Tomorrow marks the 30th anniversary of the bath house raids and Xtra! has posted a link to a video called “Track Two” that covers the history of the bathhouse raids.

http://www.xtra.ca/public/National/The_1981_Toronto_Bathhouse_Riots-9730.aspx

The raids in Toronto is what really sparked the pride movement in Toronto.  Toronto’s gay community rallied and called the police and politicians to task.  We had enough of the bullshit.

I wasn’t there, being a 6 years old back then, but I was living in North York at the time.  With many thanks to the men and women who stood up for gay rights back then, and paved the way for the acceptance we have today, I can live as an out gay man with my partner without fear of repercussion.

Bathhouses have always been an important part of my gay upbringing.  I’ve spent MANY hours in baths around the world including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.  I enjoy them, I find them relaxing, fun, and beyond the sex I often get a great workout in as well (thanks Steamworks!).

They have opened my eyes to kink, it’s where I learned to fuck and get fucked, suck and get sucked – I’ve been shown the ropes and I’ve shown the ropes to a number of men I’ve met in bathhouses – possibly sharing someone’s first gay sexual experience.

Unfortunately, in Toronto, bath houses have been closing down over the past 7 years with the loss of The Barracks (loved this place), Club Toronto (the pool on Sunday was fun!), and St. Marc’s Spa (rumored to be re-opening sometime).  That said, there have been a number of sex clubs open up along with the remaining bathhouses in Toronto –  The Cellar, Steamworks, Spa Excess and Central Spa.

I hope we never lose these establishments, but I fear it is inevitable that we will.