# Can you still stay at the YMCA? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 10, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/615346 "2012-03-10T00:03:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/615346/1 "2012-03-10T00:03:19Z")
I know it’s supposed to be fun. I found [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=258684) previous SD thread, but all the links are now broken. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/615346/2 "2012-03-10T00:59:58Z")
Well, there’s at least [one YMCA around here](http://www.mcgawymca.org/adults/mens-residence/)where you can stay. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/615346/3 "2012-03-10T01:06:10Z")
Only if you can sing the song. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![mattomic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@mattomic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mattomic)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/615346/4 "2012-03-10T01:09:15Z")
The YMCAs around me (Canada) offer a few diverse services: gyms and recreation, pools/swimming lessons, youth camps, community events, housing/immigration services, the list goes on - but I didn’t see “fun to stay” on their list of services, to say nothing of “get yourself clean”, “have a good meal”, or the vague “do whatever you feel”. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/615346/5 "2012-03-10T01:15:47Z")
> [@mattomic](#): > > The YMCAs around me (Canada) offer a few diverse services: gyms and recreation, pools/swimming lessons, youth camps, community events, housing/immigration services, the list goes on - but I didn’t see “fun to stay” on their list of services, to say nothing of “get yourself clean”, “have a good meal”, or the vague “do whatever you feel”. I think it should have been “_who_ever you feel.” ---
**Author:** ![mattomic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@mattomic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mattomic)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/615346/6 "2012-03-10T01:32:36Z")
Serious question to people alive in the 70s: did the incredibly obvious gay undertones of the Village People actually go over everyone’s head? Did everyone think a disco song performed by 5 guys in stereotypical leather fetish costumes about “hanging out with all the boys at the YMCA” was actually about shootin’ hoops with your buddies down at the gym? It boggles my mind that in a supposedly more conservative era, people just ignored the strong gay-sex overtones and turned it into a dance craze for baseball games, weddings and bar mitzvahs. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/615346/7 "2012-03-10T01:40:27Z")
> [@mattomic](#): > > Serious question to people alive in the 70s: did the incredibly obvious gay undertones of the Village People actually go over everyone’s head? Did everyone think a disco song performed by 5 guys in stereotypical leather fetish costumes about “hanging out with all the boys at the YMCA” was actually about shootin’ hoops with your buddies down at the gym? It boggles my mind that in a supposedly more conservative era, people just ignored the strong gay-sex overtones and turned it into a dance craze for baseball games, weddings and bar mitzvahs. Yup, there were lots of folks that didn’t realize that Liberacce or Elton John were gay. We were Squares. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/615346/8 "2012-03-10T01:45:02Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > Well, there’s at least [one YMCA around here](http://www.mcgawymca.org/adults/mens-residence/)where you can stay. Ha–I came here to post the same thing. And I’ve been told by neighbors that it doesn’t make the YMCA weird at all or anything . . . but still me and the kids swim at the East Bank Club instead. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/615346/9 "2012-03-10T05:17:33Z")
Sure, I stayed at the one in [Penzance](http://www.cornwallbackpackers.org.uk/) a few years ago. (It was a lot quieter and more rule-bound than most hostels, so I don’t know that “fun” is exactly the word, but it was quite decent.) ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/615346/10 "2012-03-10T06:41:47Z")
> [@mattomic](#): > > Serious question to people alive in the 70s: did the incredibly obvious gay undertones of the Village People actually go over everyone’s head? Did everyone think a disco song performed by 5 guys in stereotypical leather fetish costumes about “hanging out with all the boys at the YMCA” was actually about shootin’ hoops with your buddies down at the gym? It boggles my mind that in a supposedly more conservative era, people just ignored the strong gay-sex overtones and turned it into a dance craze for baseball games, weddings and bar mitzvahs. Having lived through the '70s, I would not call it a more conservative era,\* at all. No, the undertones did not go over everyone’s head, although doubtless they went over some peoples. I couldn’t say whether the YMCA featured stereotypical leather fetish costumes or actually created some of these stereotypes, but the song was a big hit in gay communities. Let’s see, Rocky Horror Picture Show, porn goes mainstream (Deep Throat), non-porn movies had some of the sexiest scenes filmed ever, etc. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/615346/11 "2012-03-10T11:52:41Z")
