Cruisers continue to bemoan the loss of 'space'

In previous posts I had looked at the travails of mostly the more adventurous Kingston, St Catherine & to a lesser extent St Ann cruising populations, geographical changes predominantly have a direct impact on how their or I should say our sex seeking behaviours are influenced; although I have been so busy I am less active these days but the fellas keep me up to date hence this post. I like writing these posts as it usually attracts some other interest(s) or the curious (smile), despite our unique homophobia we have found ways to survive; meanwhile interventions by the local authorities, continued clashes with displaced and homeless transgender & MSM, crime and police operations, decoys who know the system and use it to rob or abuse if not blackmail persons and so on are the reasons for the decline of activities. Since the murder of one of the regulars known as Frankie at the infamous old haunt at ‘Boil Up’ near to the old ‘Back-a-wall’ in 2015 has had a deleterious impact on happenings, the police intervention with the local authorities of the homeless cohort in January of this year again has had some impact as the relocation to other sites which influences the clashes, especially the more hyper-masculine types.

A nasty fight in April I gather (corroborated by one of my buddies) over a spot by two men who were inadvertently going after the same prey as it were has not helped as a faction of sort has since developed with friends of both men have been in a standoff. Where on side sees the other resistance comes out sometimes in ‘louding up’ the opposing side representative in a bid to stop him from entering the space in what is a scare tactic under fear of a homophobic threat made so by finger pointing. Inevitably the space is there but is hesitantly accessed in fear of exposure, so avoidance of the use of the space thought available is the more acceptable choice.

In the last couple of years we have lost some good long time spaces either due to local authority interventions, development work such as highways in St Catherine where a popular waterway once known for some good early morning hook-ups and dick gazing is all but gone. Former cruisers who now live abroad still inquire about the space and are saddened that the good times are since near dead. A robbery of a regular taxi driver in 2014 who occasionally goes on the prowl has had some impact to this day as though he was not harmed his car was taken, scrapped and burnt out; many of the brothers have simply stopped altogether attending that stretch of space nearing the said waterway. Forgive me but I cannot be specific in terms of locations such as not to dissolve the safety aspects of this matter. The apparent near miss of a gross indecency charge of two men in a car (yet again) downtown Kingston at the waterfront is also an issue for some; even as downtown becomes busy commercially again. The sale and refurbishing of the former Oceana Hotel for example, the nearby Pirates Cove (as exposed by the cops and mistakes made by male CSW and cruisers - a unique comingling of said groups)

See: Pirates' Cove named as base for "homosexual prostitutes" KSAC asked to address homelessness
has had some impact, the discontinuation of the ferry service to Port Royal too so many years ago was one of the first signs of major changes to come as downtown in fact internationally waterfronts usually have some gay cruising elements operating there. The police are becoming more aware of once clandestine hook-ups have also impacted on the loss of space and repeated mistakes and or discoveries of such effects changes. Mistakes and challenges also can come from within such as a previous post highlighted where a man suffered a broken arm even after some fun the perpetrator just snapped in terms of guilty feelings thinking he was led into doing something wrong despite the fact he was in the space and actively sought out the other man.

The ‘bathroom’ cruiser who seems to operate on a different psychological trajectory; they seem to be more addicted to such venues more so than those of us who prefer more open spaces, they have been at a distinct disadvantage over the years as such venues have simply disappeared by virtue of security being added at their entrances and the vending of toiletries also at the doorways. Mistakes in that sub group also have had impacts in the negative realm as with each instance security features are beefed up. I can remember the Island Life Mall fiasco in 2005 and again in 2008 in the male bathroom stall where the tabloids had a field day and the now carefully monitored LOJ Plaza in Spanish Town with even a mobbing in the early 2000s. The plaza or shopping centre cruising guy though is better placed as he is usually skilled or adept in observing and successfully picking up his hunt more so than those of us who prefer the rarer spaces including old buildings for such engagements. The need for the less talk but a spontaneous quickie is the main driver for people like me than a public link then going to a space or home. To have a dick quick is the key in whatever form, mouth, hand or ass if possible.

The occasional exhibitionist masturbator in spaces perused by cruisers although he can be seen as another type have made mistakes as well as evidenced in an unconfirmed report of one such incident nearing the old railway station in February this year, he was chased away by men who were alerted by the person who saw him in action. The oldest spot and once a favourite of mine in my younger years is also all but gone as squatters have since moved on whilst ‘mini-extortionists’ have turned the rest of the space into a paid parking lot where persons going to the shopping district park and pay in exchange for ‘security’ for their vehicles. Western Jamaica has seen its share of issues with migration seen as an option for one good brethren and fuck buddy of mine; yes we do travel to other sites other than one’s regular haunts. One thing that occupies my mind and is yet to be properly explained is why it is MSM who are not in known monogamous relationships are the archetypes who engaging cruising as their sex seeking options?

I am still also concerned about the HIV risk involved when it comes to the aforementioned nonverbal spontaneous hook-up and hence the more the missing risk assessment is present per situation and overall in the space is the more chances of HIV transmission is possible. Barebacking although partnered masturbation is the preferred method for safety and time purposes is not a new phenomenon in such spaces as it throws out the distraction in the minds of some, especially MSM who refuse to see themselves as homosexuals or bisexuals but still engage in some sort of same gender sex. Revealing a condom or even mentioning it in the moment can and has had disastrous responses from the partner including violence; he may not want to have his fantasy however short lived and it seems such reminders or interventions is too much of a reminder he is about to do some ass or vice versa in real terms.

I guess the fellas will have to make do and just adjust as we always do, one thing with us in Jamaica and a trait we do not often acknowledge generally we are good at being resilient on many fronts. Safe and happy hunting my brothers and please be vigilant.

Peace & tolerance

H

also see:

Gay Cruising misunderstood ..... from GLBTQJA 

More snags for the cruising community in 2013