Gay bath houses were places that men could meet and hookup, in an environment that permitted such activity. That is not to say that bath houses were safe from police raids, because such instances were known to occur. Bath houses were also places that STD transmission was common, due to frequent unprotected sex. This particular ad from The Empty Closet advertises a bath house in Rochester that offers different amenities, including a sauna, private rooms, and refreshments and movies. I chose this image because I thought it was interesting how the bath houses were alternative meeting spots for gay men, as opposed to just bars.
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Source: The Empty Closet, January 1976
-ML