2018 MVA Thesis Projects 

Gay men have long been persecuted for how they have sex. However, sex is but one aspect of a plurality of intersubjective identities gay men inhabit. While public/private saunas and baths have existed for centuries, the formation of gay baths in the United States in the mid 20th century played a critical role in providing a safe and private space for gay men to discover themselves. With the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the advent of social media platforms like Grindr, the number and influence of the baths has diminished today, yet their significance and influence on a generation of gay men persists. Through the voices of those with personal lived experience, Into Man’s Country delves into the secretive and intimate world of the gay bathhouse during the ‘70s, from the euphoric rush of a quick unfettered sexual encounter to the establishment of lasting personal relationships.

 

Running time: 30 minutes