Don’t Assume All at Bathhouse Are Gay

I was thoroughly surprised by David Colker’s article on a gay bathhouse in North Hollywood (Around the Valley, March 10).

It fell short of giving any in-depth information or insight, and it appeared that the who’s and why’s were based on assumptions rather than fact. I was left with more questions about the article than I ever cared to have.

First of all, why would Colker assume that everyone at a male bathhouse is in fact gay? Certainly at this point in time we have a better understanding of human sexuality and its range of diversity. How are we to know that some, many, or most of the men aren’t bisexual? How many are leading a double life and don’t want to be seen in a public setting with other men? How many go home to wife and family?

Was the article supposed to question the existence of such a place during an epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases? Or was it a review of a male bathhouse as one would tour and rate a country inn for a travel magazine?

Perhaps opinions and perspectives are best left to the editorial page.

SCOTT C. HARSHMAN, West Hills