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George Williams, 22, created the Young Men\u2019s Christian Association to provide somewhere for London\u2019s young men to escape the vices and stress of rapid urbanization (translation: get yourself clean, hang out with all the boys). The group\u2019s first meeting was above a draper\u2019s shop in St Paul\u2019s on 6th June, 1844.\nThe mission aligned perfectly with the burgeoning movement for \u2018muscular Christianity\u2019, and before long, multiple groups were sprouting all over Europe, and then the United States - where YMCA affiliates invented body-building, volleyball and basketball.\xa0\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain how the YMCA then became associated with cruising; reveal how the Village People got together; and consider what George Williams had in common with Milton S. Hershey\u2026\xa0\nFurther Reading:\n\u2022 \u201815 Things You Might Not Know About the YMCA\u2019 (Mental Floss, 2018): https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/57095/facts-about-the-ymca\n\u2022 \u2018#DidYaKnow? For 50+ Years the YMCA & Most Schools REQUIRED Males to Swim Naked!?\u2019 (World of Wonder, 2021): https://worldofwonder.net/didyaknow-for-50-years-the-ymca-most-schools-required-males-to-swim-naked/\n\u2022 \u2018Village People - YMCA\u2019 (1978): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS9OO0S5w2k\n#Victorian #London #LGB #Christian\nFor bonus material and to support the show, visit\xa0Patreon.com/Retrospectors\nWe'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts:\xa0podfollow.com/Retrospectors\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Sophie King.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2022.\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices