Do Gay Circuit Parties Offer Community or Just Fleeting Moments?
Revisiting circuit parties sparked reflections on community, connection, and self-discovery.
Going Back to the Party Scene
Last weekend, drunk on nostalgia (or just regular drunk, who can remember?), I decided to dust off my glittery booty shorts and brave the big bad world of circuit parties once more. My friend — let’s call him “Party Enthusiast” — was eager to join me on this voyage back.
(Circuit parties are large, often annual or seasonal dance events popular in the gay community, featuring DJs, elaborate themes, and an atmosphere of liberation. They also have a flip side, a reputation for rampant drug use, anonymous sexual encounters, and a sometimes toxic environment.)
The door guy, bless his enthusiastic heart, described the evening’s debauchery: a bar, an outdoor lounge, and, of course, the fabulous dance floor. Armed with an almost irrational confidence, we dove headfirst into the abyss.
A Sweaty Abyss
Now, let me paint you a picture: half-naked men as far as the eye could see, gyrating in what can only be described as a hedonistic human stew of sweat, glitter, and very questionable life choices. It was a scene…
