Friday January 26, 2007 SGN.org |
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Volume 35 Issue 04 |
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Monday, Oct 13, 2008
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Part IV: Women's night at the South End Steam Baths (July 17, 1993) |
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| Part IV: Women's night at the South End Steam Baths (July 17, 1993) | ||
| by Don Paulson -
SGN Contributing Writer "Pussy Galore" was a great success but it only happened once, much to the disappointment of the promoters. A second event, "Octopussy," was cancelled because of complaints from the male customers. In a 1993 SGN article, historian and playwright Caitlin Sullivan writes: "Many Lesbians have secretly envied Gay men for what it looks to be an easy attitude toward sex; sex in the parks, sex with strangers, sex on the whim." Sex is easy for men, open 24/7, reservations optional. But straight men are restricted by comparison to Gay men and can only dream of such an endless supply of no pregnancy booty. The Gay 'saints' suggested that straight men find a monogamous Gay lover to help relieve their raging woodies (but of course with the permission of their girlfriends or wife, like that's going to happen). The South End Steam Baths have offered males this sexual opportunity for 80 years, except for one auspicious night in 1993 when some of the more spirited Lesbian sisters of this fair city rose up with the flick of their veils and click of their boots indulged and cast away any lingering conflicts about their sexuality and embraced Pussy Galore, to explore this opportunity that Gay men have enjoyed for millennia, and paid the price... Caitlin Sullivan continues: "Starting with its blunt title, this happening was a sex party, pure and simple. In another word, fun! What participants got is the opportunity for sex with other women without any constraints of false relationships, hidden agendas or an unwanted tangle. Participants could met someone, have sex and never even learn their name if they don't want to. Organizers say what they would like to happen at Pussy Galore: 'Jill Lesbian walks through the door, checks her clothes and gets a towel, goes down the hallway, peeking into the rooms. In many of them are women, just lying there or masturbating or something. And one of then crooks her finger at our girl and she goes in and they have sex. And then she can go have some steam or watch some porno movies or have sex with someone else.' This event was overtly sexual, it's about sex. We all know then joke about women bringing a U Haul on the first date, but what they really want is to go to bed with someone. They should have a place where they can do it, where it's clear about what's happening. Pussy Galore encouraged safer sex but there were no sex police at the event. The whole thing was about personal responsibility." Bath attendant Skippy LaRue remembered: "Ladies night at the South End Baths was a great success, they were lined up on the street to get in. They had lots of security; a policewoman, live sex shows in the swimming pool room and sex videos in the TV room. The women checked in at the ticket window to show they had prepaid and checked in again inside, given a number, signed a liability release, taken back to the laundry room and given a black plastic bag for their clothes with a number on it. They served food and had all kinds of safe sex stuff: Rubber gloves, dildos, handcuffs, etc. The doors to the private rooms were left open so no one was exclusive. I came in the next day and dear god what a mess! It took five of us to clean up; fifteen bags of garbage and 500 towels were used. They opened the door to the steam room so the showers, back hall and restrooms became one big steam room and the grime was literally streaking down the walls and ceiling. It was a night to remember!" So the age old question is still biting at the heels of humans; who makes the biggest mess, men or women? It's probably an even match. |
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