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- This article is on the sexual behavior. For other uses, see Cottage (disambiguation)
Cottaging is a gay slang term for having sex in a public lavatory (a cottage) or for cruising for sex or picking-up sexual partners in public lavatories with the intention of having sex elsewhere. The term may have its roots in the English cant language of polari, or in the fact that many self-contained English toilet blocks have in the past resembled small cottages in their appearance.
'Kite Flying' is now a common place euphemism for cottaging e.g. "I'm going to the common kite flying"
The term 'cottage' used in this sense is predominantly British (a cottage in the general sense being a small, cosy, countryside home), though the term is occasionally used in context of the same sexual behaviour in other parts of the world. In America lavatories used for this purpose are sometimes called 'tea rooms'.
Cottaging is more common among gay and bisexual men than among lesbians or heterosexuals, in the latter case because mixed-gender lavatories are uncommon, but the term can apply to the actions of people of all sexes and sexual orientations.
The term cottaging is rarely used outside gay communities however, and usage and awareness of the term may be in decline, as attitudes to homosexuality become more tolerant and fewer individuals find themselves limited to such covert and illicit ways of meeting others.
Cottaging is considered an anti-social activity of gross depravity as it interferes with other people's free and undisturbed use of public toilets. Indeed cottaging has been cited as the reason for the closure of many public toilets.
Cottaging & The Law
Sexual acts in public lavatories are outlawed by many jurisdictions.
Historically in the UK, homosexual acts occurring whilst cottaging often resulted in a charge and conviction of Gross Indecency, an offence only pertaining to acts committed by males and particularly applied to homosexual activity. Resulting in stiffer penalties than equivalent offences committed by women or heterosexuals, the law was felt to be unfair and much lobbying took place, especially by gay groups to get these acts of indecency removed from the statute books. The Sexual Offences Act 2003 eventually removed this contentious offence in favour of "indecent exposure" and specifically "engaging in sexual activity in a public lavatory", an offence which for the first time specifically encapsulated and outlawed cottaging.
In US Law, there is no such equivalent and individuals tend to be convicted under "lewd behaviour" laws.
In many of the cases where people are brought to court for cottaging, the issue of entrapment arises, since law enforcement officers generally are not supposed to encourage people to engage in criminal activity.
Cottaging catching public attention
- In October 1953, John Gielgud was arrested for "importuning" in a public toilet in Chelsea and fined £10
- On 22nd March 1980, Matthew Tate was arrested for soliciting in a public toilet in Slough, UK. This public toilet was originally designed to reflect the classic cottage designs in the area. From this the common phrase "cottaging" was adopted by The Sun (newspaper)
- On April 7, 1998 George Michael was arrested and later prosecuted in Los Angeles after his potential cottaging partner turned out to be a plainclothes police officer.
- Wilfred Brambell (Albert Steptoe) was arrested for trying to procure a sexual partner outside toliets in Shepherds Bush in the early 1960's.
External link
- Church of the Angelic Cottager (Humorous)
"Cottaging"