OPEN HOUSE
OUR NEW PROJECT
WHY A GAY CLINIC / WHAT WE OFFER / A WISH
Translation
by: Steve
The business is in a new phase now, after the misfortune of EAGLEbarcelona,
I've been looking for a new activity, and as I mentioned before, I wanted it
to fit in with my current life-plan.
Why a gay clinic?
There are various reasons:
- Steve, my business partner, creator of the idea and an excellent doctor.
He deserves total confidence and mi support.
- I relieve I can make a great contribution to Open House, via mi experience
in the business world and through my know-how of the gay community in
Madrid.
- I myself have a lengthy personal experience as being HIV positive and
client of many medical departments, and have missed exactly that which Steve
and I offer at Open House. It's more than just a business, there is a
personal involvement here too.
- I also have had the experience of having consumed drugs, prostitution, I
have lived through addictions, sexual problems, chronic illness, I think I
can and know I really want to help.
- Little by little I want to spend less time in the nightlife world and work
somewhere that will allow me to enjoy the night instead of seeing it as
work-time.
What we offer:
- Environment: A comfortable and friendly space, where doctors give you the
time you need to explore all your worries.
- Speed: HIV and syphilis results in just 15 minutes
- Technology: HIV tests with a window period of just 3 days
- Confidentiality: Tests that leave no trace (we can take blood from your
feet if necessary!), you don't need to give us your real name. No need to
tell us what has happened to you, and anything you do stays in-house.
- Less crap: Barebackers, habitual drug users, rentboys, etc, we assure you
treatment and tests without prejudice, advice and information to improve
your health without changing your habits, but at the same time, if you are
willing, we'll point out the advantages of making changes and leave the
decision up to you.
- Support: Please don't hesitate to get in touch with me on any matter
related to drugs, sex, fisting, S&M, HIV, medication, STDs etc...., if need
be, we will find you the right qualified person, and we will organise
conferences or talks; also we will put together a GayFriendly Health Map
where you can get information about private and public health services,
charity organisations related to healthcare.
- What we're looking for: at present we are looking for doctors who fit in
with our objectives, psychologists, dermatologists, proctologist, urologist
etc, to address your needs as they arise. Currently we have Steve Chapman,
expert on all kinds of STDs, from skin complaints to the whole spectrum of
infections.
A wish
That you need to visit us as little as posible, and if you do, that you get
better as soon as possible and with the best possible service.
Thanks
Alberto Uriarte
Goodbye,
Barcelona
ALBERTO SAYS
FAREWELL TO CUSTOMERS AND FRIENDS
Translation
by: Blair
WHAT'S ACTUALLY
HAPPENED
On
Thursday the 22nd February I was informed in writing by
Barcelona Council that the Eagle bar would have to cease
trading on March 12th. On that day the police
sealed the premises. They gave the following reasons for
doing this:
the
type of business activity the Eagle provided was not in
compliance with those permitted by our licence. I bought
this license when I took out the lease for the bar in 1998
and the licence was for the running of a bar-caf�.
The Council considers that there exist two discrepancies
between the Eagle�s activity and the conditions of
the license; the reproduction of recorded music and the
existence of spaces set aside for non-professional sexual
activity for customers, this latter not being covered by
the conditions of the license.
The
inspection must be understood as part of a wider programme
of inspection by the Council to ensure that all bars are
operating according to the conditions of their licenses.
In the past year 256 bars have been closed as a result.
"EL
PAIS" informed about it. You can read it.
Unfortunately,
after investigating various possibilities and taking
professional advice, as well as consulting with the
bar�s wider consortium, it will be impossible for
me to obtain a different license from that currently held
by the Eagle�s premises. Neither does any type of
license appear to exist which would permit us to remain in
business offering our current conditions. The Council�s
suggestion is that I find premises with a music license or
one with a license permitting professional sexual services.
Such services could indeed be covered by a license.
I
have never intended to break any law, and it would have
been much easier if by-laws existed which anticipated the
kind of services we offered in the Eagle.
THE
DECISION
I
am very sorry to have to say that an epoch has ended, and
not waste time searching for a new site for the
EagleBarcelona. This is because:
>>
The
new licensing by-laws leave me unable to continue running
a bar offering the same services with any degree of
certainty of being able to do so legally.
>>
To
start all over again from the beginning demands a great
deal of work, enthusiasm and effort. Neither Josep
nor myself feel we are at an age when this can done
lightly and that we now see the future in rather different
terms.
>>
There
seems very little or no chance of being able to build a
new EagleBarcelona that was a patch on the old one.
>>
We
feel it�s the time to retire, while the going was
good. We want to leave a fond memory in people�s
minds and hand the torch on to a new generation who, if
they can, can dedicate themselves to creating a new space
for our community and, why not?, make a living out it,
too!
THE FUTURE
For
me, this isn�t the end, but rather the beginning of
a new phase of my life. In fact, I actually feel that much
freer to live more according to my years and to enjoy my
personal life. I think I can safely say the same for Josep.
What we have learnt and become we will take with us and
always have. Our staff have learnt so much that I am
confident that they will successfully go on to other jobs
and that they will do so even better for their time with
me and the Eagle. Sadly, there is now a community of
�shared interests� which has lost its home
in Barcelona. This is a fact. I believe this is an ideal
moment for the birth some kind of association, perhaps.
Those who might want to create such an association could
count my blessing to take it forward. If not, sooner or
later someone will take up the challenge and do so with my
support and best wishes.
THANKS
I�m not going to set down a list; you all know me
and I know you�ll understand.
Those
who had the idea
Those who work for now have who have done so in the past
Those who helped me
Those who shared the dreams
To the friends
To the customers
To all of
you who came along
I
COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU!
Thank
you to you all.
Ad�u,
Barcelona
Goodbye,
Barcelona
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