ABSTRACT
While Mayor Koch was away in Japan, the City Council Health Committee voted unanimously in favor of Resolution 1985, calling for the closure of bathhouses and other public establishments where "certain high-risk sexual practices" occur. The resolutions were supported by a coalition of black, Orthodox Jewish, Puerto Rican, and Italian council members, many of whom have vigorously opposed the passage of a gay rights bill. The heated racial and religious issues surrounding the bill were highlighted during the testimony of Jerry Nadler, a sponsor of the legislation to ban discrimination by insurance companies against people who test positive. While community leader David Rothenberg told the Committee to stop "scapegoating in the guise of providing medical security," the gay community was making their own statement outside City Hall. Only Maloney made an urgent statement contending, "This legislation would violate individual rights to privacy."
