Gay beat

Gay beat

In Australia, the term beat is used to refer to an area frequented by gay men ["gay" refers to men whose sexual activity is with other males and who identify as "gay" (largely a self-identity mindset).] and non-gay-identifying men who have sex with men [often abbreviated to "MWHSWM" or "MSM", this term describes men who, whilst not identifying as "gay" (and who commonly have opposite-sex spouses as well as offspring) nonetheless indulge in sex with other men.] cruising for casual sex, and where sexual acts occur. This use of the word parodies the beat walked by a police officer or a prostitute. Most commonly, public toilets, parks, and nightclubs are used as beats, though quite often a suburban car park becomes a beat once night falls. [Sex researchers have found that a very considerable proportion of men who use "beats" for sexual pick-ups are MSMs (see note 'b' above) rather than gay-identifying. This is possibly because, whilst gay men have a plethora of venues for meeting legitimately, MSMs - who are invariably "in the closet" re their male-to-male sexual activities - do not; they dare not risk being observed in (or reported as attending) gay venues.]

History

Although little is known about beats in the early colonial and Federation periods, it is known that specific areas in larger cities, such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane have recorded histories of use for this purpose through the 20th century to the present (Moore, 1995). A gay club in Brisbane is named "The Beat".

ocial and sexual behaviour in beats

Presently, beats are known to be actively used by men who have sex with men. Due to the casual nature of most of the encounters, beats have been identified as areas of high risk for the transmission of HIV, syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections.

Law

Engaging in sexual activity in a public place is against the law in all States and Territories. Police have been criticised for excessive patrolling of known beats, and the defence of entrapment is commonly used by those caught when charged. However, people using beats are also more likely to be subject to homophobic hate crimes and other general crimes than gay men who don't use beats, prompting some to welcome the police presence (Moore, 1995). In Sydney at least, gay beats have attracted some attention from some sections of the media. This has led to a police presence at those identified.

ee also

* Cottaging
* Cruising for sex
* Gay cruising in the United Kingdom
* Gay bathhouse

References

Moore, Clive. 1995. ‘Poofs in the Park: Documenting Gay "Beats" in Queensland, Australia’,GLQ, vol. 2. pp. 319-339.

External links

* [http://www.queeraustralia.com.au/modules.php?op=modload&name=phpBB_14&file=index&viewcat=4&POSTNUKESID=3c3688dd7740639308dd61de7759dda1 Queer Australia's list of beats by State]
* [http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/183_04_150805/jin10100_fm.html Medical Journal of Australia 2005; 183 (4) - Epidemic syphilis among homosexually active men in Sydney]
* [http://www.avp.acon.org.au/pickingup.htm#beats The Anti-Violence Project's Sydney Safety Information]
* [http://squirt.org Squirt's global listing of gay cruising areas]


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