From Orgies to Public Showers, ‘Burning Man’ Is Queerer Than Ever!

August 29, 2023
TOMMY

For the next week-and-a-half, roughly 80,000 people will descend on the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. It's this year's Burning Man, and it has evolved into one of the single biggest global events every year in no small part to it's significant Queer factor, which goes back 30 years to 1993. If you've ever been on Grindr or Scruff and seen the )*( symbol, that means they're someone that loves Burning Man (aka: "Burners").

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If you're unfamiliar with Burning Man, it's essentially a massive desert city of people celebrating art, love, and community, culminating with the burning of a giant wooden effigy of sorts in the center of the event. The general rule is to come prepared with enough for you and another person, which leans into the event's fundamental identity of community. As the saying goes, "The Playa provides." For reference, "The Playa" is what Burners call the desert. And within that community are lots of sub-communities! And if there's one group that knows how to find its community, it's our LGBTQ+ fam! Burning Man is no exception and has a specific Gayborhood. Here's a look at some of the hottest and gayest places, tents, and events to attend if you're looking for a good time in the desert.

The Gayborhood

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Last year's map layout.

Yes, just like Philadelphia, the Playa has an area called "The Gayborhood." One quick sidenote to know about Burning Man's layout is that it's set up like a clock; the wooden art piece ("The Man Pavillion", aka: "The Man") that will be burned is located at 12, and then the communities span from 2 to 10. The Gayborhood is located at the 7:30 section, but because of increased demand from Queer camps, Big Rock City also includes Queer camps in the 4:30 section, as well.

The Glamcocks

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Located at the 7:30 spot, The Glamcocks are a group of Queer Burners who organize events and fundraisers throughout the year to prepare for Burning Man. They foster their community throughout 365 and seem to be a great go-to for finding fun people to explore the Playa with.

Best Orgy Option 1: "Comfort and Joy"

Right down the block from the Glamcocks is a tent called Comfort and Joy. This tent has solidified itself as one of the best places to go for sex-positive fun with a bunch of hotties.

Celestial Bodies

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Celestial Bodies is a group of Queer burners who foster a Queer-inclusive community along with programming to learn more about various aspects of the Queer world. Their Instagram bio describes themselves as "a straight-friendly gay camp located in the ❤️ of the gayborhood. Home of the Playa Cosmo & some of the most loving Burners!"

Best Orgy Option 2: "The Down Low Club"

Like Comfort and Joy, The Down Low Club provides a sex-positive environment where you can fuck the days and nights away. The difference with the DLC is that as its name suggests, they place an extra emphasis on anonymity. This is where you want to go if you want to lose yourself in a sea of men with no names and possibly a few covered faces. If this is your vibe, this tent seems to be as hot as the desert itself!

Public / Group Shower: AstroPups

If you're all sweaty and dirty after fun in the tents, the 4:30 sector is home to The AstroPups. This group of daddy bears and the guys who love them offers public shower events. If you need to get hot and wet while you get hot and wet, then the AstroPups is decidedly the destination for you!

Lesbian and Trans Communities: Camp Beaverton

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Located at 7:15 spot, Camp Beaverton is a group that fosters a sense of radical inclusivity, particularly where our trans fam is concerned. To quote their website, they are "a group of queer women/trans/genderqueer/lesbian/bisexual/heterosexual/LGBTQIA+ folks who are simply as wayward as the playa is dusty." Their mission is one of radical acceptance and from what it seems, they are an absolutely beautiful and perfect embodiment of the ideals of community that the Playa stands for.

If you're attending Burning Man this year, remember: it should be a community of love and acceptance. And don't forget: DRINK WATER! It gets dangerously hot out there, so make sure you have the proper provisions. For a full list of camps, tents, and events, check out this comprehensive directory from Queerburners.