The idea of a hole in a partition of a public men’s restroom - at waist level, to put a penis in or gesture for another person to do so - has been linked to queer men in the public imagination since before the notion of queer identity existed. Queer outlets quickly decoded the recommendation for straights: The department was encouraging the use of glory holes.

It suggested, for instance, that New Yorkers try new sexual practices, including 'physical barriers, like walls, that allow sexual contact while preventing close face to face contact.”

Last month, in the midst of coronavirus quarantining, the New York City Health Department encouraged residents to be sexually creative to stay safe.