Slang term for a public restroom where men do sexual favors for each other. The term is said to arise from the lavatories of royal palaces, where princes and kings would indulge their homosexual fantasies, engaging in forbidden acts with servants and commoners. Those invited to the palace to be serviced by a king or prince were said to be “invited to tea” and upon arrival, they would be ushered to the “tea room” by palace staff.

Over time, this activity took place less and less within the confines of royal palaces (though it surely still happens all the time in England) and more and more in skuzzy public locations like toilets and alleys. The practice was more or less unknown to the general public until 1998 when pop singer George Michael was arrested for trying to fuck some grimy hobo in a dirty shithouse “Tea Room” somewhere in Los Angeles. It seems his careless whisper was overheard by undercover police, and he was forced to plead no contest in order to secure his freedom.

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Cruising

Cottaging