Editorial
© 2007 Philadelphia Gay News

Fear and groping in Rehoboth

Last month, police arrested 12 gay men on various charges of sex crimes and disorderly conduct at Rehoboth Beach, Del. Eight of the men were arrested as part of a sting operation with undercover officers.

Some local residents have called the undercover sting operation entrapment, claiming if the police had sent uniformed officers to patrol the area, it would have been an effective deterrent.

Some of the charges that the men were arrested on include indecent exposure, touching officers in the groin area, requesting officers to engage in sex acts, solicitation, patronizing a prostitute, public masturbation and lewdness on the beach.

According to local police, the crackdown came after residents complained about trespassing and other disruptions on their property.

It’s also notable that the majority of those arrested are not locals — they hailed from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Massachusetts.

Further, all of the arrests were made for actions on public, not private, property, which by default has different behavior standards.

Some of the alleged actions of the arrested men would raise a few eyebrows (and general community concerns), while others were most likely the result of alcohol over-indulgence and overstepping boundaries: It’s doubtful that many sober gay men would cop feels of uniformed police officers.

The morality of gay cruising is not at issue here (consenting adults are entitled to do whatever and whomever they wish). But the GLBT community should be concerned about unwarranted and unwanted sexual advances and where they take place.

While only those at the scene can say for certain how the incidents progressed, certainly being offered $100 and told that you are going home with someone crosses several boundaries and breaks a law or two.

In most of these cases, it’s probable that the participants didn’t need to be exhibitionists: As tourists, they were likely renting a hotel room or a beach house and could take their cavorting there.

Additionally, it’s not exactly good guest etiquette to visit a vacation spot (where others live year-round) and lose all of the inhibitions that one has at home. To be sure, a vacation should be a change of pace, but local laws still apply.

As to the value of using undercover officers, perhaps it will serve as a reminder to thoroughly vet potential partners before touching or propositioning them.