New Legislation Heralds the Return of Bathhouses To San Francisco
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Proposed new legislation that seeks to create more gay “safe spaces” in the city may allow new zoning that will see the return of bathhouses to San Francisco.
This ordinance will complete the work we began in 2020 to overcome the lingering stigma of a painful chapter in SF’s queer community by once again welcoming safe, LGBTQ-affirming spaces in our city.https://t.co/AvujotEIQ7
— Rafael Mandelman (@RafaelMandelman) March 16, 2022
In an effort to create more safe spaces for San Francisco’s LGBTQ community, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman on Tuesday proposed creating new zoning regulations that would allow for the revival of gay bathhouses.
Under Mandelman’s proposed legislation, a new zoning category for adult sex venues would be created, making way for such businesses to be permitted in historically LGBTQ-affiliated neighborhoods like the Tenderloin, South of Market, Upper Market, and Castro.
The proposed legislation builds off legislation drafted by Mandelman in 2020 that updated stringent city health and safety standards governing commercial adult sex venues that were first imposed in 1984 — the height of the AIDS epidemic. At the time, the city sued operators of gay bathhouses and other consensual adult venues, citing them as a public nuisance and prompting most to close.
Mandelman said in statement:
“During the 1970s and early 80s bathhouses were a focal point of gay social life in San Francisco and were important community meeting places where friends would gather to share stories, or watch a live show.”
In 2020 Mandelman called for the city to amend its health code because there have been advancements that can help prevent the transmission of HIV.
Mandelman, whose district includes the Castro, is the board’s only LGBT member.
