TUCKED away in a sleepy corner off the City Hall area and hidden among a row of run-down shophouses, the men's health club is hard to spot.
This is where Andy claimed he contracted the HIV virus after an orgy with four men.
The dull-looking entrance is dimly-lit by street lamps. One has to go really close to read the club's name as the sign on the door is about the size of a postcard.
Posed Picture: Mohd Ishak
The New Paper on Sunday team visited the club last weekend after some patrons told us about a 'themed party' being held there.
When we arrived at 1am, we saw two men coming out from a dark alley behind the club.
They walked towards a public carpark opposite and left in a car.
Then, another man got out from a car in the same carpark and walked towards the club. He made a few calls on his handphone before entering. We followed him inside.
Near the door, two good-looking and smartly dressed men were seated behind a counter. When we asked about the facilities, they mumbled softly that it was a men's club.
They declined to answer our other questions and simply stared at the empty counter space in front of them.
Another door next to the counter leads into the main premises. Through an opening on the door, we saw a few walking around topless with towels wrapped around their waists.
'PLEASE LEAVE'
We asked if we could go in to take a look.
'No, it's only for members,' said one of the counter staff. The other one mumbled softly: 'Can you please leave?'
A club member who had tipped us off later said: 'We have to put on towels when we are at the counter. But once inside, we'll drop our towels. This special party happens twice a month.
'It is an unspoken rule among members that once the lights come on, we should stop whatever we are doing. When this happens, it's likely that the police are there to inspect the premises.
'But this doesn't happen often.'
These illicit clubs advertise their services on the Internet. They also rely on members to bring in new patrons. Whenever a new club opens or an old one closes down, word gets around quickly, one member said.
When contacted, several of these clubs were hostile. While some declined comment, others simply slammed down the phone.
One operator even proclaimed: 'We are an exclusive club! We don't need any publicity!'
Police spokesman Siow Cheng Cheng said any individual or group that offers any form of public entertainment or massage services to the public must apply for a permit. The penalty for providing public entertainment without a licence is a maximum fine of $10,000.
It is illegal to conduct sexual activities in the premises. A licensing officer may suspend or cancel a licence if he believes the public entertainment for which it was issued has been or is likely to be indecent, immoral or offensive.
Under the law, it is considered an offence for a man to have sex with another man.
The maximum penalty is life imprisonment or 10 years' jail and a fine.
But there are other health clubs and spas who do legitimate business. And these operators feel the shady joints give the industry a bad name.
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HIV TEST KITS WON'T STOP THEM FROM HAVING SEX
THOUGH HIV infections caused by homosexual transmission went down last year, they formed a higher percentage of the total number of infections.
Figures released by the Ministry of Health recently show that the number of infections caused by homosexual transmission dropped from 72 in 2004 to 63 last year.
But they formed about a quarter of the 255 HIV infections last year, a slightly higher percentage than the previous year.
In 2004, Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Senior Minister of State (Information, Communications and the Arts and Health) warned of an Aids epidemic in Singapore.
Last year, he also said in a forum that figures suggested that one in 25 gay men here is HIV-positive.
Yet, sexual activites go on uninhibited in unlicensed clubs and bathhouses, even though it is illegal.
These places provide OraQuick, a saliva-based HIV test kit. But results from these self-test kits can be misleading. For instance, if the test is done within three months of infection, it may not show up at all.
Many members also cannot be bothered to take the tests.
Andy said: 'It's always possible that one infected guy goes on to infect others in the club because he is angry and he wants to drag others in.'
The availability of test kits in the clubs creates a false impression that it is safe to have sex there, Andy added.
'Men go to these places with the intention of having sex, so having test kits doesn't really stop them.'
DANGEROUS
Mr Vanan Julian Pillay of Heat Consultants, which provides HIV/Aids education in workplaces, feels that individuals should be responsible for practising safe sex.
The 28-year-old programme executive said: 'It is unavoidable and unfortunate that activities of this nature take place in these places.
'Any form of sexual activity in any condition that doesn't allow for the use of protection is dangerous and must be avoided.
'The protection of our health is primarily our responsibility and we can't leave it to the authorities to impose restrictions and issue regulations. People engaging in sexual acts must take responsibility and must take all necessary precautions.'
