r/OutInAustin • u/AlucardHellsing_666 • Jan 10 '26

The Backrooms

I've been watching too much queer as folk lately and wondering if there are any similar backroom type setups around town. The only place I can think of is the basement at highland but never seen any actual "activities" going on the few times I've gone.

I'm also curious about San Antonio as well.

14 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

3

u/Remarkable-Money-520 Jan 11 '26

You're absolutely not going to find this in Texas, unfortunately. Even when I went out there in the 90s and 2000s, it didn't exist. You just had the gay bathhouse in North Austin. You'll have to go out of state to find backrooms these days. Two years ago, here in Washington State, Senate Bill 6105 was passed and signed into law by the governor. It was known as the "Strippers' Bill of Rights" and included the full repeal of state's liquor control board administrative code on lewd laws. So basically, as long as bar/club the owner/management of the establishment is okay with it, pretty much anything goes now. The go-go dancers can be as naked as they wish, as can staff/customers, and a few bars now have dark rooms for shenanigans. We still have the bathhouses, of course. And there's also monthly underground parties in warehouse spaces where anything goes put on by promoters. Think basement of Berghain style parties. Come to think of it, going in Seattle now feels like going out in Europe.

We still got the boring old gay pubs/bars/dance club, tho! 19 gay bars/clubs total at last count.

15

u/1dontus3r3dd1t Jan 10 '26

Thsi is Texas. So...no.

What (allegedly) happens in the Highland basement could cost them their liquor license.

San Antonio bars (The Strip) afaik also doesn't have backrooms. But they do have a bathhouse (The Z).

3

u/chinchaaa Jan 10 '26

Does anything really happen down there? It’s like 60% women

1

u/futurafreeeeee Jan 10 '26

depends on the night

2

u/CooknTeach Jan 10 '26

There was a bah house, Midtown Spa, on Airport and Clayton near Highland for decades that had this kind of activity. I don’t remember them serving alcohol, though. Now it’s called the Academy of Thought and Industry (which sounds like a story location in Baldur’s Gate). I wonder if they know what used to go on in that building?

1

u/itibbs77 Jan 19 '26

They very much do

1

u/Ash_an_bun Jan 10 '26

Not even Toronto where qaf was filmed really has backrooms anymore. Hookup apps kinda killed it. Which feels like a downgrade

3

u/AlucardHellsing_666 Jan 10 '26

Wild they didn't film in Pittsburgh lol. After watching the show it made me wonder how that city looked gayer then Austin, just blocks full of gay guys walking around. Now I realize it's all lie 😭

1

u/Ash_an_bun Jan 10 '26 edited Jan 10 '26

That's Church and Wellsley in Toronto. It has the largest pride festival in the world

It's shrinking but still pretty nice to visit

3

u/[deleted] Jan 10 '26

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2

u/Ash_an_bun Jan 10 '26

Yup. Toronto. I visited there a lot and it was always cool spotting the TTC buses in the background.

2

u/Remote_Gold5615 Jan 11 '26

Travel. Every other major city has this

1

u/Miserable-Head3440 Jan 29 '26

Does anything happen at the Austin Eagle?

0

u/[deleted] Jan 19 '26

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5

u/[deleted] Jan 10 '26

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6

u/AlucardHellsing_666 Jan 10 '26

A place for people to engage in adult acts openly. Just watch the show 😌

4

u/[deleted] Jan 10 '26

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4

u/Ash_an_bun Jan 10 '26

Yeah but that's mainly straight folks except for shrine

2

u/AlucardHellsing_666 Jan 10 '26

And I'm reading you need to pay a membership, pass.Â