San Diego City Council repeals outdated bathhouse ordinance

The San Diego City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to repeal a decades-old municipal ordinance that targeted bathhouses. Originally passed in 1988 and amended in 1991 during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis, the law sought to regulate establishments to prevent the transmission of HIV among gay and bisexual men.

While the ordinance had not been actively enforced by police or code enforcement for years, Council President Joe LaCava pushed for its removal after a staff member discovered it while reviewing the city’s municipal code. LaCava stated that leaving the law on the books reflected an “offensive and outdated perspective” of the LGBTQ+ community and that the repeal serves as a signal of societal progress.

Community advocates and health officials noted that bathhouses have historically played roles in providing education, testing, and referrals during the AIDS crisis and subsequent outbreaks of mpox and COVID-19. The San Diego LGBT Community Center also highlighted that reducing stigma is essential for encouraging individuals to seek HIV testing and care.