Scene Magazine - April 2021 | WWW.GSCENE.COM

Jason Reid on the joys of beating around the bush and why outdoor cruising will never go out of vogue

Everyone should try outdoor cruising at least once in their life. I won’t lie, if you’ve never got down and dirty under the stars it can be daunting at first, and most would agree that it’s definitely an acquired taste, but once you’ve got into the groove, it can prove to be very moreish. Have a couple of stiff ones before your first visit, then a few more when you get there (badoom-tsh).

Even in an age when Grindr and hook-up apps seemingly dominate, cruising spots remain a constant – albeit they’re not as popular as they were pre-internet and when gay men had to be much more covert when looking for sexual encounters.

However, in 2021 they still thrive and are at their busiest after dark and on weekends.

There’s just something about outdoor cruising areas that hits different. The thrill and brazenness of doing it in public, feeling your heart rate increase as someone cruises you, pacing back and forth exchanging long glances, the possibility of getting caught at any given moment – and this frisson of danger heightens the sexual tension among those gathered.

It can be like a chase – animalistic and raw. The total opposite of hook-ups apps, which have none of that real life hunt, they leave me rather cold.

Dukes Mound in Brighton and Hampstead Heath and Hyde Park in London are the go-to places, and have been for some time. Unlike saunas – which I spoke about previously – cruising areas don’t really need to evolve to survive. Quite the opposite, in fact; the attraction is often the simplicity and rawness of the environment. Plus they’re not businesses, so don’t rely on punters’ cash. Nevertheless, from time to time these areas have to be redeveloped slightly by local councils

– and they are well aware of what goes on in the dark alcoves, as are the police, and would rather work with cruisers than against. Over the years I’ve seen bushes cut right back and areas exposed but we’ve carried on cruising because we’re an imaginative and determined bunch us gays – especially when it comes to getting our end way. We adapt, and bushes grow back. There’s never been a sense of being driven out.

At times police have turned up while I’ve been cruising – because they have to be seen to be checking – and everyone has hurriedly pulled their keks up and legged it; then the cruising continues when the coast is clear – like a game of cat and mouse. Unless you’re having a stark bollock naked group fuck out in the open under a street lamp, the police are not gonna waste their time nicking you. Being discreet and safe is key. It’s all common sense stuff, really.

I’ve always been of the opinion that, with any type of cruising, be it in a club, sauna, bushes or atop a mound, it’s best to go in with a nonjudgemental frame of mind, and without any grand expectations.

Swaggering into a gay sex area and being purposely loud and obtrusive rarely works out, and being disrespectful to fellow cruisers never works out and, for obvious reasons, can lead to conflict.

It’s important to be respectful of others, and expect that in return, regardless of age or sexual attraction. This brings me on to consent, which is incredibly important. If you are cruising someone and they’re not responding (giving you the look back, because it’s all in the eyes) leave them alone. Don’t keep following. Persistence of this kind will cause the other person to feel threatened. This has happened to me a number of times and it’s horrible. Not once have I given in to such insistence; in fact it’s always turned me from being disinterested to utterly repelled.

Similarly, if you’re in a group scenario and someone pushes your hand away, that means they’re not into you, end of – I know that sounds straightforward, but you’d be surprised – and as difficult as that is for some men’s egos, I can’t stress how important it is to understand the signs and act responsibly. Never force something. Know the boundaries.

No one wants any of that. It causes a bad vibe and is creepy. Basically, don’t be a dick when you’re hunting for dick.

There is a LOT of fun to be had with outdoor cruising. I’ve lived out some of my wildest fantasies in parks and woods; I often think back and can’t believe that some of it actually happened.

My advice to newbies is always assess the environment first, take a good walk round, get a feel to see if the vibe is for you, and if it is then stash away those valuables in a bag or down the side of your socks, and get stuck in!

I’m pretty confident that outdoor cruising will still be active in some form when we’re all gone. No amount of hook-up apps or redevelopments will change that.