on me. I have to admit to being a little jealous; when I was in my early 20s, I looked just as good as these muscle gym freaks. Sadly, as soon as I hit 30, those calories just didn’t burn as easily.
Daryl, who thinks that both Democrats and Republicans are ruining our country, is a freelance writer who writes articles on politics, technology, and entertainment. If you want to send him feedback on any of his articles (good or bad) don't hesitate to email him at report345@yahoo.com.
- Have Health Clubs Become the New Gay Bars?
- Published: February 24, 2007
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Culture
- Filed Under: Culture: Humor and Satire, Culture: Society
- Writer: Daryl D
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You're sounding a tad paranoid. Being checked out and being propositioned are quite different.
Health clubs are not quite the same thing as a bathhouse or even a bar.
Lol, just don't go near an NBA locker room.
What is the world comming to, what happend to the traditional health clubs where men do what they are supposed to do, check out women!
What a lot of hot air about trivia---who cares if anyone looks at some one? Different if it goes beyond looking!!
Love ya, Daryl hon but you seem to understand the methods of these lurkers a little too much, know what I mean (smiles smiles).
How do you know the people looking are gay? I bet many of these men are married to WOMEN. As one of the other posters noted, you seem to know A LOT about these "lurkers". Have you thought about the other men who notice that YOU are looking around a lot? Unless you saw them on their knees servicing someone I wouldn't just assume someone was gay. I think your beef is with the Health club. Gay guys go to the gym just like you, to work out and go home. This gay guy doesn't look around like you do.
The last year I lived in Key West I belonged to a health club called the Palladium. The owners were gay but the clientele was only about 1/3 rd.
There were coed saunas, steam, whirlpool and SHOWERS. Dress was optional. There NEVER was a problem with gay men oogling each other or the straight guys and gals.
Perhaps the guy you think is hanging around has breaking into lockers more on his mind..that is probably more likely.
The stereotype of the middle aged queer stalking the young boy in the locker room will never die. Oh, well. In my mind, anybody who lurks in the locker room just for a peak is a little off. I'm totally sure that they are "almost always middle aged".
Sorry. Ageism in the gay community is bad enough. Now we have the straight doing it too.
I agree, but its not just the locker room. Im a member of LA fitness in pasadena,ca and fags will be checking me out doing sets. Im a very perceptive person, and I notice when chicks are checking me out. They might even get bold and look at my mid-section depending on what tpye of shorts im wearing. But bro...half of the "PEOPLE" checking me out are homo's. I happen to be one of those avid muscular bodybuilders and It makes my comfort level drop.
You wanna go into the locker room and stare at dudes, fine....just do it at a bath house. Are there any hetro-sexual gyms? I might try golds or something.
Did Giz use the word "fag"? Hmmmmm. Most people except Anne Coulter aren't comfortable using that word.
Draw your own conclusions.
You should consider it a compliment if a guy is checking you out. Usually means you are an attractive guy and in good shape. You'd probably be complaining if no one was checking you out.
"You wanna go into the locker room and stare at dudes, fine....just do it at a bath house."
If you're so uncomfortable with another guy just looking at you, I think you're the one with the problem. Grow a spine.
"But I was really embarrassed for this middle aged desperado..."
Why were you embarrassed for him? Have you considered that he might be completely comfortable with himself and just likes to look? It's really none of your business if the guy wants to spend his time in the locker room.
"I'm sure that there are plenty of homosexuals that work out at LA Fitness..."
Well, duh.
Your frequent use of the word "homosexual" gives me the impression that you think that everybody is either 100% gay or 100% straight. You do realize that there are millions of guys who are somewhere in between, don't you?
Yes, Health Clubs have become the new Gay Bars and they have been that way for a while.
Personally, I don't go into the locker rooms for the exact reason you are writing about.
Gay men searching for sex, lurking, and/or checking out guys around the gym is the dirty secret that most gyms and gym customers try to not discuss. I should say anyone who is above average looking and who is height and weight proportional is aware of the activities of gay men at the gym. If you are below average in looks, too old, or over weight, you most likely are unaware of the problem and don't get any attention, offers, or looks. I have lived in several cities across the US and most straight guys over 25 know to stay clear of the locker rooms, the saunas, and the steam rooms.
When I lived on the east coast there were certain gyms chains known to be majority gay. Certain gyms such as Crunch and to a lesser extent Bally's have national reputations as the gay man's gym. I know a lot of guys (from different states) who refuse to join Crunch in particular because of the intense atmosphere of guys searching for and looking at guys for sexual purposes.
I am now a member of a gym in the Los Angeles area (which shall remain nameless) that has a strong unofficial anti gay policy. Both the customers and the staff are very active in monitoring the bathrooms and locker rooms and making guys searching for d*ck feel uncomfortable.
It is funny to see gay guys with a week long guest pass spend most of their workout sessions in the locker room or going back in forth to the locker room. On several occasions I have witnessed staff or gym customers make loud announcements such as "We know why he is going back and forth to the locker room," "He is not going to find that kind of activity at this gym," and etc.
The simple point of this article is that most people join a gym to improve their health and physical appearance and not search for sexual partners.
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LOL! Not as good as your Springsteen article though.