Nightly news programs installed secret cameras in bathrooms to prove that God-fearing citizens' worst fears were actually true: Gays were fucking in the bushes near their children's playgrounds. "Cruisers need to be more aware than the average citizen of legal rights and obligations because, frankly, the police don't play fair and the odds are not in your favor," he wrote in a piece called "Legalese."īut it wasn't just cops that users had to fear by 1997, Cruising for Sex was scoring 130,000 hits a day, and journalists began trolling the site, hoping to exploit the general public's fears of gay men by catching dudes mid-blowjob.
The paradox of the site-that the publicness that made it so appealing also put its users at risk-was not lost on founder Keith "Cruisemaster" Griffith, who penned feature stories about how to avoid arrest.
Inside, the guesthouse offers a fitness centre with free weights, coupled with a shared lounge, providing further space to relax beyond the light, pastel-coloured rooms.To ensure the publicly horny aren't caught in a sting by law enforcement-who have historically played the part of affable co-masturbator, until they arrest you for solicitation-users were (and still are) encouraged to report any suspicious behavior to the site itself as a "heads up." Despite this tool, Cruising for Sex remains a goldmine for law enforcement, some of whom would even write in the comments section of listings, warning users to stay away from certain bathroom stalls or locker rooms unless they wanted to end up in the slammer. The three-star Pineapple Point Guesthouse and Resort, close to Fort Lauderdale’s Las Olas Isles and Sunrise Key, has small outdoor plunge-cum-swimming pools as part of its grounds, surrounded by lush subtropical planting and a good number of sun loungers. Each soundproofed suite and studio boasts a sleeping area, living space with dining area and sofas, and fully-equipped kitchen. Guests also have access to massages in the spa, as well as on-site hair styling and nail care.
In addition to the prerequisite Florida outdoor pool – in a courtyard space surrounded by many of the rooms – there’s a hot tub. Just ten minutes from the Sebastian Street Gay Beach, The Grand Resort and Spa is an all-male resort which is both gay-owned and gay-run. The landscaped grounds incorporate a hot tub and clothing-optional heated saltwater pool, while guests also have access to the massages and therapy sessions of the on-site spa. The rooms also come with a terrace and private entrance, in addition to a separate seating area. These spaces include a microwave, coffee maker, and kitchenware. The homely interior includes unique works of art, while even the standard queen rooms come with a kitchenette. Nearby the Calypso is Cabanas Guesthouse & Spa, which is also in the Wilton Manors neighbourhood of Fort Lauderdale, but with a waterfront location on the Middle River. Calypso Inn is just five kilometres from the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, as well as Las Olas Boulevard, a thoroughfare combining canal-side homes and many of the city’s top stores and restaurants. Rooms have well-finished en suite bathrooms, satellite television, DVD player, and – given Florida’s humidity – all-important air conditioning. It also has a small outdoor swimming pool, situated in a secluded tropical garden, and plenty of seating and sunbathing opportunities. Fort Lauderdale’s Calypso Inn has a more suburban feel. However, that’s not the only place to enjoy a drink, as the guesthouse hosts a cocktail hour each evening. Each of the rooms comes equipped with a small refrigerator perfect for a celebratory tipple, while others also come with a microwave. Its authentic conch-style architecture of white clapboard, high ceilings, and neutral tones incorporates a hot tub and small outdoor swimming pool, surrounded by a terrace where breakfast is served every morning. The adult-only Alexander’s Gay Lesbian Guesthouse lies in downtown Key West, less than a kilometre from all the island’s main sights, including Mallory Square, the home of Nobel Prize Winner Ernest Hemingway, and the southernmost point in the continental US.