We are astounded that the owners of these commercial sex venues would even attempt to pull a stunt like this just to get out of complying with pretty straightforward and prudent public health regulations safeguarding their patrons. These venues should be an important place for HIV prevention providers to offer testing and outreach services to a high-risk population in order to try and break the chain of infection here in Los Angeles. The print ads for several of these establishments running in the current issues of Frontiers and In Los Angeles Magazines, two respected LA area gay publications, put the lie to the owners' claim that these are not commercial establishments where sex takes place. Michael Weinstein