Diesel and Castro Gay

In San Francisco, establishments exist where one can experience a steam room, a sauna, and a cold plunge. Conversely, there are establishments designed for steamy sexual encounters with unfamiliar individuals.

Conversely, it's quite surprising that a place providing both options isn't available—at least, not legally.

San Francisco once boasted a reputation for gay bathhouses, such as the Ritch Street Health Club, the Barracks, and Bulldog Baths. These establishments operated in a legal gray area, with authorities generally overlooking them but occasionally initiating raids based on "lewd conduct." During the 1980s, concerns regarding the venues' involvement in spreading HIV/AIDS led to a court order that rendered it almost impossible for these businesses to thrive.

Since 1987, none have operated within city limits, despite an uber-kinky festival, complete with its own water features, taking place annually on Folsom Street.

Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, a gay man representing the Castro district, has undertaken a years-long campaign to reinstate bathhouses with steaming facilities. It's turned into a historical lesson revealing how outdated customs have infiltrated a complex bureaucratic system.

'We aim to make these happen,' Mandelman stated during an interview. 'Or, at the very least, ensure that the city does not impede this from occurring.'

His initial step involved dismantling restrictions on the operation of gay bathhouses within the city's health code, a byproduct of the AIDS crisis. Following this, he modified the planning code to permit bathhouses and sex clubs to function within a broader scope of the city. Most recently, he's endeavoring to remove the ultimate authority to regulate and license these businesses from the San Francisco Police Department.

Mandelman introduced legislation on Tuesday that would repeal Article 26 of the police code, which outlines hygiene standards but also mandates businesses to maintain a registry of all patrons and forbids services from being provided behind locked doors. The expectation is for the law to be enacted by the end of the year.

In a rare demonstration of cooperation within San Francisco, virtually everyone is in agreement. The Department of Public Health already oversaw a significant portion of Article 26, and a police department facing resource constraints was eager to transfer the responsibility. The police were ill-prepared to address inquiries about waterproofing and precisely what constitutes a prohibited "service."

The activities within a sex club may inspire vivid fantasies, but the operational side of running one is more mundane, particularly in San Francisco, where red tape is more of a fact of life than a symbolic bondage prop.

Even though the Tenderloin queer sex club Eros boasts a glory-hole alley, video play areas, and a selection of sex slings, the priorities for co-owner Ken Rowe in managing his 30-year-old establishment include his real estate footprint, operational volume, and increasing insurance expenses.

Throughout the years, he's witnessed numerous attempts to establish a bathhouse within the city, all failing. One of Rowe's principal unresolved questions revolves around utilities. Considering soaring prices and ongoing drought conditions within the state, who can realistically afford to fill, cleanse, and replenish pools?

'There's a rationale behind describing ourselves as a sex club. We are not trying to perplex anyone,' Rowe affirmed. 'However, we've always asserted we perform better when more choices are available.'

The appeal of reviving bathhouse culture within a gay mecca—combined with a city government striving to streamline the process—has motivated locals to venture in.

One of the most notable ongoing efforts is led by Joel Aguero, who is fundraising the necessary $3 million to open Castro Baths. Aguero, a former employee of The Standard, believes that Mandelman's legislation would eliminate a pivotal hurdle for the emerging business.

'Supervisor Mandelman and his office are eliminating a significant obstruction to the permit process, expediting the opening of Castro Baths,' Aguero noted in a statement.

Initially, the plan aimed for a June 2025 launch, although Aguero informed the Bay Area Reporter that this timeline appears unlikely, given the absence of a signed lease.

Nathan Diesel, another prospective bathhouse operator, has explored multiple locales in SoMa, including a commercial property near the intersection of Howard and Dore streets. He estimates, conservatively, that it would necessitate a minimum of $1.5 million to realize his ambition.

Diesel, a regular customer of Steamworks Baths in Berkeley, gained a new perspective during a recent 50th birthday trip, which included a tour of European bathhouses.

'In the European model, you can order apple pie, a sandwich, and just unwind. It's a completely different atmosphere,' Diesel mentioned. 'The fact that we possess a bathhouse across the Bay indicates we have business that is actively leaving San Francisco.'

Over the summer, Diesel conducted a survey that showed considerable backing for his concept. And he believes, with the city struggling during its pandemic recovery, it's worth throwing anything at the tiled wall and seeing what sticks.

Revive gay bathhouses? It could potentially succeed.