The push, driven by activists, comes as the gay Somali community in Minneapolis has been clamoring to legalize bathhouses. City leaders are considering the proposal that would allow patrons to engage in sexual intercourse in the venues, the New York Post reports.

This latest development underscores the deepening assimilation issues in a city long transformed by mass Somali immigration.

The Minneapolis City Council has referred a package of four proposed ordinances to staff for further development. These include creating licensing and business regulations for adult sex venues that facilitate sexual activity between consenting adults, updating zoning codes for sexually oriented businesses, revising health and sanitation standards related to contagious diseases, and adding exceptions to miscellaneous offenses provisions.

Activists from the Safer Sex Spaces Coalition have led the charge. They argue the 1988 ban, which targeted "high-risk sexual conduct" such as fellatio, anal intercourse, and vaginal intercourse in commercial settings, is outdated and stigmatizing.

"The Minneapolis Health Department and other public health organizations acknowledge this ordinance is no longer the tool needed to promote public health, "the coalition stated adding "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. These spaces also enhance feelings of identity, camaraderie, authenticity, and belonging. They are spaces where people overcome isolation and develop a sense of community and pride."

Council Member Jason Chavez supported referring the measures, saying: "LGBTQIA+ gathering spaces, including bathhouses, have long been targeted by criminalization and policing, and our communities have paid a devastating price for that. That's why we're referring this to staff to begin building policy alongside community members and stakeholders."

Council President Elliott Payne noted that such activities "already happen in the shadows, and we are trying to ensure that they are safe for patrons, especially when LGBTQ+ individuals are under attack by the federal government." He pointed to potential regulations modeled on San Francisco, including condom availability and staff training on harm reduction.

A spokesperson for Mayor Jacob Frey indicated the mayor supports continued exploration of the issue.

Hardly surprising given that all he does is pander to Somalis.