How Some Men Cruise for Sex: Covert Signals

When gay cruising in public, men employ cues like foot tapping.

Aug. 28, 2007 — — While many Americans may only have a passing familiarity with the term "cruising," there is a hidden world of male sex that takes place in public spaces all throughout the nation.

Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, was detained by police in a men's lavatory at the Minneapolis airport after they said he was trying to have gay sex, and the police officer who made the arrest noted in his June report that he "identified a signal utilized by those desiring to engage in lewd activity."

According to the police report, Craig tapped his foot up and down and swiped his palm beneath the lavatory stall where the undercover detective was seated.

Due to these measures, Detective Dave Karsnia was able to apprehend Craig, and the senator later pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct. Today, Craig told reporters that he had done nothing improper and that he had erred in entering a guilty plea.

Gay and bisexual men, especially those who are in the closet, have traditionally gathered in public spaces like men's toilets in airports and railway stations, truck stops, university libraries, and parks to meet for private sex.

Cruising-savvy sources told ABCNEWS.com that gay men eventually developed a set of signals to communicate their interest in sex to others. Undercover police started sting operations in locations renowned for sex soliciting and used the same codes in an effort to reduce obscene actions in public, or as some homosexuals contend, in an effort to harass gay men.

According to Keith Griffith, owner of Cruisingforsex.com, a website where users may publish locations popular with guys looking for anonymous sex, tapping of the foot is rather common among males who cruise in restrooms.

"They typically use the restroom stall that is located at the far end of the row. When they run into each other, they typically choose to go somewhere else. The great majority don't care to be noticed. They may meet in open spaces, but they will maintain the highest level of discretion "explained Griffith.

According to him, bathrooms at stores like Wal-Mart or Home Depot can become cruising locations by word of mouth. Traditionally, cruising locations have been those parts of town where "women and children are taught to avoid."

According to Griffith, the police who participate in these sting operations frequently have young children, and anecdotal reports on his website show that local arrest rates rise around election time or when the topic is in the news.

Some LGBT rights advocates and attorneys have criticized police departments for arresting males who have done little more than tap their feet when much of the signaling is actually harmless conduct.

In public spaces, people have a right not to confront indecent behavior, according to homosexual rights advocate and attorney Steve Sanders. However, if there is proof that a sting is driven by anti-gay prejudice, it may be a more concerning matter.

According to Sanders, authorities would have to demonstrate at trial that behaviors like foot tapping were recognized as signals for sex solicitation.

"What justifies an arrest based on probable cause? Police officers would have to present evidence if a case like this went to trial in order to establish with confidence that the act was really indecent "said he.

Craig chose to forgo a trial after entering a guilty plea to the charges.

Craig today denied being gay and said his guilty plea was an error.

According to Rich Gregson, executive director of the California Peace Officers Association, police officers typically only look into a location after members of the public have complained that it is being used for sex like in phim sex viet nam.

"Police officers will look at places where this kind of conduct has been documented in the past. To determine what is happening, they rely on their own knowledge and experience. Most police officers can tell a deliberate signal from a stray motion "says he.

According to Gregson, members of the public have a right to visit public spaces without fear of unintentionally witnessing indecent behavior. The 35-year veteran police commander claimed that he had heard of "off-duty policemen and even judges being discovered and arrested" and believed that this sort of conduct occurred "in every jurisdiction."

Gershen Kaufman, a professor emeritus of psychology at Michigan State University and the author of the book "Coming Out of Shame," claimed that public cruising is mostly engaged in by extremely closeted males because there are so many other opportunities for gay men to meet one another.

"Cruisers do not commit sexual crimes. They are very, very secretive. They are unable to accept their sexuality because of their intense self-hatred and shame. Additionally, there is the concern of being detected and in danger "explained he. pornsexzone.com