Events tagged with "Cottaging"
Arrested for Cottaging
Cottaging was and is illegal, and many men have been arrested for it. The police often used an 'Agent Provocateur', officers pretending to be cottagers, to trap gay men. The police would regularly purge infamous cottages and arrest several men in one...
Cottaging and Cruising
Cottaging, from the Polari slang for Public Toilet. Cruising, slang. Meaning to look for sex. Historically for many gay men cottaging and cruising were the only way they could meet other gay men, not only for sex but also for friendship. For ma...
Finding each other
Finding each otherThe way that lesbians and gay men have met each other has changed over time. Contributors gave many examples of how and where they met both long term and more casual partners. They range from public places (men) through cottaging an...
Homophobia
Although 'homophobia' has only become a fashionable term recently, instances of it have been discussed by many of the contributors to this project, stretching back within living memory. From police harassment and intimidation to personal interactions...
Inner Ring Road
The Birmingham Inner Ring Road was opened on 7th April 1971. It was the first scheme of its kind to be completed in Britain, it was later to become known as the concrete collar due to its stifling effect on development in the city centre. During the ...
Internet
The Internet has revolutionised the way people communicate, interact and meet. Since the mid 90s with the abundance of cheap home computers and improved speed and access to the internet a proliferation of online dating, chat and meeting places have s...
Places men meet for sex
Historically gay men have met in many places other than bars to socialise and find sex, although illegal many men met in parks and lay-bys (Cruising), in public toilets (Cottaging) and even illicitly Cinemas. At a time when homosexuality was illegal...
Saunas
Exclusively gay Saunas have been popular with gay men since the 1970s and provide a safe alternative to Cottaging or Cruising....
Memories tagged with "Cottaging"
Pretty Police Score Again
These front two page articles from 'In The Pink' published in August 1989, highlight the level of police activity against gay men who were Cottaging.PRETTY POLICE SCORE AGAIN!Five men have received fines of £250 (plus costs of £25) at Seisdon magistr...
Psychiatric Treatment for homosexuality 1980
Alan recalls getting psychiatric treatment for his homosexual urges in the early 80s as a way of avoiding a fine for cottaging. "So I went to a psychiatrist at All Saints (now part of Winson Green Prison), a Mr Imlah an elderly Scot. He sa...
Sensitive policing in the late '80s
Belinda recalls “The Police had a 12 year old boy who had been picked up for cottaging. The police were concerned that he was being exploited by older men and directed him towards the discos at The Matador feeling that this would be a much safer venu...