Local Church as Gay Hot Spot

[brnbk]

I noticed a curious phenomenon in a downtown church that I started attending. Some gay men showed up at Mass and a lot of them are looking to hook up. I only started attending the church a few months ago and am unsure how long this phenomenon has existed. Our city does not have a gay space in the downtown/centretown area as the old Sauna and gay bar shut down roughly before CoVID. Interestingly, even an older church associated with the church I attend shut its doors last decade and is now a performing arts center.  

It makes sense to me that gay men would use a local church as a gay-social center since gay men have contributed for generations to the Church in terms of finances but also other resources. There is a certain old-school charm to see gay men eager to cruise/meet other gay men in the real world. For centuries, christian men have courted/met their wives in a church, and it's only fair that gays be allowed such an opportunity as well. 

I am wondering, has anyone else observed such a phenomenon in their city where in the absence of gay spaces in the city the local church has emerged as a meet/hook-up spot for gays?

 

 

Edited October 28, 2024 by brnbk

[Willing]

On 10/28/2024 at 12:48 PM, brnbk said:

I noticed a curious phenomenon in a downtown church that I started attending. Some gay men showed up at Mass and a lot of them are looking to hook up. I only started attending the church a few months ago and am unsure how long this phenomenon has existed. Our city does not have a gay space in the downtown/centretown area as the old Sauna and gay bar shut down roughly before CoVID. Interestingly, even an older church associated with the church I attend shut its doors last decade and is now a performing arts center.  

It makes sense to me that gay men would use a local church as a gay-social center since gay men have contributed for generations to the Church in terms of finances but also other resources. There is a certain old-school charm to see gay men eager to cruise/meet other gay men in the real world. For centuries, christian men have courted/met their wives in a church, and it's only fair that gays be allowed such an opportunity as well. 

I am wondering, has anyone else observed such a phenomenon in their city where in the absence of gay spaces in the city the local church has emerged as a meet/hook-up spot for gays?

 

 

Anointed in cum🙏

[topblkmale]

On 10/28/2024 at 12:48 PM, brnbk said:

I noticed a curious phenomenon in a downtown church that I started attending. Some gay men showed up at Mass and a lot of them are looking to hook up. I only started attending the church a few months ago and am unsure how long this phenomenon has existed. Our city does not have a gay space in the downtown/centretown area as the old Sauna and gay bar shut down roughly before CoVID. Interestingly, even an older church associated with the church I attend shut its doors last decade and is now a performing arts center.  

It makes sense to me that gay men would use a local church as a gay-social center since gay men have contributed for generations to the Church in terms of finances but also other resources. There is a certain old-school charm to see gay men eager to cruise/meet other gay men in the real world. For centuries, christian men have courted/met their wives in a church, and it's only fair that gays be allowed such an opportunity as well. 

I am wondering, has anyone else observed such a phenomenon in their city where in the absence of gay spaces in the city the local church has emerged as a meet/hook-up spot for gays?

 

 

 

It's very common in Brooklyn, New York.

At least three of my former fuck buddies are current clergy men at various churches in Brooklyn.

 

[phillygwm]

I've thought about this.  I was raised Catholic:  Grade school, high school, and university (the last was a bit accidental.  Long story.)  Obviously, the Catholic church wasn't/isn't the most welcoming so I fell away and now consider myself agnostic.

In my not-very-gay suburban town, there are two churches (one UCC, one Unitarian) which are openly gay welcoming.  The UCC even flies the rainbow flag (but not the US flag) on its flagpole.  I've thought about going but haven't thus far.  Part of that is that I'd feel hypocritical at the UCC since I'm not a Christian.  Unitarians are squishier when it comes to beliefs so that might not be as bad.  But old habits die hard; my idea of a religious service is "smells and bells."  Watching a livestream, I just didn't get into someone reading an excerpt from Winnie the Pooh.

That said, I'm single and have a handful of gay friends (none sexual.)  My social anxiety has kind of held me back from trying but, if I ever decide to go, it would strictly be for the purpose of expanding my social -- and ideally sexual -- circle.  

Edited Sunday at 05:02 PM by phillygwm

[SomewhereonNeptune]

On 10/28/2024 at 12:48 PM, brnbk said:

I noticed a curious phenomenon in a downtown church that I started attending. Some gay men showed up at Mass and a lot of them are looking to hook up. I only started attending the church a few months ago and am unsure how long this phenomenon has existed. Our city does not have a gay space in the downtown/centretown area as the old Sauna and gay bar shut down roughly before CoVID. Interestingly, even an older church associated with the church I attend shut its doors last decade and is now a performing arts center.  

It makes sense to me that gay men would use a local church as a gay-social center since gay men have contributed for generations to the Church in terms of finances but also other resources. There is a certain old-school charm to see gay men eager to cruise/meet other gay men in the real world. For centuries, christian men have courted/met their wives in a church, and it's only fair that gays be allowed such an opportunity as well. 

I am wondering, has anyone else observed such a phenomenon in their city where in the absence of gay spaces in the city the local church has emerged as a meet/hook-up spot for gays?

Given the experience that a lot of guys had in younger years with priests (maybe as altar boys getting flute practice), I see the logic in a church-as-cruise-spot. 

And every Unitarian service I've ever attended has been more like a seminar panel than a church service, so the comment about 'squishy' rings true for me.

[Close2MyBro]

When I lived in Cleveland there was a gay catholic priest who was known to be a regular at the sex clubs. I wouldn't be surprised if it's a gay friendly church that the guys are just there for the cruising. Most of the gay sports leagues like gay softball or bowling was mostly just a way to meet more men to have sex with.