Circuit party

Although Flamingo and 12 West were Manhattan clubs that had theme-centered gay parties, these nightclubs were eclipsed by the opening of The Saint in the East Village in 1980.

While open every weekend beginning in September, The Saint's once monthly parties became marathon events that drew gay men from around the world.

What was to become another circuit party was founded during the same time period by Corbett Reynolds, a Columbus, Ohio-based artist and nightclub owner in the late 1970s.

Those in charge of his estate thought about how, if at all, to continue the event and, in the end, decided to retire the concept of the "Red Party" and leave it to history.

In the early 1990s, as more and more gay men became attracted to these mega dance-events, the real modern-day circuit party scene emerged and expanded into ever-larger productions, featuring superstar DJs and performers.

In 2004, The New York Times[3] travel section featured an in-depth look at The White Party in Palm Springs in conjunction with staff members of Noizemag.

Taken from the viewpoint of an experienced (female) raver, this gave the mainstream a view into what makes Circuit Parties so compelling for many and highlighted many of the changes taking place in these commercial events.

[7] Circuit parties in the United States experienced a notable resurgence in the 2010s and consistently attract large crowds of gay men.

It is common for circuit party promoters to hire medical professionals to be stationed outside venues in anticipation of drug overdoses, dehydration, or alcohol poisoning during an event.

Circuit parties have been blamed for the spread of substance abuse and the rise in transmission of STDs, particularly HIV, among gay men.

[12] While open to anyone, the parties are generally viewed as social events primarily for physically fit and masculine-identified white gay men.

Circuit parties can be expensive and lavish affairs with elaborate lighting, music, productions, decor, and are held in venues that can accommodate large crowds.

A small body of empirical research from different research groups does, indeed, point to a high prevalence of drug use among people who attend circuit events during the course of the events and raises questions about an association between drug use and risky sex practices among gay and bisexual men[1][15][16][17][18] Circuit parties frequently host celebrity performers or headliners, usually gay icons.