Minneapolis considers legalizing bathhouses

The Minneapolis City Council this week will begin debating proposals to unwind the city's nearly 40-year prohibition on bathhouses: venues where consenting adults can legally have sex.

The big picture: The 1988 ban was enacted amid the AIDS crisis, but also shut down places many LGBTQ+ people considered safe havens.

• Since HIV is no longer a death sentence, council members must grapple with whether the ban still serves a purpose — or is simply a holdover from a more homophobic era.

What they're saying: Proponents say the ban has driven sex gatherings underground, as Council President Elliott Payne said in April.

• They believe regulated bathhouses would encourage safer sex, with access to hygiene stations, condoms and public health professionals.

The other side: At the same April meeting, Council Member Elizabeth Shaffer said the ordinances were "disconnected" from the core business of the city.

• Other critics raised concerns about unintended consequences like sex trafficking and crime.

Between the lines: A 2024 Minneapolis City Auditor report found other cities that allowed bathhouses haven't had major problems with them.

What's happening: The council is considering three separate ordinances, the first of which will be heard in committee on Tuesday.