London's Famous Queer Cruising Area is Under Fire

One of the world's most famous outdoor cruising areas is under fire.

London's Hempstead Heath, the large park situated on one of the highest elevations in the city, has areas on its west side near Jack Straw's Castle (now condos) that have been popular for outdoor sex since the Victorian era. But a movement to change that tradition cropped up this week when anonymous posters appeared in the park urging dog walkers and residents to "take back" Hampstead Heath from gay men the area who use a wooded area for sex.

According to LBC (Leading British Conversation), "(t)he western area of the iconic north London park has been filled with signs reading: 'Use a hook up app like Grindr or Sniffies & get a room... Please give West Heath back to the local neighbourhood,"

The signs, LBC adds, were removed within the day "with furious locals reportedly pulling them down."

One older gay man, who asked to remain anonymous, told the London's The Times that his generation "prefer not to use the apps', adding: "We were here first."

The Times adds: "Men have been 'cruising' Hampstead Heath since the 19th century and 200 years later it remains one of Europe's most notorious spots. Cruising began as a response to sodomy and indecency laws."

Londoner Michael Pitt, who pulled down one of the sign, told the Times he believed that those who put the sign up were new to the area. He added that in his experience, longstanding locals shared his "live and let live" mentality.

"The gay community were oppressed for many years, so they would meet men outside to avoid this. You won't stop it now," he said. He said he pulled the sign down as it would "stir discrimination" and "encourage division".

And, the London Times reports, "an area of undergrowth known for cruising was cleared by the heath's grounds team just a day after the signs were posted."

The area is owned and maintained by the City of London Corporation. The body said: "Our teams undertake regular vegetation management to support biodiversity and help ensure the heath remains a welcoming space for everyone. We encourage all visitors to use the heath respectfully and considerately.

"We are aware of reports of signs being put up in the area which were not authorised by us. Flyposting will be removed as part of our regular patrols and cleans of the heath."

The most famous legal infraction from cruising in the park came in 2008 when singer George Michael was arrested "after he was seen loitering in underground toilets in Hampstead Heath, close to his home," reported The Guardian at the time. His arrest was not for cruising, but for possessing marijuana.

In addition to public sex in the woody areas of the park, it also takes place in public toilets in and around the park. In London these facilities are known as "cottages," British slang for a place to pick up. The arrest took place at the public toilet at South End Green, an elegant relic from the Victorian era. It also was a favorite for iconic British playwright Joe Orton who called it his "favourite pick-up place." In Stephen Frears excellent biopic of Orton, "Prick Up Your Ears," he recreate one of Orton's visit to such a public lavatory.

An earlier arrest involving Michael in 1998 in a Los Angeles public toilet where he was caught engaging in a lewd act. Days later, Michael came out as gay in a CNN interview. He said he regretted staying in the closet for too long. Six months later he used the incident as the subject of for the song "Outside," which featured couples of various sexual orientations engaging in lewd sexual acts with Michael dressed as a police officer dancing in a public toilet.

He later told Attitude Magazine the reason why he made the video: "When I made the 'Outside' video I knew I was helping a whole generation of 15-year-olds who are cruising and dying of shame about it. I felt that lightening the stigma around cruising was the most immediately beneficial thing I could do. I know for a fact that when I was 16, 17, when I started cruising, that watching the 'Outside' video would have taken some of the weight off my shoulders."