COVID Forces Sydney鈥檚 Iconic Bodyline Gay Sauna To Close
Bodyline, one of Sydney鈥檚 longest-running , announced its closure due to COVID-19 last Thursday.
The announcement was posted through the sauna鈥檚 Facebook page, stating, 鈥淏odyline would like to thank our patrons and the community support for the last 30 years.鈥�
The post cited closure 鈥淒ue to COVID, ongoing restrictions and uncertainty around the potential for the virus to spread so easily within the community.听For the safety of our staff and patrons, we have made the difficult, but what we think is the responsible decision, to close until further notice.鈥�
Established in 1991, Bodyline was Sydney鈥檚 longest-running gay bathhouse. It was also the first gay sauna in the city to operate lawfully, after battling development and legal restrictions.
听Prior to 1991, New South Wales鈥櫶�Disorderly Houses Act was frequently cited in court as a precedent to forbid brothels and other 鈥渟ex on premises鈥� establishments.
The establishment was also initially denied development approval by the local council.
However, in 1991, after a court-ruling in the venue鈥檚 favour, it became NSW鈥檚 first lawfully-established 鈥渟ex on premises鈥� establishment, setting a precedent for many venues that followed.
Bodyline is not the only venue of its kind to struggle amidst the pandemic. Gay saunas in , and around the world have reported closures since COVID first reached their shores.
Many of these establishments survived the HIV crisis of the 80s and 90s, only to now face closure.
In California alone, San Jos茅鈥檚 Watergarden is now permanently closed after operating since 1977. San Francisco鈥檚 largest bathhouse, Blow Buddies, also closed last July after 32 years.
These closures have left an enormous hole in the Bay Area鈥檚 once-thriving gay bathhouse industry and cast doubt over whether other venues in the area can withstand increased safety regulations and economic pressure.
One such venue, San Francisco鈥檚 Eros, is committed to remaining open.
“We expect to roll with this pandemic as we did with HIV,” said a spokesperson for Eros.听
In Canada, Toronto鈥檚 Spa Excess closed for repairs and was set to relaunch until COVID-19 restrictions forced the indefinite closure of the 22-year-old venue.
When restrictions began to lift, saunas and bathhouses were left among those ordered to remain closed. This included the six gay saunas in Toronto and the province of Ontario.
Toronto City Councillor, Kristyn Wong-Tam, said听prolonged closures听of certain venue types is linked to discrimination against patrons of certain demographics.
鈥淚 am also seeing injustice,鈥� said Councillor Wong-Tam, 鈥�Six businesses singled out and excluded from the recovery plan, largely because of the clientele that they serve.鈥�
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From what I am advised from other sources Body Line is due too close because of the sites redevelopment not Cov19 & this could be sometime in the making before it happens. Therefore why is the Observer printing fake news without checking the facts Accurately. The NSW Health have not reported any Cov19 alerts on Bodying nor on any other venues that can be found also on the Bodylines owners webb sites there is a mention too the fact that the sauna my close but there’s know timeline mentioned