In the name of dark rooms, spa services, and gym-going “model” boys, Delhi is fast becoming an open flesh market under the guise of gay spas.

There is nothing new about massage parlours in Delhi. Like many metropolitan cities, they have long existed here. In years gone by, they would advertise their services in the classified columns of newspapers. Sometimes the police would raid them. Like most harassment of queer people by law enforcement, these raids were just an excuse for harassment, violence, and extortion.

With the (welcome) decriminalization of queer identities in India and with the proliferation of digital spaces catering to all sorts of identities, including queer, ones, some long-existing massage parlours and some new ones have openly branded themselves as gay spas. These are seedy establishments where mostly under-educated, sometimes illiterate men and boys are available for a pittance for the middle-class homosexual men of India. Aping similar establishments in Europe and North America, they have “dark rooms” and saunas where strangers can have orgies after paying the price of admission. These places do not have any liquor licenses but as is bound to happen in such situations, alcohol and drugs are often consumed. It is highly unlikely that all of this is happening without the knowledge of the local police. In fact, they might be taking their cut to let this go on unabated. Some closeted policemen are certainly aware of the existence of such places.

This is nothing but an exploitative flesh market, booming in the heart of the national capital, with the enthusiastic participation of porn-addicted, closeted, and/or educated men. While safety is a concern and no police action should involve any abuse, any sensible person would see that this needs to be shut down pronto. If the capital of the country starts emulating the East Asian sex market model, there is no saying how much worse things could get. Action should be taken while things are relatively not that bad. And the time for action is certainly now considering the impunity with which the organisers and attendees advertise these events and frequent them from not just around the country, but indeed the world.

It needs to be emphasized that our intent is not to cause a moral panic or encourage any other puritanical demonizing of sexual acts or identities. While the owners of these establishments will likely recover from the financial shock, the “models” and “massagers” will certainly struggle from the loss of this source of income. But that can never be the reason for letting crime flourish. In fact, the real tragedy here is the perverse objectification and exploitation of these men by well-heeled and highly educated gay men who are putting their disposable income to this use instead of helping these men find better, more dignified ways of living life.

Please help us bring attention to this issue so that Delhi Police can be pressured into taking the necessary action.