SF Lifts Ban on Bathhouses

[+ Lucky]

Bathhouses were closed in the early days of the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco. They can now reopen, but COVID restrictions could delay that. This article has a good history of the fight for bathhouses:

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Bathhouse-ban-revoked-Amid-one-pandemic-San-15558609.php

[+ Charlie]

One needs to subscribe to the Chronicle to read the article.

[+ Lucky]

One needs to subscribe to the Chronicle to read the article.

Well, obviously I do, but I thought that they allowed a certain number of free articles. I guess not. Here's some of the article:

 

"The HIV/AIDS pandemic had brought death to San Francisco, and the bathhouses had been the topic of a pitched battle for the better part of a year. By the time city health officials announced the closure of 14 bathhouses, most of them gay, along with other clubs and bookstores that offered private rooms for cruising, they had counted at least 175 dead.

 

For city leaders it was a matter of public health. For many in the gay community, bathhouses were where men would have sex with men, yes, but also places where they might build community. What mattered most? Public health or individual liberty? The Washington Post described the scene as “The Bathhouse War.”

 

This summer, 36 years later, and in the midst of another pandemic, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to rescind the ban on bathhouses. The mayor approved the move on July 31.

 

Nothing will happen until the current pandemic has passed and broader restrictions on social distancing have been lifted, but supporters of the move say it’s long overdue — if it was ever necessary in the first place. As conversations around COVID-19 and best practices for reopening and curbing the spread of the virus unfold daily, the parallels are hard to ignore.

 

Back in 1984, even in the gay community, there was a certain ambivalence around the proposed bathhouse closure, said Cleve Jones, a longtime gay rights activist who writes about the topic in his autobiography “When We Rise.”

 

These were very early days for the HIV/AIDS epidemic. There was no antibody test for the virus (that was still a year off), and the question of transmission was still unanswered. But gay rights were also tenuous at the time; sodomy laws were still pervasive and sexual liberation was seen as key to gay liberation.

 

Nobody wanted to watch their friends die or wonder if they might be next.

 

 

“It was just terrifying,” Jones said. “You had people who were afraid to go into a gay bar. You had people who were afraid to hug.”

 

SFChronicle.com

[+ robear]

Interesting, but by now I think the concept of "gay bath house" has gone the way of flared pants and polyester prints, along with many brick and mortar gathering spots. Yes, I know some old places still hang on (at least pre-COVID, I expect there will be a shake-out when restrictions lift). It's hard to imagine, though, anyone trying to develop a new facility along these lines as a viable business.

[+ Yellowrod]

Pardon my ignorance, but is the ban city specific? Aren't bathhouses still open in LA? I remember Rudy Guiliani closing St. Mark's Baths in NY when he became mayor. Are there any good bathhouses left? There is a thrill to the anonymity of those places. Those were the days.

[+ sniper]

Are there any gay people left in SF to GO to the bathhouse? When I was there last year the city's techno-gentrification seemed pretty thorough.

[+ sniper]

I think the ubiquity of cameras have really put a dent in this type of business. I think there are still a lot of DL people who would give it a go but in today's surveillance society don't trust that they won't get their pic taken.

[+ Yellowrod]

I think the ubiquity of cameras have really put a dent in this type of business. I think there are still a lot of DL people who would give it a go but in today's surveillance society don't trust that they won't get their pic taken.

 

How quickly life imitates fiction. Orwellian. I guess such tech advances have both a good and a bad side.

[Danny-Darko]

Pardon my ignorance, but is the ban city specific? Aren't bathhouses still open in LA? I remember Rudy Guiliani closing St. Mark's Baths in NY when he became mayor. Are there any good bathhouses left? There is a thrill to the anonymity of those places. Those were the days.

 

Yes the ban has been for San Francisco only. A quick train ride across the bay, then a short bus ride and anyone can go to "Steamworks" in Berkeley. Not a far trip at all. And while bathhouses were banned in SF, sex clubs have operated. Go figure how effective the ban has been.

[+ WilliamM]

@Lucky, thanks for providing the article. Few people do that anymore.

[+ sniper]

Until COVID shut it down and they decided to close for good, there was also the Watergarden in San Jose. Nice place, sorry to see it go.

[Rudynate]

Pardon my ignorance, but is the ban city specific? Aren't bathhouses still open in LA? I remember Rudy Guiliani closing St. Mark's Baths in NY when he became mayor. Are there any good bathhouses left? There is a thrill to the anonymity of those places. Those were the days.

 

 

The Steamworks in Berkeley is open and thriving. About 5 years ago I went on a weekday afternoon and was astonished at the crowd - both the numbers and the quality.

[thedanNYC]

I think the ubiquity of cameras have really put a dent in this type of business. I think there are still a lot of DL people who would give it a go but in today's surveillance society don't trust that they won't get their pic taken.

