It relies on body language, eye contact, intuition, and knowing how to utilize public space. It’s called cruising, and it’s a dialect that has been perfected in places like restrooms, city parks, and gym locker rooms. It was frustrating, because I knew that there was a language out there that gay men have used for centuries to communicate in these very situations. And even if I did talk to him, what was I supposed to say? The customary, “ Sup?” that many use online wouldn’t suffice, I’m sure. I worried that it was all in my head, and that he was straight and maybe even homophobic. I wanted to talk to this guy, but I wasn’t confident he was interested in me and wondered whether it was just a coincidence, him following me and working out closeby.
