31

Island gather, wearing the briefest of shorts, to ex-
plore one another’s bodies more easily. Outdoor sex
orgies involving a dozen men are commonplace of
an evening. =

No where are the artlhces of the “gay world”
shown more vividly than in certain “gay bars and
restaurants” which, by virtue of their high prices,
exclude any but the cuff link set and their “kept
boys.” :

Visiting one of these at a busy luncheon can be a
disconcerting experience to the uninitiated. The door
opens on a smoke-filled bar filled with impeccably
dressed middle-aged men eagerly swilling martinis,

surrounded by half as many young males.

Calling the young males “boys” is somewhat of a
misnomer. Depending on how well he takes care of
himself, a “kept boy” can reasonably be expected to
be called a “boy” until he’s nearly 30. The emphasis
on youth is the prime characteristic of the “finger
bowl sct”’—but it can be sustained by the “illusion of

929 ¢¢

youth.” “Kept boys” know enough about cosmetics,
mud packs, massage and the rest of feminine wiles
to keep themselves far better preserved for far longer
than their hustler counterparts on 7The Street.
Luncheon between “boy” and ‘“‘keeper” is an un-
varying ritual. The “boy” invariably occupies sume