Warning: this episode discusses sexual assault. A gay bathhouse or sauna is usually a commercial, sex-on-premises venue, not just used for 'bathing’. Leni and Brendy discuss the history of bathhouses, their police raids and closures during the AIDS epidemic, sauna etiquette, lesbian saunas and how Bette Midler became the Divine Miss M at one of New York's most famous establishments. Word of the Gay records fortnightly at Castaway Studios in Melbourne, Australia. Subscribe (for free!), rate and review Word of the Gay on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Follow Word of the Gay on Twitter at @wordofthegaypod, Facebook at Word of the Gay & Instagram @wordofthegaypod. Send word suggestions and other correspondence to [email protected].  Word of the Gay is a Lipp Media production and is currently nominated for a 2019 Australian Podcast Award.