This story originally appeared in URBANIA, an online magazine based in Quebec focused on pop culture and society.

“You know Bain Colonial? A friend was telling me about it last night. It’s kind of a sauna/social club in the Plateau for queer intellectuals to chat and meet up with people of all ages, but it’s also more than that…”

My boss has a knack for teasing. That one line was enough to pique my interest. There was just one catch: I’m not a gay man, so I couldn’t set foot in the oldest gay bathhouse in the city. Too bad. 

Fortunately, I knew someone who could get wet and undressed on my behalf—and his boyfriend would join too.

Before they could dive in, I wanted to learn more about the history of Bain Colonial and the people who frequent it. I found an article titled Partager l’entre-soi: Homosociabilité et homosexualité dans un bain turc montréalais (or Sharing Exclusivity: Homosociability and Homosexuality in a Montreal Turkish Bath). Among other things, it reveals that Bain Colonial is one of the oldest Turkish baths still operating in North America.

“Initially frequented by a Jewish clientele, this century-old establishment gradually became central to Montreal’s homosexual history, all while preserving part of its original identity. It allows for the generally peaceful coexistence of ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities within a confined space,” the article explains. The stage was set.

My friend—let’s call him Tristan—confirms this. “Once, a regular told us it felt just like family at the bath!” he says with a smile. “But really, it means you can go there for more than just sex!”

“But you shouldn’t go to Bain Colonial expecting sex, because you might end up disappointed! It’s not guaranteed. People don’t always go there to hook up, but if the opportunity arises, it’ll happen,” explains a regular we’ll call D*. Sounds simple enough.

This story originally appeared in URBANIA, an online magazine based in Quebec focused on pop culture and society.

“You know Bain Colonial? A friend was telling me about it last night. It’s kind of a sauna/social club in the Plateau for queer intellectuals to chat and meet up with people of all ages, but it’s also more than that…”

My boss has a knack for teasing. That one line was enough to pique my interest. There was just one catch: I’m not a gay man, so I couldn’t set foot in the oldest gay bathhouse in the city. Too bad. 

Fortunately, I knew someone who could get wet and undressed on my behalf—and his boyfriend would join too.

Before they could dive in, I wanted to learn more about the history of Bain Colonial and the people who frequent it. I found an article titled Partager l’entre-soi: Homosociabilité et homosexualité dans un bain turc montréalais (or Sharing Exclusivity: Homosociability and Homosexuality in a Montreal Turkish Bath). Among other things, it reveals that Bain Colonial is one of the oldest Turkish baths still operating in North America.

“Initially frequented by a Jewish clientele, this century-old establishment gradually became central to Montreal’s homosexual history, all while preserving part of its original identity. It allows for the generally peaceful coexistence of ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities within a confined space,” the article explains. The stage was set.

My friend—let’s call him Tristan—confirms this. “Once, a regular told us it felt just like family at the bath!” he says with a smile. “But really, it means you can go there for more than just sex!”

“But you shouldn’t go to Bain Colonial expecting sex, because you might end up disappointed! It’s not guaranteed. People don’t always go there to hook up, but if the opportunity arises, it’ll happen,” explains a regular we’ll call D*. Sounds simple enough.

This story originally appeared in URBANIA, an online magazine based in Quebec focused on pop culture and society.

“You know Bain Colonial? A friend was telling me about it last night. It’s kind of a sauna/social club in the Plateau for queer intellectuals to chat and meet up with people of all ages, but it’s also more than that…”

My boss has a knack for teasing. That one line was enough to pique my interest. There was just one catch: I’m not a gay man, so I couldn’t set foot in the oldest gay bathhouse in the city. Too bad. 

Fortunately, I knew someone who could get wet and undressed on my behalf—and his boyfriend would join too.

This story originally appeared in URBANIA, an online magazine based in Quebec focused on pop culture and society.

“You know Bain Colonial? A friend was telling me about it last night. It’s kind of a sauna/social club in the Plateau for queer intellectuals to chat and meet up with people of all ages, but it’s also more than that…”

My boss has a knack for teasing. That one line was enough to pique my interest. There was just one catch: I’m not a gay man, so I couldn’t set foot in the oldest gay bathhouse in the city. Too bad. 

Fortunately, I knew someone who could get wet and undressed on my behalf—and his boyfriend would join too.