Opinion

Homosexual havens

There is, undeniably, a demand for facilities for homosexual men to meet for sex. Such facilities with officially unapproved status are in every western city, and probably in every city of the world, and they're usually referred to as a beat. The network of such places is called the beat.

A few years ago Newcastle police set about bringing what it described euphemistically as anti-social behaviour at one such beat, Braye Park, to an end, and it succeeded in moving many of the homosexual men from Braye Park to the public toilets at the top end of Newcastle's magnificent Blackbutt Reserve. These toilets became such a popular beat day and night that the public was denied the use of what had been a very popular public facility. As Blackbutt's then ranger, Paul Metcalfe, said, he'd seen sights he would never forget! The new and expensive children's playground near the toilets fell into disuse.

Police, Newcastle City Council and employed security personnel tried in vain to bring this unwelcome patronage of Blackbutt to an end, and a year ago the council had some success when it closed the public toilets permanently. The toilets' septic discharge did not meet minimum standards, it says straightfaced.

In my column in The Herald today I put the proposition that the public would be doing everyone a good turn if it provided officially sanctioned beats, and by that I mean something more than toilets marked His, Hers and Theirs.

Yes, there are commercial meeting places for homosexuals, but these don't fit the bill as beats. A beat is as much a place for sex between men as it is a meeting place, perhaps more so, and I can see no good reason why the community should not provide such facilities. Design would be crucially important, and it appears that a beat needs to be a little furtive and lavatorial in at least architecture. Segregation is not always a bad thing!

Tell me why we shouldn't. Some of you will question why such facilities should not be provided, then, for heterosexual people, and I say that there is no demand from heterosexual people for such facilities.

You may even see advantages I haven't. A tourist promotion? A new bus route? A regular run along the lines of the Hash House Harriers, but from beat to beat instead of pub to pub?

Posted By: Jeff Corbett on 18/08/2009 5:40:00 PM | Comments (103)

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I think yours is a brilliant suggestion Jeff. As a young DS, I and my friends spent much time at the top of Blackbutt, which was better known for its wishing well rather than its current reputation. We never saw any of the controversial activities described by Mr Metcalfe, but that may have been an unintended consequence of our frequent detonation of homemade explosives in said facility, which in hindsight may well have resulted in some rather unpleasant coitus interruptus. On topic, a dedicated "beat" adjacent to public facilities would ensure that our public toilets can remain open to the public for their intended purpose, without fear of unwittingly encountering those engaged in "unsavoury" (at least in public) activities. The cost of construction would be relatively small, given there would be no requirements for the usual toilet hardware. Glory holes would of necessity be smooth, of various diameter and placed at different heights to eliminate the possibility of injury claims. Cost recovery could be by way of a users pays system by which a pre-paid card could be used to gain access, market focussed advertising and fees derived by hiring out the beat facilities to organisations such as the Shooters Party for a group weapon polishing session. Win-win!

Posted by Directeur Sportif, 19/08/2009 10:20:15 AM, on The Herald

[The DS don't let go. eh? Hard not to like that.....].

Posted by Abundance, 19/08/2009 10:28:09 AM, on The Herald

Why do gays have sex in public toilets? I don't even like to urinate or defecate in public toilets, they are far from hygienic. Don't these people own houses where they meet their friends, or cars to do their business in.You dont hear of lesbians meeting in toilets. Sex in public toilets makes gays seem more sick and perverted than they probably are but it is a bad public image they portray to normal society I believe.

Posted by Chef Dude, 19/08/2009 10:47:52 AM, on The Herald

I really think you need counselling about your fascination for public sexual encounters.

Posted by stormbringer, 19/08/2009 10:47:56 AM, on The Herald

several years ago we were doing up our gardens and spent quite a few weekends carting green waste up to the top end of blackbutt. It was highly educational as prior to that time i had no idea of what was going on in that location. i could not believe the number of men who would meet up there or go into the toilet block and wait for another male to turn up. maybe this is a business opportunity where some enterprising sould could set up something similar to a brothel - where people pay a fee to turn up and await a willing participant in their activities. Jeff you recently said you super was a bit low so maybe you could take up this business in your spare time to boost the coffers. welcome back Directeur Sportif i notice you have been lying low recently - i hope all is well.

Posted by senior sergeant smith, 19/08/2009 10:49:56 AM, on The Herald

Jeff, are you serious in wanting to supply homosexuals a place to have sex? Whats wrong with their own home like everyone else does. Or a commercial premesis like a homosexual brothel, or homosexual swingers club. This does not need to be in the public arena. What people do in their own home is their business but offering a place for men to meet for sex is just asking for trouble in my oppinion

Posted by Nafe, 19/08/2009 10:58:40 AM, on The Herald

Provide them NOTHING !!! Am I a bloke, bloody oath I am. Call me homphobic if you want but for gods sake wake and smell a schooner not a bloody rose.

Posted by Bob.G, 19/08/2009 12:25:51 PM, on The Herald

SSS - I have retired from this blog after celebrating the 1st anniversary of my debut on the "Cyling into a new world". I thought it would be nice to go out on a high after the pizzling I meted out to various members of the shooters party on the recent series of blogs. However I may make guest appearances from time to time if a particular blog or poster is worthy of my attention.

Posted by Directeur Sportif, 19/08/2009 12:49:53 PM, on The Herald

Why have we got to supply amenities for them? Surely they can use their closets in their own homes? You nearly had me Jeff, I know you are tongue in cheek, but I nearly bought it.

Posted by Jordan H Jones, 19/08/2009 12:51:48 PM, on The Herald

Taking the tongue out of which cheek !! and being serious, the sad fact about beats is that 99% of the men who ignore the risks and dangers and go there for some form of anonymous sex do so because they are married. 95% of the part of society that identify as same sex preference would not, and do not go near beats.

Posted by Gary H in Singo, 19/08/2009 1:24:33 PM, on The Herald