Are You Familiar with a Punishable Practice of Cottaging?

Get to know the unusual practice of cottaging that George Michael likes to indulge in.

 

This sexual practice greatly exposes one to STDs. (Photoxpress)

What is cottaging?

 

"Cottaging" is a slang expression that comes from Britain and stands for (usually homosexual) sex in public, most often in a public toilet. This practice can involve a systematic search for sexual partners in public toilets, where intercourse can actually take place somewhere else, or it can mean that intercourse happens in the same toilet where the persons meet. The term "cottaging" comes from the word used to denote public toilets that look like small huts or cottages. Cottaging is practiced not only by gays, but also by bisexual or heterosexual men. The goings-on are wholly anonymous and don't require any words or names. The purpose of cottaging is only sex and quick gratification.

 

What's the lure of cottaging?

 

Those who practice cottaging describe it as very exciting. They are attracted to the thought of having sex with a stranger as well as to the fact that this practice is prohibited and that they can be caught at any moment. Even though this sexual practice is seen as improper behavior in public and can bring one up to two years of prison, many people ignore this because the temptation is too overwhelming. Everybody knows that cottaging can also be pretty dangerous, since one can start seducing a wrong person, which may end with physical violence. Furthermore, people who practice cottaging are exposed to sexually transmitted diseases, and the toilets themselves can be very unhygienic and uncared-for. One single look of approval can be enough to tell two men that they can be up for some quick action. Some want only masturbation, others want oral sex, still others anal sex. These public toilets are often visited by married men.

"Cottaging" can lead to two years in prison. (Photoxpress)

When and how did cottaging come into being?

 

Cottaging didn't happen so much out of sheer pleasure as it did out of need. This sexual practice comes from the times when homosexuality was still prohibited and gay people had to keep their sexual life hidden from the views of others. This practice was very popular because it served as a convenient way of meeting sexual or love partners. Cottaging remains popular today, when many homosexuals still prefer visiting such public toilets to going to special saunas or gay clubs.

 

 

How to recognize a public toilet that holds the promise of cottaging?

 

A public toilet, called »cottage«, can be found on quiet and remote as well as busy spots, where a lot of people come and go, for example in airports and on bus and railway stations. Cottages are usually embellished with graffiti, while what can be seen on the walls are names and phone numbers of men who are looking for and offering sexual gratification. On the walls that separate toilet seats we will often find bored holes, into which a penis can be inserted, while the man on the other side of the wall offers the satisfaction of sexual desire.

Indecent behavior of George Michael

 

George Michael was arrested in 1998 for his debauched behavior in a public toilet in the Beverly Hills park, when he wanted to indulge in sexual activities with a policeman under cover. He had to pay a penalty and was sentenced to 80 hours of public work. In 2006, the singer was again caught in the act when he was satisfying his sexual needs with a 58-year-old stranger. He sued the newspaper that published the controversial photographs, but he surprised the public with an honest confession that this is the way he seeks sexual partners.

 

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