Gay Soldier James Wharton "Shut Down Gay Saunas"

<p>Openly gay ex soldier James Wharton says that gay saunas should be shut down, if the gay community wants to be taken seriously.</p> <p>by Newsdesk | 4th March 2014</p><p></p><p> </p><p><img src="http://www.thegayuk.com/communities/8/004/009/928/388/images/4597885752.jpg" width="459" height="202" alt="" title=""/></p> <p></p><p>Writing in Winq, the former soldier said: </p><p></p><p>“Sex saunas need to be history. The time has come to close them down.”</p><p></p><p>“If we don’t, we feed the haters and we hand the bigots who remain a vocal minority ammunition with which to attack us,” he said</p><p></p><p>“For me as a gay man, the notion that there exist within our communities a series of places that actively promote the convening of gay men for participation in sex of shades various and in groups of all sizes rather revolts me – and I ‘ve been round the block a few times, believe me. I’m no prude, not even close, but the days when we gathered in clandestine fashion for the want of a network or a sexual outlet are surely long gone,” </p><p></p><p></p><p>CLOSURE WON'T CHANGE HOMOPHOBIA</p><p></p><p>Health and gay rights campaigners have said that closing saunas would probably have no effect on homophobia.</p><p></p><p>The <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/shut-down-gay-saunas-if-you-want-the-community-taken-seriously-says-lgbt-campaigner-9166599.html#">independent reports</a> that Matthew Hodson from GMFA said:</p><p></p><p>'If someone says that they don't like gays because we have sex with lots of partners, they're probably just searching for an excuse to justify their prejudice. Most people with homophobic attitudes will be uncomfortable with gay men in long-term monogamous relationships too,' </p><p></p><p>Whilst Jason Warriner, clinical director for Terrence Higgins trust said:</p><p></p><p>'It would make it more difficult for organisations like Terrence Higgins Trust to provide safer sex information, supply condoms and deliver HIV testing services among groups at increased risk of sexually transmitted infections and HIV.'</p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.thegayuk.com/magazine/4574334751/OPINION-James-Wharton%27s-View-Shut-Gay-Saunas/7669390">Read what GayUK Columnist Chris Jones had to say</a></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.thegayuk.com/magazine/4574334751/NEWS-Police-Scotland-Ask-For-Condom-Ban-In-Edinburgh-Saunas/6818885">Last year police in Scotland called for a ban on Condoms in saunas</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheGayUK/posts/519257021524555">What do you think? Share your thoughts on our Facebook</a></p><p></p><p> </p>