From: "Ellen McCormick" Subject: Fw: Hearing to Be Held on CA Anti-Bathhouse Bill: 4/22/97 Date: Mon, 14 Apr 1997 10:59:08 -0700 ACTION ALERT: Senator Leslie's Anti-Bathhouse Bill, SB 1301, to be heard on 4/22/97 in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Please note: since the printing of the following article, LIFE Lobby has adopted an official "OPPOSE" position to this bill. Please send letters of opposition to SB 1301 to the following addresses (in order of priority): LIFE: California's Lesbian/Gay and AIDS Lobby 926 J Street, Suite 522 Sacramento, CA 95814 (we will hand deliver copies of all letters to the Capitol) The Honorable John Burton Chair, Senate Judiciary Committee State Capitol, Room 2205 Sacramento, CA 95814 The Honorable Tim Leslie (author) State Capitol, Room 4081 Sacramento, CA 95814 ---------- > From: Doug Case > To: LGBT Political Activists; queerpolitics@abacus.oxy.edu > Cc: Rex Wockner ; ellen.mccormick@lifelobby.com > Subject: Hearing to Be Held on CA Anti-Bathhouse Bill > Date: Monday, April 07, 1997 10:57 AM > > FRONTIERS NEWSMAGAZINE > April 18, 1997 (Cover date) > Volume 15, Issue 25 > http://www.frontiersweb.com/ > > Senator Leslie's Anti-Bathhouse Bill Due for Hearing > > A bill that would effectively close bathhouses is poised to be > heard in committee in April. SB 1301 is set to go before the California > state Senate Judiciary Committee, where, AIDS activists say, it must be > stopped. > The bill, introduced on Feb. 28 by Sen. Tim Leslie, R-Roseville, > would amend Section 11225 of the Penal Code to make the operation of > gambling houses, bathhouses and sex clubs illegal. A bathhouse as defined > in the bill is a "business, which, as its primary purpose, provides > facilities for a spa, whirlpool, communal bath, sauna, steam bath, mineral > bath, mud bath, or facilities for swimming." > Yet, under Leslie's bill, a bathhouse is also defined as a building > or place, the primary activity of which, "encourages or permits conduct > that according to the guidelines of the federal Centers for Disease Control > can transmit AIDS, including, but not limited to, anal intercourse, oral > copulation, or vaginal intercourse." This, says the bill, is a "nuisance > which shall be enjoined, abated, and prevented, and for which damages may > be recovered, whether it is a public or a private nuisance." > Although at press time LIFE: California's Lesbian/Gay and AIDS > Lobby had not yet taken a stand on the bill, Executive Director Laurie > McBride said she is concerned. "Bathhouses provide access to a population > that needs HIV prevention and education. We should be putting our efforts > toward prevention and education, and not grandstanding on issues that would > drive at-risk individuals underground." > Those opposing the bill are advised to send their letters to LIFE, > which will distribute them to the proper committees: LIFE, 926 J. St., > Suite 522, Sacramento, CA 95814. >