In the interests of everything I've decided to document the proper etiquette for males seeking anonymous sex in a public place. Here we go...
1. What is a "glory hole"? A "glory hole" is a small (usually no larger than penis sized) hole cut between partitions in a public restroom (or "tea room"), or between two video booths in an adult video store. It's placed, conveniently, at groin height, so you can stick your penis through it and let the other person perform whatever sexual activity they desire upon it.
2. Okay, so I'm in a place with one of these things, what do I do? First off, relax. Now, you can either get off with someone's help, or help someone else to get off. Sometimes both, and sometimes you'll be serviced by or servicing more than one person (usually consecutively, but sometimes (though rare) concurrently).
3. I'm relaxed, and I want to get someone off. What do I do? I'm going to presume you're in an adult bookstore, as the rules for tearoom sex can get complicated (you have to read grafitti, tap foot for action, determine if your neighbor is there for sex or to take a dump, etc).
4. I'm relaxed, and I want someone to get me off. What do I do? Pretty much the same as above, except:
5. What if I want to take turns giving and receiving?
6. Is this safe? Only as safe as you make it. Healthwise, practice safe sex, the description of which is beyond the scope of this FAQ, but with which you should be very familiar before attempting this.
From a legal standpoint, this activity is a crime in some localities. This is definitely considered a risky behavior legally, and usually homosexual activity is prosecuted far more vigorously than heterosexual activity (yes, some straight people/couples use glory holes. Why shouldn't they??).
If you're unsure of the laws in your area, it would behoove you to find them out. While the chances of your getting arrested are not usually high, circumstances vary wildly, as do the penalties. An anonymous phone call to a legal aid hotline or your local courthouse won't hurt you. A good rule of thumb to use is: the more public the place, the riskier the activity, and the higher chance you'll get busted. Nude beaches are especially chancy.
From a physical harm standpoint, all I can say is I, nor anyone I know, has ever been "bashed" whilst participating in glory hole activity. Again, most people are there for the same reason you are. But always be careful. Don't let alcohol or drugs impair your judgement. If your intuition tells you to leave, then leave. There's always another time.
7. Where can I find out more information about glory holes and public sex in general? This FAQ was adapted from the one available at www.cruisingforsex.com. That website has far more information than presented here, including a listing of glory holes available worldwide. You might want to check it out.
And have fun!
UPDATE!
I've now visited The Glory Hole restaurant mentioned by Chihuahua Grub Mr. Hotel (how could I not?) in his writeup, so I can add to this FAQ!
I feel so dirty now. I feel sick.
Ye Gods! I'll never be able to look back on my childhood with a fond sense of refreshing innocence now for as long as I live.
Thank you very much, Perverted Jerks of America, for spoiling my childlike naivete. If anyone needs me, I'll be in the bathroom purging ten years of tainted scallops and steak from my being.
(update, 3.2.02: last time i was back home, the much famed glory hole has been bought and now has large ugly letters spelling W A S H O E on it, which is the name of an indian tribe, a county and lake in nevada, and, as far as i know, not a term for anonymous bathroom sex.)
Glory holes are also common on construction sites, though not necessarily in the sexual form. A netizen by the name of shop_steward wrote:
In the western states during the Gold Rush days, independent miners who did not have the finances to dig a conventional mine shaft would dig a shaft staight down to try to find a gold seam. These perpendicular shafts became known as Glory Holes. The name stuck and many construction projects involving digging are called "Glory Holes".
These can be seen all over Boston, due to the ongoing Big Dig project.
Glory hole has two meanings in glass blowing terminology - it can either mean the hole in the glass furnace where glass is inserted to heat it, or the hottest spot inside a particularly large furnace where the glass melts the easiest; large glass furnaces don't distribute heat as evenly as small ones and finding that one particular spot can be a bit of a challenge.
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