PRNewswire - November 29, 2005

-- Recent CDC Report Shows 8% Rise in HIV Infections Nationwide Among Gay Men in 2004

What: Press Conference & Protest

* AIDS Prevention Advocates to Blast LA County DHS for Years-long Delay on Roll Out of Regulations for Bathhouses and Sex Clubs to Allow Access for HIV & STD Testing, Prevention Services in Venues

Who: Deya Smith-Starks, Manager of Advocacy & Marketing for AHF's Prevention Programs

Miki Jackson, AIDS Advocate

Ramon Leon, (Spanish Language), Program Manager, AHF Prevention Programs

Azul Grasso, (Spanish Language), AHF's Prevention Programs

Karen Mall, AHF Director of Prevention

When: Wednesday, November 30th 9:00am

Where:In front of the L.A. County Department of Health Services (DHS) Building

313 North Figueroa Street, Los Angeles 90012 (at Temple Street)

B-roll Visual -- Advocates will unveil an oversized report card letter grade for DHS -- [similar to LA County's restaurant ratings' system] -- and will carry giant condoms

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- In a press conference set for 9:00 am on Wednesday, November 30, 2005 in front of Los Angeles County's Department of Health Services' (DHS) headquarters (313 N. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles 90012 -- cross street: Temple Street), AIDS advocates from AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the nation's largest AIDS group which operates treatment clinics in the US, Africa, Central America, and Asia and is the operator of the largest free alternative HIV testing program in the State of California, will blast LA County officials for a years-long bureaucratic delay in drafting and implementing regulations for Los Angeles area bathhouses and sex clubs (commercial sex venues-CSVs) frequented by men who have sex with men (MSM) which would require the establishments to provide improved access to such clubs for HIV and STD testing and prevention service providers.

The protest comes nearly four years after County health officials conducted its landmark "Bathhouse Study" in 2001-2002 at two Los Angeles bathhouses which showed an HIV rate of more than 11% among men who have sex with men. The protest also comes almost two-years after the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously [on February 3, 2004] to have the Department of Health Services and County Counsel draft regulations for the County's commercial sex venues (CSVs).

"I want to thank Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and the entire Board of Supervisors for their leadership and unanimous support in calling for County regulations to improve access to HIV and STD prevention and testing services in Los Angeles area bathhouses and sex clubs," said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, in a statement. "However, we are angry that it is taking the Department of Health Services and County Counsel so long to draft and implement what really are pretty basic public health regulations for the County's eleven or so clubs. Sadly, as the County's four-year delay drags on, infections continue to rise."

In the past few weeks, the CDC released two national reports on HIV and STD incidence. One reported that HIV among the MSM population increased more than 8% in 2004. Another report documented that syphilis increased an eye-popping 81% among the MSM population nationwide over the past five years.

"The Bathhouse Study: HIV Incidence in Commercial Sex Venues," which was conducted from May 2001 until December 2002, tested 916 men who have sex with men at two Los Angeles bathhouses and found that 102 -- or an alarming 11% -- were HIV positive (compared with 5.5% of similar men tested at public clinics and community-based agencies.).

Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky first submitted his motion calling for the regulation of the County's bathhouses and sex clubs on February 3, 2004 (see full text of motion below), which was backed by AHF and other HIV prevention advocates.

As of November 10, 2005, the regulations have been finally drafted; however, they have not as yet been officially submitted to the Board for approval and to be enacted into law. Even after approval, there will be a six-month window for owner compliance. Therefore, the regulations will not fully go into effect until, at the very earliest, May 2006 -- a full five years after the County first undertook its "Bathhouse Study."

"These commercial sex venues could be an important place for HIV prevention providers to offer testing and outreach services to a high-risk population in order to try and break the chain of infection here in Los Angeles," said Deya Smith-Starks, Manager of Advocacy and Marketing for AHF's Prevention Programs. "The delay represents four years of missed opportunities in prevention, and we urge County Health officials to fast track the roll out of these regulations."

"It seems that LA County bureaucrats have been operating on FEMA Standard Time in drafting and implementing these important new regulations for bathhouses and sex clubs," said Miki Jackson, a longtime AIDS advocate. "It's time to demand greater accountability and follow through from County staff on this issue."

Following is the text of Supervisor Yaroslavsky's motion from February 2004:

Motion by Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky -- February 3, 2004

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) conducted a federally funded study on HIV prevalence and risk behaviors among patrons of two bathhouses in Los Angeles County. As part of the Los Angeles Bathhouse Study, DHS staff surveyed bathhouse patrons on HIV risk behavior and conducted HIV/AIDS and STD testing of patrons. Results of the study show high-risk sexual behavior among bathhouse patrons who are primarily men who have sex with men (MSM), putting them at greater risk for infection of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. The study found HIV prevalence of 11% among the bathhouse patrons, which is higher than the HIV prevalence found in other HIV/AIDS testing sites. High-risk sexual behavior is also occurring at other venues that cater to MSM, such as sexual encounter clubs, which exist in various jurisdictions in the County. This suggests that there may be HIV/AIDS and other STD transmissions not only among patrons of bathhouses, but also among patrons of these other venues.

For the past two years, the Department of Health Services' Office of AIDS Programs and Policy has contracted with community service providers to conduct HIV testing and counseling in bathhouses and other establishments and to appoint a liaison to collaborate with the owners and operators of these establishments on HIV and STD risk reduction efforts. Despite these efforts, the study's finding of 11% HIV prevalence in bathhouse patrons suggests that our HIV/AIDS and STD prevention and treatment efforts must be strengthened to address the environment in which high risk sexual behavior occurs.

I, THEREFORE, MOVE that the Department of Health Services and County Counsel examine and report to the Board within 90 days on the operation of bathhouses and other venues in Los Angeles County at which high risk behavior occurs among MSM, including a review of the HIV/AIDS and STD prevention efforts within these establishments. The report should include recommendations on: appropriate changes between cities and the County in licensing and permitting the operation of such venues; financing, accessing, facilitating and permitting DHS' HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment efforts within these venues; and coordination of other healthcare services, such as STD testing and alcohol and drug treatment programs, with HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment efforts.

SOURCE AIDS Healthcare Foundation

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PR051158

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