From: MPetrelis@aol.com Date: Thu, 6 May 1999 15:53:32 EDT Subject: SF bathhouse advocates meet with Mayor Brown For immediate release May 6, 1999 Contact Health Watch: 415 551-0901 Email: HlthW SF@aol.com HEALTH ADVOCATES MEET WITH MAYOR TO CHALLENGE SAN FRANCISCO'S AIDS POLICY ON GAY BATHHOUSES On May 8th, members of Health Watch, a health advocacy group in San Francisco, will meet with the Mayor to question the City's ban on privacy in commercial sex establishments. Health Watch argues that privacy in bathhouses is an essential part of a comprehensive STD prevention strategy. The group draws attention to the fact that no Health Department in any other major US city--including Berkeley and San Jose- denies sexual privacy in sex clubs. "Health Director Mitch Katz has to explain why he is completely alone in denying privacy in commercial sex establishments. Katz's policy is propagating the myth that bathhouses spread AIDS and that gay men are untrustworthy behind closed doors," says Steve Filandrinos of Health Watch. "Katz argues that if you can stop sex in bathhouses, you've reduced the City's overall seroincidence rate," says David Attyah, Health Watch researcher. "That logic is completely flawed: denying privacy just drives sex underground to venues that don't provide education, outreach, and STD information. Katz can provide no evidence--direct or anecdotal--that denying privacy reduces the spread of STDs." Health Watch worries that politics and AIDS sensationalism is driving San Francisco's health policy. "Gay men, not government, have consistently spearheaded safer sex efforts. These efforts focus on empowering gay men to make healthy sexual choices," says Filandrinos. "San Francisco has seen remarkable results with empowerment models. Katz's position is retrograde health policy." WHAT: Health Watch Meets the Mayor Mayor's Open Door Day DATE: Saturday, May 8th TIMES: 7:30 am WHERE: City Hall 1 Carlton Goodlett Place >end<