Comments on: OutRage! calls for tolerance over gay cruising in Manchester

By: Daniel Pitt

Daniel Pitt — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:26:22 +0000

Where I live in a small South Wales town,m we have nothing for gay & lesbian people, so often we do end up meeting up with strangers on the internet or through other means for cruising. As long as the sex is safe & out of public view what’s the harm?It’s actually technically not illegal until someone catches you doing it!

By: Gary

Gary — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:18:57 +0000

Steve that wouldn’t solve a large part of this because many men who socialise and meet in this way do it because they reject the commercial gay scene for whatever reason. Maybe if, as a community (supposedly), we had some meeting spaces that were free, not about alcohol, and which welcomed everyone of all ages that might help? As I said before, this isn’t all about sex. It is about meeting people.

By: steve

steve — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:09:35 +0000

perhaps if Manchester had cruise bars allowed like we have in London…..

By: The Halcyon

The Halcyon — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:36:45 +0000

I understand that some people have very strong views on cruising/cottaging, irrespective of whether they are pro or con. However, places like Hampstead Heath, Manchester Canal, Colwick Racecourse (and other infamous areas) are always going to attract people who want no-strings fun for whatever reason. So long as it’s out of the way and not likely to cause offence to the general population (i.e. you can constantly see it out of your window and all litter/trash is properly disposed of) then there isn’t generally a problem beyond the arguments put forward by the so-called moral-majority. And cruisers are entitled to police protection, not police harassment; if they are flushed out of the canal area, it won’t end the issue of cruising, it’ll just move it somewhere else.

By: Jean-Paul Bentham

Jean-Paul Bentham — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:47:08 +0000

Right. Let’s call off Remembrance Day and cover the “legs” of our pianos like in Victorian times.

War is a scandal, and by repressing a human need or desire, it is re-enforced, e.g. prohibition in the States, Jack the Ripper.

By: Brian Burton

Brian Burton — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:51:55 +0000

I was asked, “do you smoke after sex?” I said, “I don’t know I never Look!”

By: RobN

RobN — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:40:30 +0000

Chester: “If you don’t like seeing it then don’t look”

You arrogant, selfish little w_nker. There are times and places for everything. Sex in public places is totally inappropriate.

Or maybe I should just moon through your front window.
If you don’t like my arse, don’t watch.

By: RobN

RobN — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:38:08 +0000

JP: Forgive me for being a little unforgiving, but what scandal about the Japanese bombs? I don’t deny they were a terrible thing, but they also stopped the war dead in it’s tracks. Sometimes one has to do the wrong thing for the right reasons.

By: Chester

Chester — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:48:33 +0000

I don’t care that some people like sex in public
as long as it’s consensual who cares?
if you don’t like seeing it then don’t look

By: Jean-Paul Bentham

Jean-Paul Bentham — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:36:20 +0000

Speaking of public scandals, today is a good day to remember the greatest public scandal in the history of the world: the Atomic bombs dropped on Japan.

Let’s keep things in perspective, eh. The woirld ain’t perfect, and “it” has no right to expect us to be perfect.

By: gary

gary — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:53:16 +0000

But also people need to realise that there have always been spiteful individuals who say they have seen something happening when they haven’t and the motiation for that is homophobia. Sometimes combined with the ‘threat to children’ angle eg. a man has been seen talking to a young boy supposedly etc. Cue police crackdown. This is as old as the hills.

I’m glad this discussion is going on because from the feedback in public comments and private messages it’s becoming clear to me that police ARE harrassing men in various places around the country just for being in areas that are known for cruising.

The worrying thing is that so many gay men and even some of our community organisations are so desperate to be seen police (and establishment) friendly that they are happy to ignore the discrimination behind this.

By: Jean-Paul Bentham

Jean-Paul Bentham — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:22:27 +0000

John (44):

I would get a lawyer, go to the police station and insist that I can park my car wherever I want, and as often as I want. Period.

Why are you guys so sheepish, anyway?

