Minneapolis officially lifts its AIDS-era ban on bathhouses
“Best Pride weekend yet!” says Mayor Jacob Frey as he signs the new ordinance to bring back bathhouses.
Mark
After almost four decades, lawmakers in Minneapolis have voted to overturn an AIDS-era ban on gay bathhouses.
On Thursday, the Minneapolis City Council voted 9-2 to approve two ordinances covering adult bathhouses and sex venues. One ordinance covers licenses and business regulations, and a separate measure covers health and sanitation.
Mayor Jacob Frey had previously indicated he would be happy to sign the ordinances if they reached his desk. He did exactly that over the weekend, which happened to coincide with the city’s Pride festivities. Frey posted a video of himself signing the ordinances and captioned it, “The best Pride weekend yet!!”
The best Pride weekend yet!! pic.twitter.com/r5PVQKJi1D— Mayor Jacob Frey (@MayorFrey) June 28, 2026
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Minneapolis council member Jason Chavez, the only out LGBTQ member of the council, was among the co-sponsors of the new ordinances. In a speech last Thursday, Chavez mentioned former council member Brian Coyle, a gay man who voted for the ban in 1988.
“Today is the first step and it will not be the last. And it is an important one,” he said. “I believe if Brian Coyle was here with us today, with everything we know about public health, he would be standing with us proudly and me on this council so I would not feel alone taking this vote.”
At the council meeting to discuss the ban, a small group of campaigners cheered when the ordinances passed. A local artist, Patrick Scully, told Minneapolis News it was long overdue.
“I’m frustrated and angry that it took this long, but it just speaks to the sex negative, homo-hating world that we live in,” he said. “I’m glad that we won today, and I look forward to the momentum of this moving forward and getting these gay-negative laws off the books.”
Keeping queer men safe
Campaigners to end the ban says it’s in the city’s interest to allow regulated and monitored sex venues. They can be places that allow STI testing and distribute information about protection and health.
“The Minneapolis Health Department and other public health organizations acknowledge this ordinance [the ban] is no longer the tool needed to promote public health. Social science research tells us that commercial sex spaces, like gay saunas, are important for promoting safer sex practices, enhancing HIV prevention, and increasing access to testing and treatment.
Most council members agreed with this belief. Minneapolis Council President Elliott Payne explicitly stated that their plan to regulate bathhouses is modeled after similar moves in San Francisco. The Californian city repealed its own ban in 2021. In doing so, it also placed an emphasis on public health frameworks, safety standards, staff training, and routine health inspections.
With the arrival of HIV in the early 80s, several US cities acted to close down bathhouses. However, these bans have largely fallen away in recent years.
That said, although explicit bans such as the one in Minneapolis are now rare, in other areas—such as New York City— health codes and licensing issues exist that continue to make operating such venues difficult.
In other cities, such as Chicago, no such bans existed.
Some of the best gay bathhouses in the US
Given that it may take some time for any new bathhouse to open in Minneapolis, check out some of the biggest and best bathhouses in the US below.
Steamworks Berkeley
Steamworks has locations in Chicago, Berkeley (California), and Seattle, and is widely regarded as among the best-operated bathhouse businesses in the country.
Club Aqua Miami
Steamy fun, open 24/7.
Flex Spas
Something of an institution, Flex has built a loyal following and is frequently cited as among the better-run independent operations in the country. It has branches in Cleveland, Ohio; Atlanta, Georgia; Los Angeles, California, and Phoenix, Arizona.
FLEX Spas (Flexbaths)
Private, all-male membership 76 4th St NW · Atlanta, GA 30308
+1 404-815-0456
Website
North Hollywood Spa, Los Angeles
One of the oldest continuously operating bathhouses in LA.
North Hollywood Spa
Adult NoHo fun 5636 Vineland Ave · North Hollywood, CA 91601
+1 818-760-6969
Website
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