AIDS and Historical Context

In the 1980s, more than 100,000 individuals in the United States succumbed to AIDS, with the majority of fatalities occurring among homosexuals.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV/AIDS ranked as the third leading cause of death for men aged 25 to 44, surpassing other significant causes like heart disease, cancer, and even homicide, at one point becoming the second leading cause in 1989.

“Today’s vote is a step toward righting the harms of the past,” was a sentiment expressed during recent legislative discussions.

Efforts to address the AIDS crisis led Minneapolis, following the example of other cities, to vote in 1988 for the closure of adult-only bathhouses—venues seen as hotspots for the spread of the virus.

This ban, impacting three facilities, received support from many in the LGBTQ+ community at that time. One notable supporter was Brian Coyle, recognized as Minneapolis’ first openly gay City Council member, who later passed away due to an AIDS-related illness.

Currently, city officials—many claim to be extremists—oversaw the passage of a recent vote to lift the ban.

Before the vote, Jason Chavez, a gay City Councilman and LGBT activist, co-authored the ordinance for the repeal. He spoke critically of past attempts to regulate public baths, describing them as “wrong” and filled with hatred.

“The history of regulating public baths is intertwined with anti-2SLGBTQIA sentiment, particularly homophobia in Minneapolis,” Chavez elaborated, mentioning that he proudly identifies as a member of this community.

Chavez further noted, “Today’s vote rightens past harms.” He pointed out that the original ban associated AIDS with gay men, labeling them as a high-risk group. It was a law specifically targeting this demographic.

From the CDC’s statistics, gay and bisexual men continue to face the most significant impact from HIV/AIDS, reflecting that 71% of new infections in 2022 were within this group.

Federal resources indicate that “receptive anal sex presents the highest risk for HIV transmission.” In fact, the risk is about 13 times greater compared to insertive anal sex.

A 2010 survey published in the Journal of Sex Research highlighted alarming statistics: among 852 men exiting gay bathhouses, 88.9% had engaged in oral or anal sex there, and about 1 in 7 admitted to risky behavior.

• 16.7% of those who had sexual encounters during their visit were HIV positive.
• 13.9% engaged in unprotected sex.
• The average number of sexual partners was reported as 3.8 per visit.

In a 2001 study in the American Journal of Public Health, researchers concluded that tailoring HIV prevention efforts within bathhouses would effectively reach the most vulnerable male populations.

Elizabeth Schaefer, one of the officials who voted against lifting the ban, expressed that these venues should not be prioritized over other community needs, also citing opposition from constituents.

One voter, affiliated with former state Senator Alan Speer (Minnesota’s first openly gay senator), mentioned that many in his community were wary—questioning whether restoring bathhouses was the appropriate approach.

In contrast, Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey indicated his intent to sign off on the repeal despite the objections.

Chavez pointed out that while the ban is lifted, creating new facilities won’t happen overnight, as there are still zoning and safety regulations that must be worked through.

“Public baths won’t reopen immediately,” he added, suggesting that further preparations are necessary for any future developments.