Is the era of darkrooms in Germany finally over? Recently, gay city magazines, blogs and community sites in the gay scene have been buzzing with news of the closure of several long-standing darkrooms in Berlin. For many in the gay community it came as a shock, since Berlin was seen as one of the few remaining gay capitals where gay men find an exceptionally varied cruising scene and where several popular bars and clubs still have a darkroom. So what is behind it?

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Darkrooms – The Erotic Appeal of the Unknown

 

In the gay scene, opinions on darkrooms are just as divided as they are on cruising in public places. For some, the dimly lit back rooms are simply part of gay nightlife. Others can't see the appeal of anonymous sex with men you can barely make out in the dark. Whichever camp you belong to: since darkrooms are always more or less clearly separated from the dance floor or bar, the two spaces usually coexist peacefully and give a bar or club a slightly scruffy atmosphere.

 

Darkrooms Closing in Berlin: What's Behind It?

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Over the years, many bars and clubs have given up their darkrooms. In many cases, interest among younger generations of gay men has simply faded. Where a darkroom used to be the easiest way to blow off steam with other men spontaneously and without strings attached, the world looks different today. For one thing, gay people are less pushed to the margins of society, which makes getting to know each other much easier. And when it comes to spontaneous sex, many men now prefer gay dating apps. Getting into a cruising adventure with a complete stranger who is practically invisible in a darkroom has become less common. But the financial side isn't always the trigger.

 

Darkrooms as Gay Tourist Magnets

 

Berlin in particular is famous, and notorious, among gay men around the world for its excessive and uninhibited nightlife. For many curious gay men, darkrooms are simply part of a visit to Berlin. On top of rising rents, some popular clubs and bars also ran into problems with the district authorities in 2018. Not all of these labyrinthine venues meet modern safety standards, which is why some darkrooms have to close, at least temporarily, until improvements are made. Gay tourists in Berlin can breathe easy: with a bit of luck, nothing will stand in the way of cruising in bars, clubs and saunas in the future either.