The Minneapolis City Council is currently weighing a series of legislative changes that could legalize and regulate adult sex venues, including bathhouses, where consenting adults may engage in sexual activity. This move would potentially reverse a restrictive ban that has been in place for nearly four decades, marking a significant shift in the city’s approach to adult entertainment and LGBTQIA+ gathering spaces.
The proposal involves a package of four separate ordinances referred to city staff for review. These measures aim to establish a comprehensive licensing framework, update zoning regulations, and revise health and sanitation standards to better reflect modern preventative care and inclusive language. The effort is driven by a desire to eliminate what officials have described as “stigmatizing language” within the city’s current legal code CBS News.
This legislative push comes as the council also considers a separate ordinance to decriminalize drug paraphernalia. The potential return of adult bathhouses would bring Minneapolis in line with other Minnesota cities, such as St. Paul and Duluth, which have allowed such establishments to operate under varying levels of oversight CBS News.
The History of the 1988 Ban
Adult bathhouses and sex venues were once a standard part of urban nightlife in the United States. However, the advent of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s led many cities to pass ordinances banning these establishments. In Minneapolis, the last legally operating bathhouse closed in 1988 following the passage of an ordinance that banned businesses facilitating “high-risk sexual conduct” WFMD.
At the time, the city defined “high-risk sexual conduct” specifically as vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse, and fellatio performed for pay. This legal framework remained largely intact until 2023, when the language was modified following pressure from activists with the Safer Sex Spaces Coalition WFMD.
The Coalition argued that the 1988 ban disproportionately targeted same-sex partnerships and individuals living with HIV, and AIDS. They further contended that the prohibition of these spaces drove sexual gatherings into “unsafe and inaccessible spaces,” thereby hindering public health outreach and community safety WFMD.
Proposed Legislative Framework
The current proposal to legalize adult sex venues is structured across four primary ordinances, each targeting a different aspect of city governance:
- Licensing and Business Regulation: One ordinance would create an entirely new chapter in the city code dedicated to adult sex venues. This would establish the legal requirements and business regulations for establishments that facilitate sexual activity between consenting adults CBS News.
- Zoning Code Updates: A second ordinance would amend the city’s zoning code. This is intended to update the definitions and standards for “sexually oriented uses,” removing stigmatizing terms and ensuring the code reflects contemporary urban planning CBS News.
- Health and Sanitation Standards: A third ordinance would revise the health and sanitation code. Specifically, it would update provisions regarding contagious diseases and the current terminology surrounding “high-risk sexual conduct” to align with modern medical understanding and preventative care CBS News.
- Indecency Law Exceptions: The final ordinance would add specific exceptions to existing indecency laws to ensure that legal, licensed venues are not subject to criminal penalties for the activities they are licensed to facilitate CBS News.
Public Health and Community Impact
Supporters of the move, including the Safer Sex Spaces Coalition, argue that legalizing these venues is a matter of public health. The coalition has stated that the Minneapolis Health Department and other public health organizations recognize that the 1988 ordinance is no longer an effective tool for promoting public health WFMD.
According to the coalition, social science research indicates that commercial sex spaces, such as gay saunas, play a vital role in enhancing HIV prevention, increasing access to testing and treatment, and promoting safer sex practices. Beyond health, these spaces are described as essential for fostering identity, camaraderie, and a sense of belonging for marginalized communities, helping individuals overcome isolation through community pride WFMD.
Council member Jason Chavez has echoed these sentiments, stating that “LGBTQIA+ gathering spaces, including bathhouses, have long been targeted by criminalization and policing, and our communities have paid a devastating price for that” CBS News.
Key Takeaways on the Proposed Changes
- Scope: Legalization of adult bathhouses and sex venues for consenting adults.
- Timeline: Potential reversal of a ban that has lasted since 1988.
- Mechanism: A four-ordinance package covering licensing, zoning, health codes, and indecency laws.
- Objective: To replace stigmatizing language and improve public health access for LGBTQIA+ communities.
- Regional Context: Similar venues are already permitted in St. Paul and Duluth.
The Minneapolis City Council has referred the proposed ordinances to staff for further review. The next steps will involve the evaluation of these frameworks before they are brought back for a formal vote. We will continue to monitor the council’s progress on these licensing rules.
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