The Minneapolis City Council has made a historic decision to repeal a ban on adult bathhouses that has stood for nearly four decades. This move, which received a 9-2 vote on a recent Thursday, marks a significant shift in the city’s approach to public health and community spaces. The ban, which dates back to the early days of the AIDS crisis, has been a contentious issue for many years.
The last bathhouse in Minneapolis closed in 1988, during the height of the AIDS crisis. The repeal of this ban is not just a symbolic gesture but a step towards creating safer and more inclusive spaces for the LGBTQ+ community. The decision comes after years of advocacy and lobbying by groups such as the Safer Sex Spaces Coalition, which has been instrumental in pushing for this change.
The Road to Repeal
The journey to repeal the bathhouse ban began with the Safer Sex Spaces Coalition, which lobbied the city to remove language from the 1988 ordinance that specifically targeted queer people. After successfully removing this language in 2026, the group turned its focus towards advocating for the complete repeal of the ban. Their efforts have been backed by social science research, which highlights the importance of commercial sex spaces in promoting safer sex and enhancing HIV prevention, testing, and treatment efforts.
The coalition’s advocacy has been rooted in the understanding that these spaces are crucial for fostering a sense of community and belonging. According to their FAQ, commercial sex spaces like gay saunas play a vital role in overcoming isolation and developing a sense of pride and camaraderie. This perspective has been instrumental in shaping the council’s decision to repeal the ban.
While the repeal of the ban is a significant milestone, it does not mean that bathhouses can open immediately. The council must now establish regulations for how these facilities can operate. Many are advocating for a framework similar to the guidelines implemented in San Francisco, which focus on safety and public health. These guidelines would include requirements for condom availability, monitoring, staff training, waste disposal, and facilities where people can shower.
Jason Chavez, the only out LGBTQ+ member of the council and a co-author of the ordinances required to repeal the ban, emphasized the importance of this step. ‘Today is the first step and it will not be the last. And it is an important one,’ he said. Chavez also invoked the name of Brian Coyle, a former out gay member of the Minneapolis City Council who voted to pass the ban in 1988. Coyle died in 1991 of AIDS-related complications. Chavez believes that if Coyle were alive today, he would support the repeal based on the current understanding of public health.
The repeal is now awaiting a signature from Mayor Jacob Frey, who supports it. Once signed, the council will need to work on zoning, safety, and regulations to ensure that bathhouses can operate in a safe and controlled manner. ‘This won’t leave bathhouses in a gray area,’ Chavez said. ‘We still need to work on zoning, the safety and regulations. So bathhouses won’t be able to open tomorrow or next week.’
Community Reactions
The decision to repeal the ban has elicited a range of reactions from the community. Council member Elizabeth Schaffer, who represents the neighborhood where the city holds its annual pride festival, voted to keep the ban in place. She cited concerns from constituents, including former Sen. Allan Spear, the first LGBTQ+ Minnesota state senator. ‘My constituent has spent decades in this fight. He shared with me that many gay men in his own network either oppose the return of bathhouses or have real questions about whether this is the right path for a variety of reasons,’ Schaffer said.
Despite the opposition, the repeal of the ban represents a significant step forward for the LGBTQ+ community in Minneapolis. It reflects a growing recognition of the importance of these spaces in promoting public health and fostering a sense of community. As the council moves forward with establishing regulations, the focus will be on creating safe and inclusive environments that benefit everyone.