> [@chacoguy](#): > > Yup, there were lots of folks that didn’t realize that Liberacce or Elton John were gay. We were Squares. fraid so. When Liberacce died and his orientation was widely discussed, I thought-huh I should have realized. But before then, not really. The whole gay society idea was simply not something I could imagine. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/615346/12 "2012-03-10T12:07:54Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > Having lived through the '70s, I would not call it a more conservative era,\* at all. No, the undertones did not go over everyone’s head, although doubtless they went over some peoples. I couldn’t say whether the YMCA featured stereotypical leather fetish costumes or actually created some of these stereotypes, but the song was a big hit in gay communities. > > Let’s see, Rocky Horror Picture Show, porn goes mainstream (Deep Throat), non-porn movies had some of the sexiest scenes filmed ever, etc. It is kind of funny to compare social attitudes of the 60/70s to subsequent decades. Some attitudes, such as race, sex, and sexual orientation, are more liberal now than then, but political attitudes are far more conservative. Just try to imagine getting an agency like the EPA established in the US today. Nixon established it without a lot of controversy in 1970. I have read a history of health care in the US and two things stand out. The country has almost established national health care many times. Roosevelt just didn’t get around to signing the order in the 40s before he died. Every President since then, every one up until at least Reagan, including republicans, have proposed health care plans that are at least as comprehensive as Obama’s plan, and couldn’t get them passed. Usually due to opposition from liberal groups who didn’t think they went far enough. And of course opposition from the medical establishment. We live today in a far more conservative and liberal era than the good old days. A lot like what it was like back in the those days. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/615346/13 "2012-03-10T16:42:49Z")
By the 70s, the gay subtext\* of YMCA was pretty obvious. By the time the song came out, many gays already had, too. \*Well, blatant text, really. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/615346/14 "2012-03-10T16:48:55Z")
I can’t say that people were really whooshed by the song. Whenever somebody picked up on it, they would either understand, or else they would ask somebody. When the somebody was asked, the askee would say “Yes, of course!” or “No, are you so bigoted that you can’t understand that they are dressed that way strictly for camp and just hate people that are different”, or else the hearer would just know that the song sucked and wouldn’t care either way. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/615346/15 "2012-03-10T16:54:33Z")
It doesn’t appear you can stay at the Y local to me, but looks like the Columbus YMCA in Ohio still offers residential services. They sort of bury information about it in deep on their website, though and you almost don’t know they are talking about rooms to stay in until you really read into the brochure. It mentions there is an “income requirement” to stay there, I assume of the type that if your income is over x/month they consider you to be too well off to use their service as I think it is intended to be affordable housing for lower income persons. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/615346/16 "2012-03-10T17:06:15Z")
And now, back to the OP Here’s one in Boston, without the Y name, but apparently sponsored or owned by the Y: [http://constitutioninn.reachlocal.net/](http://constitutioninn.reachlocal.net/) and here’s the obit and postcard for the major one that I stayed in when I was in the navy and visting the Big Apple [http://lifeatsloanehouse.blogspot.com/2006/04/tale-of-sloane-house-at-w34th-street.html](http://lifeatsloanehouse.blogspot.com/2006/04/tale-of-sloane-house-at-w34th-street.html) > **[William Sloane House, YMCA](https://www.cardcow.com/219374/new-york-william-sloane-house-ymca-maps/)** > > William Sloane House West 34th Street and Ninth Avenue New York City's Y. M. C. A. for transient young men and enlisted personnel of the Army, Navy, Marine C... ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/615346/17 "2012-03-10T17:31:23Z")
not your typical YMCA… there’s a YMCA in Jerusalem, which is unique.It still sees itself as true to the original mission of the Christian Association, doing social and interfaith work along with the gym and swimming pool. And it has a [luxury 5 star hotel](http://www.ymca3arch.co.il/) ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/615346/18 "2012-03-10T18:46:48Z")
There are quite a few in England. I often pass the one at [the Barbican](http://www.cityymca.org/accommodation/). They even say ‘With all the fun and friendly people that choose to stay at the City YMCA you are sure to make new friends.’ 😃 And the prices - £34pp twin/£37pp single, with breakfast, are VERY reasonable for that area of the city. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/615346/19 "2012-03-10T19:35:18Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > I think it should have been “_who_ever you feel.” Not **whom** ever? ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/615346/20 "2012-03-10T20:32:05Z")
> [@mattomic](#): > > Serious question to people alive in the 70s: did the incredibly obvious gay undertones of the Village People actually go over everyone’s head? Did everyone think a disco song performed by 5 guys in stereotypical leather fetish costumes about “hanging out with all the boys at the YMCA” was actually about shootin’ hoops with your buddies down at the gym? It boggles my mind that in a supposedly more conservative era, people just ignored the strong gay-sex overtones and turned it into a dance craze for baseball games, weddings and bar mitzvahs. It certainly went over my head, but I was just a pre-teen at the time. I’m not sure what my mother was thinking, though, when she bought me one of their LPs for some reason (unsolicited by me). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/615346.md?page=2)