There is nothing wrong with masturbating at people at a city park. Not a thing. Thanks for clearing that up, Vivian!

Here's an idea we can all get behind: since many/most of our parks have been taken over by our "unhoused neighbors" why not turn DB into a "clothing optional" homeless camp/tent city".

It’s indefensible to be in favor of allowing people to masturbate in public at a public park. Absolutely indefensible, especially given that it’s a crime. It’s not surprising that The Stranger is defending it because one of The Stranger’s clear editorial dictates is to prioritize those who engage in criminal and anti-social behavior over regular people who engage in neither.

The Stranger wanted alternatives to police, the Stranger got alternatives to police.
Public masturbators most impacted.

A park full of performative weirdos. Pass.

Rename the park: "Buggery on Blaine" and be done with it.

Oh dear. Lots of trolls on this one......

The term "historically queer space" is cringe-worthingly pretentious and exclusionary. It's a nude beach that queer people like to frequent, but it is not a "queer space". It's a public park open to all (hence the term). I don't see why what appears to be a clique of activists should have any say over what the Parks Department deems appropriate for staffing.

It should also be said that there are several parks (probably all of them) where people go to "pleasure themselves", as the old saying goes. I personally know of two city parks that are famous for being destinations for sexy fun time (Largely, a mix of men on the DL and gay men who like the thrill of a public hookup). And really, I no problem with that. But there's a difference between some discreet activity and things getting annoying or weird. Do all parks have Rangers that keep the peace?

Unclear to me: Are the public wankers among the nude people (queer or not) or clothed voyeurs? Why the “queer” exclusivity? Who does not pee in the lake while swimming. Naked beaches have pretty clear codes of conduct. If “queer” folks are unable to abide by or collectively enforce the rules everyone knows then perhaps police intervention is needed.

8 - Since straight people can also participate in queerness, there's not much of a distinction anymore.

It's always worth remembering the Stranger's own reporting on the park:

"...voyeurs and pervs seem to have colonized Denny Blaine, so wear shoes if you don't want to get sperm between your toes." (https://www.thestranger.com/horrors/2019/07/22/40831261/welcome-to-summer-dont-drink-the-water)

@3, @4: Masturbation at the park has been a problem for years, and a Park Ranger might make for the perfect non-police solution to it. Of course the Stranger spins a perfect 180 when offered the exact type of solution they claim to favor, for the reason @3 gave.

Is The Stranger defending public masturbation? I found the essay unclear on that.

I don't know why Vivian and others are singling out "queers". I've seen plenty of public peeing by (supposedly) straight people. And more than a few guys playing pocket pool for the ladies, standing in the middle of Pike Place. And there are plenty of cis/hetero friendly nude beaches. Some of which occasionally suffer from "over the top" displays of affection. Get a room, folks.

It's all unacceptable behavior in public. Invoking "but my gays" is not a sufficient defense. You folks get a room as well.

@11, @12: The Stranger has dragged (ha!) gay rights into this from the start, even though all of the complaints could have been about straight persons’ behaviors. It seems to have originated from the Stranger wanting to insinuate Harrell is an anti-LGBTQ bigot, or at least chummy with such bigots. The Stranger’s implication of a connection between gay rights and public masturbation certainly does nothing for the former.

We've had random homeless people masturbating outside both my companies offices in the middle of downtown so... not exactly the benchmark people are trying to use it as.

I've also been to this beach quite a few times and half the naked people there seemed to be straight so none of this is an exclusively gay issue.

tbass1981 dear, The only time I ever get to see people masturbating in public downtown is when I go to my dentist in the Medical-Dental building. The Westin Hotel has a lot of exhibitionists. Maybe they get a discount.

It's a Seattle kind of day when at Denny Blaine park, if you think you stepped in goose poop with your bare feet, it might be something else.