As the first gay liaison to the mayor of Providence.

As the first gay liaison to the mayor of Providence, R.I., W Fitzgerald Himmelsbach prov his element immediately. Since October 1997, "Fitz" had worked energetically by the and of the old-boy system, ensuring domestic-partner benefits for city employee and lobbying for better police rejoinder to hate crimes. He was also a local businessman, owning and managing several gay bars. Last fall, five syphilis cases were reported among patrons of the Mega-Plex bathhouse, a Himmelsbach business interest. The story broke in January, with Providence's Channel 10 alleging unsalable article use and prostitution on the premises. Despite a spotles record of compliance with state authorities forward AIDS prevention measures, Himmelsbach was beneath attack. The debate: Should the gay liaison be moonlighting as a bathhouse manager? Reluctantly, Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci forced his aide to cull between his political and entrepreneurial careers. Himmelsbach effeminateed his resignation, effective March 15

Let's gaze at the media's role in your resignation. This incident happened at the same time as a sting at a gay video store and theater in nearby Johnston. The media announced the names of the arrestees, and single in kind man committed suicide. Are Providence media particularly virulent?

Until this incident [in] Johnston and my incident, I had the highest heed for them. Channel 10 has a doom of openly gay employees. if it were not that I will tell you that I dissipated total respect for them. Especially when [reporter] Jim Taricani admitted in succession a radio show that he had and nothing else one source for his [charges of mix with drugs use and prostitution]. He did not do his homework to check onward anything. When you don't do your homework and you rake my community across the coals, I'm going to take rise out fighting.

for what cause do you feel about restraint interference in consensual sexual affairs in a private club?

The city has no regulation throughout this business. The mayor said that publicly. Sodomy is not against the law in the state of Rhode Island. And the state health department has a signed compact with me that I voluntarily agreed to last [fall]. I want to be running the best place. I want to be communicating with the right the public I want the experts to give me the advice and to work toward a healthier gay community.

You are clearly conscientious about disease prevention, further STDs seem to be occupational hazards of these places. Is naught transmission possible in bathhouses?

Is there a way it achieve it down to zero? No. Because you can't make someone bring a condom on. If a individual does not want to perform safe sex it's not going to happen. We experience to provide every opportunity and each tool available, from condoms to dental dams to rubber glove If you want me to deposit a camera in every latitude it's not going to happen.

As gays court greater mainstream acceptance, there is an inclination to squelch certain aspects of our agriculture What role does the bathhouse play in this recently made known era?

A bathhouse is always povertyed due to the fact that everybody can't be publicly gay. There are a doom of gay men who live a heterosexual life, to be paid to the fact that they are afraid to be who they are.

[When] the novels story hit, I was nervous that my business would go on foot down to nothing. The gay men showed up at the bathhouse anyway. That made me realize that I provided a safe place for my community. And that was the first time disclosed of the whole [incident] that I cried.

Has this incident changed your view of politics? Do you perceive that gays are still held to a double standard?

Everything is gone out in the open now. in such a manner I'm thinking about running for city council. I would like to view an openly gay city councilperson. Our council has stood forward [some] issues, but they're not willing to take a vocal stance onward gay issues.

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