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[[Image:Goose 8 bg 112303.jpg|thumb|One of several possible origins of ''glory hole'' as sexual slang is from [[glassblowing]], which dates back to 50 B.C. Shown here, a person reheats a glass item with the "glory hole" being the [[furnace]] on the left.]]
⚫
In naval slang, the 'glory hole' was used in both the merchant and Royal Navy; <ref>{{citation | title= Return to Glory Hole | first= Walter | last= Bell | publisher= Trafford Publishing | year= 2004}}</ref><ref>{{citation | title= Foc's'le and glory-hole: a study of the merchant seaman and his occupation | first= James | last= Healey | publisher= Merchant marine publishers association (University of Virginia digitized version 2007)| year= 1936}}</ref> in the Navy this refers to a place for general untidinesses, on passenger liners the Stewards' mess, and on coal-burning tramp steamers, the stoke hold. <ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/training-and-people/rn-life/navy-slang/covey-crump-(a-to-aye)/galley-gunwale/ Royal Navy list of navy-slang]</ref> The term originated in [[Polari]], the covert language of the gay scene in London's dockland, amongst sailors, stewards and the queers and queens who associated with them. <ref>{{citation |title= Fantabulosa: a dictionary of Polari and gay slang | first= Paul | last= Baker | publisher= Continuum International Publishing Group | year= 2004 | page= 31}}</ref>
The exact origin of the term as sexual slang is uncertain. Several industries use the phrase prior to known usage as sexual slang. In the mining industry, the opening to a [[mineshaft]] containing the "[[mother lode]]" would be considered to be the "glory hole".<ref name="Geologic Guidebook">{{cite web
|last=Jenkins |first=Olaf Pitt
|title=Geologic Guidebook Along Highway 49, Sierran Gold Belt: The Mother Lode Country
|publisher=Division of Mines
|date=1948 |isbn= |pages=7, 13, 19
|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=eT0gAAAAIAAJ&q=gloryhole&dq=gloryhole&lr=&pgis=1
|accessdate=2007-12-31}}</ref> In [[glass blowing]] the open mouth or "glory hole" refers to the [[kiln]].<ref name="A History of Glassforming">{{cite web
|last=Cummings |first=Keith |title=A History of Glassforming
|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |date=2002 |isbn=0812236475
|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=nm387Ui_DEAC&dq=gloryhole&lr=
|accessdate=2007-12-31}}</ref> In civil engineering, a glory hole is where water from a reservoir is quickly "sucked" through and vectors out of a dam. There are numerous meanings from seamen and shipbuilding.<ref name="Glossary of Shipbuilding">{{cite web
|last=Eddington |first=Walter J. |title=Glossary of Shipbuilding and Outfitting Terms
|publisher=Cornell Maritime Press |date=1943 |pages=127
|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=NFUEAAAAMAAJ&q=gloryhole&dq=gloryhole&lr=&pgis=1
|accessdate=2007-12-31}}</ref>

⚫
In naval slang, the 'glory hole' was used in both the merchant and Royal Navy;<ref>{{citation | title= Return to Glory Hole | first= Walter | last= Bell | publisher= Trafford Publishing | year= 2004}}</ref><ref>{{citation | title= Foc's'le and glory-hole: a study of the merchant seaman and his occupation | first= James | last= Healey | publisher= Merchant marine publishers association (University of Virginia digitized version 2007)| year= 1936}}</ref> in the Navy this refers to a place for general untidinesses, on passenger liners the Stewards' mess, and on coal-burning tramp steamers, the stoke hold. <ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/training-and-people/rn-life/navy-slang/covey-crump-(a-to-aye)/galley-gunwale/ Royal Navy list of navy-slang]</ref> The term originated in [[Polari]], the covert language of the gay scene in London's dockland, amongst sailors, stewards and the queers and queens who associated with them. <ref>{{citation |title= Fantabulosa: a dictionary of Polari and gay slang | first= Paul | last= Baker | publisher= Continuum International Publishing Group | year= 2004 | page= 31}}</ref>


There are many theories regarding the origins of the earliest glory hole. One common idea is that it originated as a spy or peep hole, and grew larger as men sought more contact, but only enough contact as to perform sex acts upon the [[genitals]] of other men.
There are many theories regarding the origins of the earliest glory hole. One common idea is that it originated as a spy or peep hole, and grew larger as men sought more contact, but only enough contact as to perform sex acts upon the [[genitals]] of other men.

Revision as of 13:29, 18 June 2009

For other uses, see glory hole.
A glory hole is visible in the wall (left) in this Caltrans lavatory in California.

