Why D.C.'s Gay Bathhoe Crew Club Endur the Age of Grdr - Washgton Cy Paper

Contents:

• ONE OF D.C.'S 2 GAY BATHHO CLOS
• GAY SOCIAL CLUB IN D.C. RAISES HEALTH CONCERNS
• WHY D.C.’S GAY BATHHOE CREW CLUB ENDUR THE AGE OF GRDR
• GAY BATHHOE EROS TO OPEN S NEW TENRLO LOTN FOR PRI WEEKEND

ONE OF D.C.'S 2 GAY BATHHO CLOS

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Last week, the District had two gay bathho. " Probably no issue has ed more anguish and ntroversy homosexual muni around the untry durg the last four years than whether gay bathho should be closed as a health hazard. Gay lears have urged sexually active men to stay away om the baths.

And the fear of ntractg AIDS -- acquired immune ficiency syndrome -- has been sufficient to put many gay bathho out of bs.

GAY SOCIAL CLUB IN D.C. RAISES HEALTH CONCERNS

But gay activists, many of whom have spent years tryg to safeguard their civil liberti, bristle at any suggtn that the ernment should lock the baths.

"First of all, would do no good, " said Gee Am, who for the last eight years has n the Club Baths Southeast Washgton near Capol Hill, the District's only remag gay bath. " Am said the nature of the baths has changed pletely and they now now ter to the least promiscuo segment of the gay populatn, the "highly closeted men, the married men, the ary men, the men who nnot jt stroll to a bar and strike up a nversatn. " He and others ntend that the baths are the only place that many men on the ge of the gay muny n go to get the latt rmatn about AIDS.

Although many gay baths have been nverted to more tradnal health clubs, wh exercise equipment and swimmg pools replacg private booths and hot tubs, Am said he has no tentn of gog that road. "The movement to close the baths jt ph gay sex back where was 25 years ago. Last year, when the public health director San Francis cid to ban sexual activy homosexual bathho, sex clubs and the back rooms of bookstor, many the cy's large gay populatn reacted angrily bee, they said, the ban would drive the cy's baths out of bs.

WHY D.C.’S GAY BATHHOE CREW CLUB ENDUR THE AGE OF GRDR

New York, Miami, Los Angel and other ci wh large gay populatns have grappled wh the issue, but each se cy officials shied away om attemptg to e siar methods to force closgs. "I thk many gays would be happy to see them close due to lack of bs, " said Christe Riddugh, print of the Gert Ste Democratic Club, the District's leadg gay polil anizatn.

" In many ci, a bathhoe, where people n meet easily -- and at tim anonymoly -- is the central social stutn the gay muny. It serv as an oasis for many gays, cludg those wh no tert anonymo or promiscuo sex.

Matlovich, a former Air Force sergeant discharged om the service a ago after publicly announcg his homosexualy, proposed a voter iative here aimed at prohibg sexual activi bathho. It ed a sensatn wh the District's gay muny and got virtually no support om polil lears. "I was greatly alarmed at the move to close the baths, " said Richard Mlsby, executive director of the District's office of ble televisn and a leadg gay spokman.

GAY BATHHOE EROS TO OPEN S NEW TENRLO LOTN FOR PRI WEEKEND

"This whole epimic uld not have e at a worse time for the gay muny. " Many activists the District say that even here, a cy wh a reputatn for tolerance of homosexual life styl and a mayor who has given firm and public support to the gay muny, any vote on closg the baths would turn to a referendum on gay life here. Uhrig, pastor of the District's gay Metropolan Communy Church.