AIDS Group Urges HIV Testing in Los Angeles Bathhouses

A leading U.S. AIDS health service provider on Monday said hundreds of patrons of gay sex clubs and bathhouses have been exposed to HIV because Los Angeles County officials failed to regulate the venues.

County health officials delayed a scheduled vote this month by county supervisors on a proposed ordinance to ban high-risk sexual behavior at the clubs while they study the issue.

"We are saying certain types of behavior are not allowed, but who do you send in to these places to regulate this behavior?" County Health Director Jonathan Fielding said. "Inspectors are going to be immediately recognized and all (high-risk) behavior ceases."

But Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, said the delays in implementing the ordinance have had "catastrophic" consequences for the gay community.

In February, the foundation pulled out of a contract with the county to provide HIV testing at the bathhouses after it was denied entry into most of them, Weinstein said.

"We said we were backing out of the program to protest being refused at the other clubs," Weinstein said.

He added that nearly 2 years has elapsed since a study documenting an 11% incidence of HIV infections among men who tested at Los Angeles bathhouses, compared to 5% of men who were tested in a public clinic or community-based testing center.

A rapid test now available returns test results in 20 minutes, Weinstein said.

"We should be there every day in a prominent location and the establishment should encourage people to get tested," he said.

Fielding said health officials hoped to have a draft ordinance within 30 days.

05/05/04