A glory hole (also spelled gloryhole and glory-hole) is a hole in a wall, or other partition, often between public lavatory stalls or video booths for people to engage in sexual activity or observe the person in the next cubicle while one or both parties masturbate.[1] The partition maintains anonymity. Body parts including fingers, tongue, and penis may be used for anonymous oral, vaginal and/or anal intercourse. Erotic literature and pornographic films have been devoted to the sexual uses of glory holes.[2][3]

Origin

My cherry lips have often kiss'd thy stones... I kiss the wall's hole, not your lips at all.(Exeunt omnes.)
-- Thisbe, "played by a boy in a wig", in William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream (Vi 192-205)[4]

One of several possible origins of glory hole as sexual slang is from glassblowing, which dates back to 50 B.C. Shown here, a person reheats a glass item with the "glory hole" being the furnace on the left.

The exact origin of the term as sexual slang is uncertain. Several industries use the phrase prior to known usage as sexual slang. In the mining industry, the opening to a mineshaft containing the "mother lode" would be considered to be the "glory hole".[5] In glass blowing the open mouth or "glory hole" refers to the kiln.[6] In civil engineering, a glory hole is where water from a reservoir is quickly "sucked" through and vectors out of a dam. There are numerous meanings from seamen and shipbuilding.[7]

In naval slang, the 'glory hole' was used in both the merchant and Royal Navy;[8][9] in the Navy this refers to a place for general untidinesses, on passenger liners the Stewards' mess, and on coal-burning tramp steamers, the stoke hold. [10] The term originated in Polari, the covert language of the gay scene in London's dockland, amongst sailors, stewards and the queers and queens who associated with them. [11]

There are many theories regarding the origins of the earliest glory hole. One common idea is that it originated as a spy or peep hole, and grew larger as men sought more contact, but only enough contact as to perform sex acts upon the genitals of other men.

From the mid-to-late 20th century glory holes could be found in public men's rooms in the United States including adult bookstores,[12] and gay bars. When an institution (school, governmental or business) would replace bathroom stalls they often would upgrade to stainless steel to discourage creating holes as well as other forms of vandalism as wood walls were an easy target for such activities. Sometimes men who enjoy the erotic aspects of the activity will even create one for private use in their homes.

Method of use

A 'glory hole' is usually a waist high hole drilled, punched or filed in a wall between stalls in a public restroom or adult bookstore peepshow; through this hole one man will insert his penis for oral sex. Usually it is the centralized location which facilitates impersonal, anonymous sex, rather than the structural feature of the setting itself.[13][14]

To use a glory hole a man puts his penis through the hole to in most cases receive oral sex, and to a lesser extent anal intercourse, a handjob, or vaginal intercourse.[citation needed] Glory holes are today most commonly found in established adult video/bookstore arcades, sex clubs, gay bathhouses, and adult theaters.

If a glory hole is to be found between two booths in a video booth at an adult bookstore, the person who wishes to perform oral sex will normally be seated in his or her booth. The seated (and sometimes kneeling) position commonly signals to others that they are there in order to perform oral sex - which allows those who wish to receive oral sex to take the adjoining booth[citation needed]. That second person, who wishes to have oral sex performed on them will take the adjoining booth and normally remain standing.

Motivations

Numerous motivations can be ascribed to the use and eroticism of glory holes. For some, it can be seen as a way to have intimacy without a prolonged relationship or to ensure sexual compatibility before further advancing a relationship. Utilizing a gloryhole is also an easy way to mitigate any perceived physical shortcomings like being overweight or somehow less physically attractive. One social theorist has described the attraction of this form of sexual encounter thus: "The ultimate sexual objectification of gay male sexual encounters is the glory hole in public toilets. As a wall separates the two participants, they have no contact except for a mouth, a penis, and perhaps a hand. Almost total anonymity is maintained as no other attributes are taken into consideration."[15] The glory hole is seen as an iconic erotic oasis in gay subcultures around the world; people's motivations, experiences and attributions of value in its use are varied. [13][14]

In light of the ongoing AIDS pandemic, many gay men have re-evaluated their sexual and erotic desires.[16] Glory holes allow for a physical barrier which may be an extension of psychological ones where internalized homophobia as a result of society's negative reaction to LGBT people and gay sexual practices can be resolved, even if only temporarily.[16] For some gay men a glory hole can be used to depersonalize their partner altogether as simply an object sticking through the hole.[16] These motivations could be ascribed as male motivations and not just as gay and bisexual men's motives.[17]

Public sex is illegal in many parts of the world and entrapment cases occur.[18][19][20] Potential surveillance and public humiliation (if a participant's name appears in a local newspaper or in legal documents) as well as gay bashing, mugging or bodily injury are further risks. Due to the fear of arrest or assault, or for reasons of etiquette, it is rare for a male to insert his penis in a glory hole without invitation from the person on the other side of the partition [citation needed]. A common signal by a willing participant is to insert one or more fingers in the hole, often accompanied by a beckoning motion and an audible invitation such as a purr or whistle.

In addition to safety risks from being attacked, there is also the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. This can be reduced through the use of condoms when needed.