 

This 1,000%. Having their photos taken would be bad enough, but then there's also the chance somebody posts a full-length HD video of them getting railed.

[+ robear]

I remember Rudy Guiliani closing St. Mark's Baths in NY when he became mayor.

 

It was (closet case) Ed Koch, long before Giuliani, whose admin closed the baths in NYC in 1985. Admittedly a confused time, the city was under pressure to "do something" about AIDS. Making a show of closing sex venues at least didn't cost anything. Giuliani's contribution along these lines was to declare porn shops illegal, requiring businesses selling erotic material of any kind to dedicate a percentage of their floor space to non-erotic wares. This nonsense continues today (although even the concept of "porn shop" is pretty much on the way out).

[muscmtl]

Here in Montreal barhhouses have been open for at least 3 months. It was amazing at first but lately one of them hired an idiot that walks to police the place. if you're two in your room you cannot leave your door open to try to get another. He's even in the dark rooms making sure nothing's happening... pathetic

[Wolfer]

Interesting, but by now I think the concept of "gay bath house" has gone the way of flared pants and polyester prints, along with many brick and mortar gathering spots. Yes, I know some old places still hang on (at least pre-COVID, I expect there will be a shake-out when restrictions lift). It's hard to imagine, though, anyone trying to develop a new facility along these lines as a viable business.

In Europe the bathhouse culture was quite alive and well pre-lockdown. The bathhouses in Barcelona would be flooded with hot, young and muscular guys during the Circuit Party festival. So much so there was a line outside with people waiting up to an hour to get in. Same thing in Brussels when La Demence hosts its annual huge party. Many partygoers find their way to the bathhouse after the party ends.

 

Paris, Berlin, Essen, Cologne, Brussels, Amsterdam, ... The list goes on and on of cities that have gay bathhouses (sometimes more than one) where there will be quite a variety of ages (and body types) attending. Sunday late afternoon to early evening are usually the busiest times with the biggest variety and crowds. At least in Europe I think (well, certainly hope!) bathhouses won't be going away soon.

[Rudynate]

Here in Montreal barhhouses have been open for at least 3 months. It was amazing at first but lately one of them hired an idiot that walks to police the place. if you're two in your room you cannot leave your door open to try to get another. He's even in the dark rooms making sure nothing's happening... pathetic

 

 

But, OTOH, Canada, just across the border from the US, in which the coronavirus is completely out of control, has an extremely low incidence of new cases.

[+ Lucky]

But, OTOH, Canada, just across the border from the US,

So that's where they keep it! How clever!

[Jarrod_Uncut]

I think the ubiquity of cameras have really put a dent in this type of business. I think there are still a lot of DL people who would give it a go but in today's surveillance society don't trust that they won't get their pic taken.

 

well, I would almost say I think we as “Internet” escorts have bridged that gap. I would say most of my clients are the married/partnered type who are DL or half way out the closet.

 

But that can also be an issue as it usually always requires us to host, and often not being able to confirm via pay app deposits.

Edited September 14, 2020 by Jarrod_Uncut

[Jarrod_Uncut]

Here in Montreal barhhouses have been open for at least 3 months. It was amazing at first but lately one of them hired an idiot that walks to police the place. if you're two in your room you cannot leave your door open to try to get another. He's even in the dark rooms making sure nothing's happening... pathetic

 

lol, I can’t help but admit that actually sounds like a nice side job! “Bathhouse security patrol”. Sounds like a perfect start to a porn flick ??‍♂️

Edited September 14, 2020 by Jarrod_Uncut

[Rudynate]

lol, I can’t help but admit that actually sounds like a nice side job! “Bathhouse security patrol”. Sounds like a perfect start to a porn flick ??‍♂️

 

 

many many years ago, I worked in a bathhouse and I do have my share of stories to tell.

[Luv2play]

But, OTOH, Canada, just across the border from the US, in which the coronavirus is completely out of control, has an extremely low incidence of new cases.

That’s yesterday’s news. Although things are relativeLy under control in Canada vis-a-vis the USA, today the number of new cases in Ontario, the largest province (population 14 million) rose to over 300, last seen in early June. New daily cases had dropped as low as 100 in July and August but are now spiking again with many people going back to businesses and schools reopening. Still nothing to panic about but authorities are keeping a close eye on things and newly reimposed restrictions may be around the corner if this new trend accelerates.

[Luv2play]

many many years ago, I worked in a bathhouse and I do have my share of stories to tell.

You could try writing a book.

[muscmtl]

lol, I can’t help but admit that actually sounds like a nice side job! “Bathhouse security patrol”. Sounds like a perfect start to a porn flick ??‍♂️

Except every time you get off work you knoe that they re are 10 new guys who want to kill u... ?

[jeezifonly]

In their heyday the anonymity of “the tubs” was the draw.

They would be uninsurable without CCTV now, I bet

There’s no hiding anywhere these days, so why not go out in a Blaze of Chlorine?