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Similar clubs banned in San Francisco
RAMPANT sex among gay men in bathhouses, especially in cities like San Francisco, was one of the main causes of the rise of Aids in the US.
The Aids epidemic, which took off in the 1980s, became so bad in San Francisco that the city's Department of Public Health eventually banned bathhouses.
Mr Randy Shilts, a gay journalist with the San Francisco Chronicle, was criticised by many gays for his reports on the promiscuous lifestyle of some gays, which contributed to the Aids epidemic. He died of Aids at the age of 42.
In 1987, San Francisco's last gay bathhouse, the 21st Street Baths, closed its doors for good.
Will the same thing happen here if such promiscuous behaviour persists in men's clubs here?
Said Mr Vanan Julian Pillay of Heat (HIV/Aids Education And Training): 'If people are going to have sex, they should practise safe sex.'
Said Andy, who claimed he contracted the HIV virus after having unprotected sex in health clubs: 'I feel that the Government should step in and do something.
'Closing the clubs may not stop the spread of Aids. But it will definitely help to slow it down.
'If the Government can ban Nation and other gay parties because it thinks that they promote gay sex, how can it turn a blind eye to these men's clubs? The parties are held only once a year, but these clubs are open every day.'
******
Yah. Found the stupid article finally.
anyway, the more I read this article the more irritated I get.
what is wrong with this article and its stereotypes?
1) That all gay clubs do not have entertainment permit
2) That all gay clubs = sex premises
3) That all gay clubs = dark, dingy, perverse places
4) That the adminstrators at these clubs are doing something wrong, thus they do not want to be interviewed
5) That gay guys are the cause of HIV problems *(this pisses me off REALLY badly)
6) That gay guys do not practice safe sex
Firstly, what the hell makes you thing gay clubs do not have entertainment permits? What about Happy? Why Not? Taboo? These famous AJ hangout spots definately have permits and are well renowned for their music and dance remixes!!!
Secondly, gay clubs = sex premises? How about brothel = sex premises? Why don't you just go ahead and call gay clubs a gay brothel? Because you have no evidence! Thats why. These individuals which tarnish the name of this places are just out to seek justification for their own actions! jeez..
Thirdly, dark dingy places? You mean like lowly lit, murky darkness type? Well, I won't consider Madam Wong's, Indochine or Zouk anywhere near brightly lit and sunny! Nor would I consider the location of BioSkin or ThemaSpa anywhere near the main roads of Singapore.
Much less that the government can't stand these places and want to close them down.
Fourth. YOU ARE THE FREAKING NEW PAPER - for goodness sake. Which AJ on earth will risk their neck and answer your interview that is only tuned for the majority of your readers? - which happens to be a large portion of straight males (homophobic - get it?). Its like committing suicide!
Fifth. That gay guys are the cause of the HIV problem. HELLO~~!! The origin of the HIV immune deficiency virus did not originate from gays in the first place! Moreover, statistic shows that in the entire world, the rates of HIV is more prevalent in women then in men!
jeez. then I bet you're going to attribute the case to lesbianism. This is stupid.
Sixth. That gay guys do not practice safe sex.
Let me ask you this. Do YOU practice safe sex? Statistic shows that most straigth couples could not be bothered, as compared to gay men. While it is true that average gay guys have a more active sex life then their straight counterparts, it is highly advisable not to search for the splinter in the skin of others when there is a log in your eye.
utterly disgusting, the stereotypes that the New Paper has.
Completely irrationaly, without proven evidence, and jumping to conclusion even without finding out the whole situation.
That guy must have been damm angry when he wrote to the Straits Times to announce to the whole world about his wonderful condition.
However, let me ask you. How long does it take for AIDS to manifest?
Answer : At least 5-6 months.
During this time, he could have had countless casual sex partners! All in the so called "sex clubs"? I don't think so. He is old and rich enough to afford a hostel or a motel to do these stuffs.
He didnt wear protection. that is his business. He is courting death.
But why pull down the entire AJ community with him?
Selfish bugger.
This concludes my case with this completely irrational idiot.
*phew*
*breath better now*
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