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Where the Boys Are

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Although some Stroll denizens wordlessly refuse Galloway's kits, many recognize and return his greeting. Some know him by name. And in exchange for a few dollars, many are willing to talk about their lives.

"I love women. Sex with men I really don't like," says a middle-aged Stroll walker who identifies himself as John Smith and goes so far as to produce his Social Security card to prove it. "I don't like it, man, but sometimes you gotta make ends meet."

Smith says he's been on the Stroll for ten years, during which time he has developed a special relationship with some of his clients.

"Sometimes guys might just want a hug or something -- it's not always about sex. They come down here to get somebody they can be friends with. Some guys come out here because they want somebody to be with them that's for real, that's down to earth.

"I like to be around them just for the company," Smith goes on. "Someone to talk to, man. Some of 'em are really good listeners, and some of them will befriend you and help you out in any way they can. They might want you to cut their grass, they might want you to put up a computer stand or something."

And what of those who characterize the Stroll as a den of secret, seedy commerce?

"It's not secret -- what's so secret about it?" he responds. "Everybody's business is not everybody's business. A lot of people come down here, man. You've got guys that's got wives. You've got guys that's in church, that's preachers, you've got schoolteachers, you've got people with high status, man. They want to keep it low-key. Everybody entitled to their own privacy, right?"

Answering his own question with an affirmative nod, Smith gets back to his business.

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