Minneapolis City Council members are considering a move that would legalize and regulate adult bathhouses and sex venues where consenting adults may engage in sexual activity.
The council on Tuesday referred four ordinances would create a licensing framework, update zoning regulations, revise health standards and add exceptions to existing indecency laws.
Bathhouses in the city were banned four decades ago, with public pressure over the AIDS crisis leading to their closure. The Star Tribune reports a local law passed in 1988 that bans sexual activity in commercial spaces.
The Safer Sex Spaces Coalition has approached council members about repealing what they call "outdated and ineffective local laws (ordinances)" that made facilitating sexual conduct in commercial spaces illegal. They're suggesting a modernization of the laws to allow for safer sex spaces.
"We have met with City Council members, city staff, and public health experts to discuss legalizing sexual activity in commercial spaces," Safer Sex Coalition says on their website. "With full support of the City Council, the city's Health Code was amended to neutralize stigmatizing language that targeted specific communities and sexual activities, but the ban on bathhouses and facilitating sexual conduct in commercial spaces remains."
Council President Elliot Payne and other council members have been supportive of the move, which they say would be "highly-regulated" and create access to safer sex supplies and STD or HIV testing.
Council also looks to decriminalize drug paraphernalia
The proposed changes come as the City Council also considers a proposed ordinance that would decriminalize drug paraphernalia.
The change would align more to what has already happened at the state level. The possession of all drug paraphernalia is no longer a crime in Minnesota, even if that paraphernalia contains residual amounts of controlled substances.
However, some who spoke to the City Council in opposition, saying loosening regulations around drugs are hurting the city.
"There's enough evidence to show that these policies are garbage," said Mike, who spoke about a child who is a drug addict. "100% of your effective crime rate is drug dealers and drug addicts, and you're not going after either. So congratulations, this city deserves you people."
City Council also considering a proposed ordinance that would decriminalize drug paraphernalia
City Council also considering a proposed ordinance that would decriminalize drug paraphernalia
