Last week, we told you about Dan Carter, the owner of Danimal Yoga in Washington, D.C., who recently began leading all-male naked yoga classes for gay and bisexual men.
This week, we thought we’d tell you about the Gay Cuddle Club in London, which aims to reintroduce lonely gay and bisexual men to the concept of physical intimacy without ever taking off their clothes.
43-year-old Miguel Chavez founded the club back in 2014.
“Being a gay man, I noticed the lack of connections I had,” he tells Gay Star News. “We gay men are the worst enemies to one another. We are sometimes not so nice to each other and we don’t connect to each other.”
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The club’s official MeetUp description reads:
This is a group for any gay/bi men interested in spirituality, love, cuddles, energy healing, intimacy, connection with other gay men in London. We will nourish ourselfs [sic], look into each other eyes, recognise the beauty in everyone and everything, guide us into feelings of freedom, peace, love, healing.
Each session lasts about two hours and includes friendly cuddling and plutonic massages.
“When I first started, people genuinely thought it would be an orgy,” Miguel says. “I had one person take his penis out and start wanking.”
But that’s not what it’s about. Seriously, it’s not. The club really is about cuddling and connecting. Though, Miguel says, he understands why it may inspire feelings of sexual desire in some people.
“With intimacy, people think it has to come with sex. Because all the time you have intimacy, you have sex.”
The club, which was founded in 2014, has over 5000–yes, 5000!–members on MeetUp and hosts several cuddling events per year, attracting as many as 40 guys per session. Afterwards, they might hit the local gay bar or go out and do some other fun, non-sexual social activity.
“I think because [London is] a big city with a lack of communication,” Miguel says. “The city of London is very big and very fast. You go to buy a coffee, you can’t even talk to the person serving you the coffee.”
Cuddling, he says, is a way to remind everyone to slow down, relax, and connect.
Related: Why straight guys are seeking groups where they cuddle other men
Chrisk
I’m sorry but I just find it weird that a group of strangers gets together to cuddle for 2 hours. It just seems lonely and desperate.
Black Pegasus
I don’t see any wrong with it if the concept is true to what actually takes place. Besides, if you’re not a “white-gay” non traditional methods of making new friends is encouraged. Grindr isn’t quite welcoming for forming new friendships.
IWantAFullBeard
And pray tell what your thoughts are on anonymous gangbangs and orgies?
It’s fun when a homo judges another person about something “weird”. As if, no heterosexual has ever referred to two men getting together for any type of intimacy as “weird.”
Birdbrain1963
I would love this. I am very rural and haven’t found that special someone. I now have no local family and would like to have somebody to cuddle with occasionally. It would be a psychological benefit to many gay men like myself. Don’t discredit something that you are afraid of…
richardNobbs
But honey that is the point, some people are lonely, some starved for physical contact. There are people who lead productive lives but have very little physical contact and physical contact can change your brain chemistry and lead to better mental health overall. I kinda feel for you that you have so little empathy as to not understand needs that are not your own.
Wicked Dickie
It’s a bathhouse, don’t fool yourself.
dmi210
I agree. And just go to the baths. it’s easier.
Brian
I believe that it’s legit. It’s after they leave the cuddle session that the bathhouse action happens.
corktownboy
Plutonic? you mean platonic…..
Creamsicle
No, they’re deep underground and crystalize slowly, creating coarse grain crystals.
harryharris48
I have an intimacy issue. But I think I would just get aroused by all the cuddles!
bowlingbutch
We all need touch. I am a senior and know I would be happier with a long hugging session. I might even think I was worthy.
Doug
Hey buddy, you are worthy!
Brian
I wouldn’t be too sure. If it’s gay men, I’m sure plenty of them are quite particular about who is worthy of their cuddles.
Creamsicle
I think this is a good idea. Consider how little touch there is in daily life if you don’t have children or a partner. Young adults can feel extremely isolated if they don’t have close friends who invite casual touching, like hugs.
Lots of people can benefit from being touched more. If you’re not one of them, then good for you, but I don’t see a need to criticize people who find this helpful.
rodzilla
Wonderful comment Creamsicle!
PinkoOfTheGange
Anyone that confuses intimacy with sex and sex with love, should see a shrink You will be happier.
IWantAFullBeard
No, what you mean to say is that intimacy is not NECESSARILY sex and sex is not NECESSARILY love.
PinkoOfTheGange
@IWantAFullBeard: Ummmm nooo.
I wrote what I meant. In context of the article comments above it is valid statement. But that doesn’t mean your statement isn’t true also. Th two statements are not mutually exclusive and neither contradicts the other.
richardNobbs
In fact, there is a large body of study about how men use sex to get physical contact and women do just the opposite.
ryantbo
a friend of mine and I are JUST discussing this. I said I needed a nap and he said find a cuddle buddy. I said that’s the thing I miss most not being in a relationship. Open a Philly chapter and I am there
bottom4pleasure
They actually do have such clubs in the city of Philadelphia… I have a friend who has gone to a couple of them
Kangol
It’s consensual cuddling, it’s safe, it satisfied an emotional need these men have, so what’s the problem with it? Touch, especially consensual intimate touch, is known to be an important aspect of human connection. So why criticize this?
rodzilla
Kangol: another wonderful comment. I like how you guys can make them without gettn’ all snarky!
PinkoOfTheGange
Why? Well the Queen needs to cut off the head of somebody, over something, every day around here is seems.
Josh447
POTG,
LoL
Motion
“We gay men are the worst enemies to one another. We are sometimes not so nice to each other and we don’t connect to each other.”
Highly accurate…
Esscourt
This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius…
PinkoOfTheGange
Wouldn’t that infer a nude cuddle. 🙂
Libertas Belle
As much as I like sex, I also like to cuddle. There’s nothing like being wrapped in the arms of a big warm bear (especially when you’re cold all the damn time) and just enjoy being in the presence of one another. Not saying you have to be with a bear type to cuddle with either, cuddling with anyone is enjoyable. I wonder if there’s an app for that.
GymMan456
Like a MDMA party without the drug? Yes i like it. There are days when i find others body heat the only thing i need.
I think there is an dating app for this too ?