NYC’s Amtrak Police Crackdown on Cruising Sparks Outrage

LGBTQ+ advocates are speaking out against the recent Amtrak Police crackdown at Penn Station, which has sparked widespread outrage and concern over LGBTQ+ rights.

I’ve been watching, listening, and honestly, it’s hard not to feel a deep pit of fear in my stomach right now for those across the border. Over 200 arrests. LGBTQ+ people, particularly queer men, targeted for simply existing in spaces we’ve historically occupied. And, as the Amtrak Police ramp up their efforts to “clean up” places like Penn Station, we’re left asking: when did we decide to go back in time?

If you’re sitting there thinking, “It’s just a public lewdness issue,” I need you to understand something. It’s not. Not when the stakes are this high. Not when we’re living in a time where right-wing voices, including Donald Trump’s, are openly calling for a war within this country, framing democratic cities as “test grounds” for power. We are already under attack — and the policing of public spaces is just one of many fronts in this fight.

Key Stats from the Amtrak Police Crackdown

• 200+ Arrests: More than 200 men arrested for public lewdness at a cruising site since June 2025.
  
• 20+ ICE Detentions: At least 20 individuals taken into ICE custody following arrests.
  
• Penn Station as the Target: The bathroom at Penn Station has been a known cruising spot, attracting users of apps like Sniffies.
  
• Queer Entrapment Fears: This is the return of tactics used to trap queer people in public spaces. We know the history, and we’re seeing it again.
  

The Impact of Amtrak’s Penn Station Crackdown on LGBTQ+ Rights and Privacy

I don’t need to explain what’s at stake — if you’re reading this, you probably feel it too. This not a fight for sexual freedom in public spaces; this is about our survival. This is about the intent, of why this crackdown exists. Here’s why this is so critical:

1. Over-policing of LGBTQ+ Spaces: Let’s be clear: we’re not talking about dangerous behavior. We’re talking about consensual sexual expression in public spaces that have long been sanctuaries for the LGBTQ+ community. We’re not a threat to public safety. We’re not asking to be caught in some moralistic crackdown. This is about control — control over us. And history has shown that control doesn’t stop here. It never does.
   
2. Involvement of ICE: Here’s where the fear turns into something deeper. When ICE starts showing up at these arrests, we know that it’s not just about policing queer men. It’s about policing our bodies, our identities, and our lives. ICE’s involvement is no accident. We are looking at a situation where immigrants, people of color, and LGBTQ+ people are systematically targeted for their existence. Let that sink in for a minute.
   
3. Lack of Transparency: The fact that we’re not getting clear answers from Amtrak speaks volumes. If this is truly about public safety, why are they hiding the full scope of their operations? Why is there such secrecy around their methods? The answer is simple: they know what they’re doing, and they’re not concerned with the well-being of the people they’re hurting.
   

The Role of Technology in Modern Cruising

The rise of apps like Sniffies may be new to some, but to those of us who have been navigating public spaces, it’s just the latest tool in the survival kit. Sniffies allows gay men to connect — to find community in a world that often tries to keep us hidden. But now, the same technology that gives privacy is being weaponized. We can’t have privacy in a world where those who seek to harm want to track every part of our lives.

• Sniffies App: It’s a tool to connect, but it’s also under fire. A digital platform for queer men to find connection is now being used as a point of attack. I have to ask: will the next app be scrutinized? Will this become a broader campaign to control who we love, how we love, and where we love?
  
• LGBTQ+ Visibility and Privacy: We are told to be visible, but when we are, it’s to be policed. They want to see us out in the open, but only to arrest us. They want to catch and demonize the LGBTQ Community — because for some, it’s not about public safety. It’s about making sure we don’t exist freely. That’s the reality. You’re seeing it with the trans community, and you’re seeing it here as a direction attack on gay men.
  

Reactions from Elected Officials and Public Figures

I’m watching as New York’s elected officials speak out, and I’m grateful. But let’s be clear — this is a fight that’s bigger than any one state, any one city, or country.

• New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal: Hoylman-Sigal is speaking up. He’s calling out Amtrak’s actions for what they are: discriminatory. His words aren’t just for New Yorkers. They’re for all of us. This is a direct threat to civil rights, and it’s chilling to see it unfold again.
  
• Andy Cohen’s Critique: When Andy Cohen, someone with a megaphone, says “Is it 1975?” we need to stop and listen. He’s right. We are living in a time where we are forced to relive the worst of our past. We’re not just fighting for queer spaces anymore; we’re fighting for our survival.
  

LGBTQ+ Rights in New York City

This isn’t just about one bathroom at Penn Station. It’s about the message it sends — that we’re still seen as less than, still viewed as threats. We’ve fought too hard to be pushed back into the shadows.

Key Concerns:

• Discrimination in Policing: LGBTQ+ are always the target, the ones who are seen as a problem to fix. The law is weaponized against us, and if you don’t believe it, look at the numbers. Look at the people being arrested for existing in spaces that have always been ours. Currently there is a debate on labeling the trans community as a terrorist threat.
  
• Decriminalization of Public Lewdness: Public lewdness laws were written with gay men in mind — to create control. We should be able to exist freely. There is no reason why we should still be criminalized for being who we are.
  
• Impact on Privacy: We’re always watched. We’re always judged. Our connections, our bodies, our rights — they’re not up for debate. They are ours.
  

Standing Together Against the Targeting of LGBTQ+ Rights

We’re standing at a precipice, and what happens next will set the course for the future. This is not just about a group of men arrested for being who they are in public spaces; this is about the fundamental rights we’ve fought so hard for, rights that are being stripped away in front of our eyes. The fight has never been clearer, and it’s not just about one bathroom or one city. The issue is much larger than that — it’s about ensuring that LGBTQ+ people can exist in public spaces without fear of arrest, without fear of persecution. It’s the greater picture outside of Penn Station. It’s what’s to come next.

This moment serves as a reminder that our right to exist openly and without fear is not a privilege, but a fundamental right. It’s not about seeking attention, but about demanding respect and the freedom to be ourselves without facing persecution.