Thank you for visiting CRUISING for SEX (CFS). We’ve been online since 1995 as a place where men seeking men — whether gay, bi, straight, queer, DL, trans, curious, or somewhere in-between — could learn about cruising spots, connect, hook up, and be part of a larger community.

Now, nearly thirty years later, it’s time for CFS to sign off and go offline. Before I explain why, here’s a brief look back.

CFS has its roots in STEAM Magazine, a quarterly that described itself as "the intellectual review of public sex." STEAM published sex-positive stories, editorials, and the early version of what became the CFS Sex Listings — a guide to places where men met men. Created by Scott O’Hara (Wikipedia) and our own Cruisemaster Keith Griffith (Wikipedia), STEAM was published in San Francisco from 1993 to 1995.

In 1995, Keith launched CFS—possibly the first and, for a time, the largest online gay male cruising site. It offered Sex Listings, a Message Board, and more. Keith also launched adjacent sites, including the personals-focused Communal Stalls and the escort review site CRUISING for ESCORTS.

When Keith’s cancer returned, I — Bob S., your current CFS Editor — stepped in. I had been working with Keith as a contract programmer since 2000. After his passing in 2012, I took up the mantle to keep his legacy alive.

But the digital world changed.

Sites like Squirt and Craigslist came on the scene. Then came the apps — Grindr and its peers — and more recently, the massively successful location-based site Sniffies. Without funding or a tech team, CFS couldn’t keep up.

For the past several years, CFS has existed more as a labor of love than a business. And now, nearing 65 and stepping into semi-retirement, I know it’s time to say goodbye.

A few additional realities sealed the decision:

• Mobile compatibility: CFS was never optimized for smartphones. As the site’s only developer, I lacked the bandwidth—and funds—to rebuild for a mobile-first world.
• Age verification laws: Several U.S. states have implemented new, often conflicting requirements. Adapting to them would require costly changes I simply can’t manage.
• Potential changes to Section 230: Ongoing legislative efforts to alter Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act could jeopardize the legal protections CFS relies on.

So it goes.

I’m deeply grateful to the friends and community who made this site what it was. Thank you — truly — for your support over the years. And who knows? Maybe I’ll see you on the road — at IML, Southern Decadence, your neighborhood bar, or the park just down the street.

With appreciation and affection,

Bob S.