Popular culture references within both the gay and LGBT communities as well as the mainstream culture have become more common. The 1982 teen comedy film Porky's, about the escapades of teenagers at the fictional Angel Beach high school in Florida in 1954, featured a glory hole scene in a shower room where the boys were able to view teen girls in the shower. In John Waters's 1994 dark comedy film Serial Mom, a glory hole is used as a plot device when an eyewitness sees the title character through the hole hiding in the neighboring stall prior to a murder at the nearby urinals. An earlier film by Waters, Desperate Living (1977), contained a scene in a women's lavatory depicting a chest-high double glory hole—for breasts. The opening stunt in Jackass 2 features a man inserting his penis into a glory hole that opens up into the cage of a hungry snake, which proceeded to violently bite his penis. In the 2002 film The Sweetest Thing, Cameron Diaz gets injured in the eye when she unknowingly peers through a glory hole in men's restroom. In the 2000 comedy Scary Movie, which spoofs popular horror films, Shawn Wayans' character Ray, who had shown stereotypical signs of being gay or closeted throughout the movie, goes to the bathroom in a theater. Upon seeing a glory hole and hearing sexual noises, he proceeds to listen with his ear pressed to the hole and is suddenly impaled through his head by a penis. In the fifth season of The Shield, gay men patronizing glory holes in public restrooms were assaulted with rat traps. In a scene in the 2008 movie Sex Drive, Ian reaches for the toilet paper while in a public restroom and accidentally grabs the penis of a man in the adjacent stall who has put it through a glory hole. In Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, an advertisement on the in-game radio describes 'Glory Hole Theme Park - where strangers become friends'. It is also mentioned by Peter Griffin in "Family Gay", an episode of Family Guy.

See also

References

  1. ^ Murphy, Timothy F. (1994). "Gay Ethics: Controversies in Outing, Civil Rights, and Sexual Science". Haworth Press. p. 237. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
  2. ^ Burger, John Robert (1995). "One-Handed Histories: The Eroto-Politics of Gay Male Video". Haworth Press. ISBN 1560248602. Retrieved 2007-12-31. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ ""Glory hole" site:nifty.org". Nifty.org Erotic Online Archives. 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
  4. ^ Randolph, Vance (1992). "Unprintable Ozark Folksongs and Folklore". University of Arkansas Press. p. 537. ISBN 1557282315. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
  5. ^ Jenkins, Olaf Pitt (1948). "Geologic Guidebook Along Highway 49, Sierran Gold Belt: The Mother Lode Country". Division of Mines. pp. 7, 13, 19. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
  6. ^ Cummings, Keith (2002). "A History of Glassforming". University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 0812236475. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
  7. ^ Eddington, Walter J. (1943). "Glossary of Shipbuilding and Outfitting Terms". Cornell Maritime Press. p. 127. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
  8. ^ Bell, Walter (2004), Return to Glory Hole, Trafford Publishing
  9. ^ Healey, James (1936), Foc's'le and glory-hole: a study of the merchant seaman and his occupation, Merchant marine publishers association (University of Virginia digitized version 2007)
  10. ^ Royal Navy list of navy-slang
  11. ^ Baker, Paul (2004), Fantabulosa: a dictionary of Polari and gay slang, Continuum International Publishing Group, p. 31
  12. ^ Woods, William J. (2003). "Gay Bathhouses and Public Health Policy". Haworth Press. ISBN 1560232730. Retrieved 2007-12-31. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ a b Bapst, Don (June 2001), "Glory Holes and the Men who use Them", Journal of Homosexuality, 41 (1): 89–102
  14. ^ a b Tewksbury, Richard (2004 page= 47), "The Intellectual Legacy of Laud Humphreys: His Impact on Research and Thinking about Men's Public Sexual Encounters", International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 24 (3/4/5) {{citation}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); Missing pipe in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  15. ^ Blachford, Gregg (2002), "Male dominance and the gay world", in Plummer, Kenneth (ed.), Sexualities: Difference and the diversity of sexualities, Taylor & Francis, p. 301
  16. ^ a b c Dean, Tim (2000). "Beyond Sexuality". University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0226139344. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
  17. ^ Grant, Linda (1994). "Sexing the Millennium: Women and the Sexual Revolution". Grove Press. ISBN 0802133495. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
  18. ^ Califia-Rice, Patrick (2000). "Public Sex: The Culture of Radical Sex". Cleis Press Inc. ISBN 1573440965. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
  19. ^ Jaffe, Harold (2005,). "Terror-Dot-Gov". Raw Dog Screaming Press. p. 28. ISBN 1933293098. Retrieved 2007-12-31. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  20. ^ Otton, Garry. " Cruising: A Private Inconvenience by Garry Otton, ScotsGay Magazine, January 1995" Retrieved on 2007-06-06.

Further reading

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