I don't like to use the handles. They are so high up that it get's uncomfortable and when I pull down to stabilize, my Fingers usually get squished. Most of the times when I use the handles, blood starts to leave my arm. Maybe the handles in my buses just really suck but I always use the bars or anything else to stabilize.

The others did a pretty great job commenting already but I want to add that Munich has many gay bars and quite a big Christopher Street Day (You might know it as a pride parade but in germany we like to make it half parade half demonstration in honor to the stonewall riots). I think the CSD is one of the biggest ones.