A Brief History of Lube

As men who have sex with men (MSM), we know that lube is vital to our sexcapades, but imagine living in a world without it? And don't expect most guys to go for the spit solution. So while many of us take lube for granted, it has a long history that often mirrors the history of man on man sexuality.

The first big break was the invention of Vaseline (petroleum jelly) in 1859. Back in the olden days, if a man was found with a small tub of Vaseline he'd be labeled a homo or prostitute almost immediately; especially if found in certain parts of town. But the incredibly slippery jelly revolutionized gay sex for a long time to come.

It wasn't until decades later, in the early 1900's that surgical K-Y and Crisco (vegetable shortening) were invented, and once again used by gay men to make all that hard work that is anal sex easier than ever. It gained ever more popularity as cruising and gay nightlife became more prevalent in the 1970's:

"Crisco was so
synonymous with gay sex that discos and
bars around the world took on the name,
notes Drew Sawyer, citing New York's
Crisco Disco, a popular club during the
1970s and early '80s. At Club Z in
Seattle, a mural from that time
celebrating the lube now pays homage to
it."

Of course, much of the old school thick and greasy methods were out the window with the arrival of water and silicone based lubes in the 1980's. And here we find ourselves today, with more variety than ever!

So lets all take a moment and be grateful to the founding fathers of lube, for without them, gay sex may never have been possible (or easy).

Of course, this is only a brief history. You can read a more in-depth one here. In the meanwhile, tell me your thoughts on today's and the old school lubes. Which is your favorite and why?

– Andy