The men, some of whom were not public about their sexuality, had their names and mugshots published in the media, causing them great distress. Charges included public exposure of genitals and committing unnatural and lascivious acts. But cruising busts still happen: In July 2018, police in Broward County, Florida, arrested 13 men at an adult-video store for masturbating or having consensual sex in closed rooms. 1 adult 2 adults in 1 room 3 adults in 1 room 2 adults in 2 rooms 3 adults in 2 rooms 4 adults in 2 rooms 5 adults in 2 rooms 6 adults in 2 rooms. The rise of hookup apps like Grindr have provided other avenues for encounters besides outdoor cruising, significantly reduced the number arrests for public sex. Check out our guide to the best gay bars in Pittsburgh. The Washington Post describes Meridian Hill Park as a "gathering place for all of the District's disparate tribes: black and white, rich and poor, young and old, immigrant and local, gay and straight, boring and bizarre." It's also long been considered cruising spot for gay men of color.Ĭruising typically occurs late at night in heavily wooded or otherwise secluded areas, participants told the Blade.Habitués typically return to their homes for sexual encounters, as opposed to engaging publicly. Sargeant Delgado was unable to confirm whether the arrests were at the hands of uniformed or plainclothes officers. The tactics used in these cases just fly in the face of proper police work and should be exposed." " reminiscent of the Stonewall days when gay men were often the target of police discrimination. For years, The Rest areas and Truck Stops have been cruisey. I have had numerious questions about how you properly cruise a trucker. This raises serious doubts about whether the government can prove criminal intent."Īlbanes said he found the situation "extremely disturbing." Thru the years of running various Gay Trucker related sites that I own. "The target is deceived into thinking that what he is about to do is wanted. "The officers are posing as willing participants in a consensual encounter between adults," he told the Blade. But defense attorney John Albanes alleges that several of the men arrested were propositioned by undercover police officers.