Story thread · 5 reports / 5 sources

‘Homophobic' bathhouse section of city code repealed by San Diego City Council

nbcsandiego.com · 12dShare

The San Diego City Council on Tuesday repealed a section of city code set down during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis that city leaders said was outdated and homophobic on Tuesday. Established in April 1988 and last updated in 1991, Chapter 4 Article 2 Division 4 of the San Diego Municipal Code places strict restrictions on bathhouses in the city that “encourage, facilitate and/or knowingly allow their patrons to engage in sexual practices that pose a significant risk for the transmission of HIV.” Council President Joe LaCava said a staff member found the above language and brought it to his attention. “This language does not reflect who we are as a city,” LaCava said. “It is an outdated and offensive perspective and I do not support this kind of language.” He said that while the San Diego Police Department and the city’s Development Services Department no longer enforce the ordinance, that was no reason to leave it on the books. “Repealing it is a smart signal of how far we have com

First report: San Diego considers repealing bathhouse regulations passed amid HIV/AIDS panic — kpbs.org, 14d