A gay bathhouse , also known as a gay sauna or a gay steambath , is a public bath targeted towards gay and bisexual men. In gay slang , a bathhouse may be called just "the baths", "the sauna ", or "the tubs". Historically, they have been used for sexual activity. Bathhouses offering similar services for women are rare, but some men's bathhouses occasionally have a " lesbian " or "women only" night.
Some, such as Hawks PDX , offer so-called "bisexual" nights, where anyone is welcome regardless of gender. Bathhouses vary considerably in size and amenities—from small establishments with 10 or 20 rooms and a handful of lockers to multi-story saunas with a variety of room styles or sizes and several steam baths , hot tubs , and sometimes swimming pools and private outdoor facilities. Most have a steam room or wet sauna , dry sauna, showers, lockers, and small private rooms.
Different cultures emphasize different uses of a gay bathhouse. In Asia, nearly every gay sauna will include a communal karaoke room complete with handheld microphones and large selections of songs for their toweled patrons. In North America, many gay bathhouses include a large dedicated gym area with weights and exercise machines. In many countries, bathhouses are "membership only" for legal reasons ; though membership is generally open to anyone over the age of consent who seeks it, usually after paying a small fee.
Unlike brothels , customers at gay bathhouses in the U. Sexual activity, if it occurs, is not provided by staff of the establishment, but is between customers with no money exchanged. Many gay bathhouses in the U. In other countries notably Thailand, Switzerland, and Brazil , bathhouses may employ male prostitutes to work directly on site.
Sex fees are typically set by the management, although tipping is encouraged. Since true male-only brothels are rarely found anywhere in the world, gay bathhouses sometimes also act as this hybrid model. However, unlike an actual brothel, patrons can choose to solely have sex with each other for free without paying anything in addition to the price at the door.
