Hochul Facing Criticism Over New Health Care Program For Sex Workers: ‘Magnet For More Prostitutes
Governor Cathy Hochul's administration prepares to fight the "world's oldest profession" by launching a free health care program for sex workers. A move criticized by critics for fueling the campaign to decriminalize prostitution, the Post has learned.
The state health department has awarded two contractors $1 million over two years as part of a new "sex worker health pilot program."
The initiative will provide primary health, sexual and behavioral health, and dental care to sex workers in New York and Western New York.
But some have criticized the Hochul administration for the taxpayer-funded program, which is launched without state legislature approval, saying it encourages vice.
"New York Democrats push for anything that goes against social norms," said Sam Pirozzolo (R-Staten Island).
"What will they have: a prostitution card? This is a 100 percent step to decriminalize prostitution," Pirozolo said, adding that the goal shouldn't be to encourage prostitution but to discourage it.
Laws have been introduced in recent years to decriminalize sex work.
Bill Donahue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, criticized Hochul for his criminal policies and homelessness crisis, adding, "He now wants taxpayers to fund health care for street prostitutes, which could ruin New Yorkers' quality of life."
“This policy will act as a magnet for more prostitutes and will no doubt attract many new prostitutes to work with them. And nobody believes that this will be a "pilot program", it's just the beginning. Nothing is more irresponsible than this" Donohue said.
Under the program, the contractor companies, Callen Lorde and EHS Inc./Evergreen Health, will receive $250,000 annually for two years to provide health care to sex workers through the Department of Health's AIDS Institute.
“The Department of Health is committed to providing positive, compassionate support and quality services to all residents without stigma or discrimination. Access to comprehensive sexual health services improves quality of life for everyone," said a DOH representative.
“People who participate in these programs often face discrimination, violence and threats to their mental well-being. They are more vulnerable to STIs, but lack access to quality routine testing," the statement said.
New York-based Cullen Lord, who currently provides health services to sex workers and the LGBTQ community, did not make immediate comments.
On his website, Cullen-Lord advocates the criminalization of sex work.
“Cullen-Lord strongly and unreservedly supports the health, rights and dignity of sex workers. We oppose laws that disproportionately regulate and criminalize bodily autonomy, sexuality, and sexual and reproductive health and rights. We support the comprehensive decriminalization of sex work as an important step to protect and respect the human rights of all sex workers,” the website states.
“We understand the gray area between sex work and sex trafficking and want our services to be available to all sex workers, regardless of their level of independence in their work,” she added. "We are committed to promoting the rights of sex workers and creating a safe space where sex workers can care without judgement, fear or stigma."
Buffalo-based Evergreen Health also declined to comment.
As The Post previously reported, the Hochul administration is increasing funding for health care facilities to increase medical staffing and care for transgender patients in New York City as part of another two-year pilot program.
Critics called the gender discrimination policy "morally irresponsible".
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