By: flapjack

flapjack — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:08:26 +0000

Well my take on it is that if it’s simply meeting in public that’s fine. A kiss and a cuddle also fine.
If you want to run the gauntlet of a knee trembler in the bushes then it all comes down to whether you’re caught at it or not, but don’t expect preferential treatment to a straight encounter caught under the same circumstances. Bigots thrive on the idea that there’s one law for them and one law for us and it’s been a lightning rod for homophobes around Bristol over the last few months complaining about seeing indescreet gay sex on Clifton down. If our public image is tarnished by pointless public exhibitionism, expect to see our hard won civil rights to be eroded one by one.
It counts as indecent exposure in the same way that flashing in public or jerking off on public transport does. As others have said, it doesn’t bother me either way but if it’s a law don’t expect the police to turn a blind eye just because we’re gay, or the public backlash will be inevitable.

By: Gary

Gary — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:05:39 +0000

One of the main questions here is whether men who are merely meeting are being persecuted and harrassed (regardless of whether or not they have sex) by residents and police and whether different standards are being applied to heterosexuals who meet each other in a public place (because that’s ‘normal’).

It isn’t long ago that gay men were liable to be harrassed and arrested for ‘importuning’ and soliciting just for talking to each other. Is the same attitude continuing even though laws have changed?

Some of you need to look beyond the sex I would say the vast majority of people who go down there don’t end up having sex in a public place – they don’t meet anyone or maybe they go home with someone. In which case no crime whatsoever has been committed.

It’s about our freedom to go, meet and chat and not be herded into ‘authorised’ commercial gay places.

By: J.S.D.

J.S.D. — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:20:11 +0000

Ridiculous. Anyone who meets to do sexual acts in a public place SHOULD face the consequences of public indecency. Not often I take a stance against LGBTQ groups but this is simply ridiculous.

By: John(Derbyshire)

John(Derbyshire) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:18:53 +0000

Dave-(40)What would YOu do if you got a letter sent to your home address from the police that said “Your vehicle has been seen several times at ………… and ……….. which are areas where anti-social behaviour involving drugs and sexual activity has been reported. Should your vehicle be seen at either of these locations in the furure-this matter will be taken further”

I know people who have had to attend police stations and also been given ASBOs for doing exactly what you said in your posting- namely just being present in these areas. The presence there is sufficient for the police to issue either an ASBO (for persistently frequenting an area) or a Section Notice to stop you being there.

By: Alan

Alan — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:23:06 +0000

George (#33) You state that you don’t agree with cruising because it can be very dangerous. Under the same thinking, do you agree with driving, for that can be fatal.

The largest source of complaints about my local cruising grounds isn’t so much the people that use them as the mess that they leave behind. Is there anybody that really relishes the sight of used condoms, or other ‘evidence’ of what has gone on there.

If you’re going for a picnic you, hopefully, don’t leave plates, wrappers and who knows whatever else around for somebody else to clear up after you. If you’re going to go cruising, and have sex in a public place, take your rubbish away with you.

By: Jean-Paul Bentham

Jean-Paul Bentham — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:29:17 +0000

AdrianT:

Now you’re talking!!! Ageed.

By: AdrianT

AdrianT — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:10:25 +0000

I agree with dave. It’s not a crime to walk along a canal. It’s not a crime to dress provocatively.

If the police are going to make a habit of harrassing gay people, I suggest lots of gay people go down there, and waste the police’s time as much as possible.

So long as people do what they have to do out of sight and behind a bush, fine. Prosecute those who leave litter or dangerous substances behind, which others could pick up. I see no reason for any other prosecution.

By: dave

dave — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:00:46 +0000

I think some people on here fail to see the wider picture regarding cruising, or as I like to call it meeting in public. Because that is what it is. Sexual activity in public is a seperate issue and is dealt with accordingly within the law. We as gay people should have the right to meet any where, just like our hetrosexual conterparts. I was at a meeting area yesterday and it was the hot topic their. Thankfully for us, guys are now beginging to answer back . Asking for police persons numbers and reporting them for harrassment. Because that what it is. I was there for two hours walking and chatting away and not a penis was exposed nor seen. Please report any officers that do not know the law that gay people meeting in public is not anti social, it is LEGAL, and our right!!!! I aint going back in that closet for no one. I have tasted freedom and use my rights within the law to protect them .