Beat

A beat is a public or semi-public location, such as a park, public restroom, or beach, known as a place where gay and bisexual men meet for casual or anonymous sex. The word is chiefly Australian, though the practice it describes, often called cruising elsewhere, is worldwide and centuries old. Beats mattered most when homosexuality was criminalized and dedicated gay venues were scarce or dangerous, offering discreet places to connect. Men developed coded looks and signals to communicate safely. Dating apps have reduced their use, but beats remain part of gay male sexual history and, in some places, ongoing culture. The term matters both practically and historically in Australian queer life.