The Cruise is about the searchings for everything worthwhile in existence. It is about walking into the bar and lusting after all the worthwhile possibilities of the world. It is about flesh. It is about waves undulating. And it is about exhibitionism. You know, I want to look at the flower and appreciate the beauty of a flower, for instance. Somebody else might say, “You can look at the flower and become the flower. Isn’t that even better?” But then I further would love it on the Cruise, if I could look at the flower, appreciate the beauty of the flower, and then have the flower appreciate the beauty of me. That’s how I feel about Cruising right now. I mean, yes, becoming the flower would be a lot of fun. I mean, I can do that, too. I can do that on Wednesday afternoon. I think I’m free Thursday afternoon, I can try to become the flower. But come the weekend, goddammit, I will appreciate the beauty of the flower and then likewise I will stand, exhibitionistic, having the flower appreciate the beauty of me. And I think having an intimate, quote unquote “love affair” with a flower is far more psychotic and riveting than having a love affair, quote unquote, with some of the banal creatures of the human race. Although I’d be into that, too.
— Timothy “Speed” Levitch