NY Gov. Kathy Hochul allots $1M for sex-worker health care, which includes dental care

New York Governor Kathy Hochul will make $1 million in public funds available to provide health care to sex workers over a span of two years. The money provides funding to two organizations for primary and sexual care, and even dental care, to potential prostitutes.

According to the New York Post, the state Department of Health awarded $1 million in public funding to companies Callen-Lorde and EHS Inc./Evergreen Health, providing each with $250,000 for two years.

The funding will be used to provide sex workers in New York City and Western New York with primary health care, sexual and behavioral health care, and dental care. The program, which was set in motion without the approval of the state legislature, was referred to as the “sex worker health pilot program.”

“The Health Department remains committed to providing affirming, compassionate support and quality services to all residents without stigma and discrimination. Access to comprehensive sexual health services improves the quality of life for everyone,” a Department of Health spokesperson said in a statement to the New York Post.

“Individuals participating in this program often experience discrimination, violence, and threats to their emotional well-being. They are more vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections, yet lack access to quality routine screening,” the statement added.

One of the benefiting organizations, Callen-Lorde, has described itself as one of the "global leaders in LGBTQ+ health care."

On its website, the organization endorses the decriminalization of prostitution: “Callen-Lorde firmly and without reservation supports the health, rights, and dignity of sex workers. We are opposed to laws that disproportionately regulate and criminalize bodily autonomy, sexuality and sexual and reproductive health and rights. We support the total decriminalization of sex work as an important step to protect and respect the human rights of all sex workers,” the website stated.

The organization also celebrated June 2023 legislation signed by Hochul to declare New York state a sanctuary for those who have illegally given children sex-change drugs, hormones, or surgeries.

"New York State once again sets itself apart from other states that are waging misinformation wars against the transgender community and ignoring scientific evidence to hurt transgender adolescents and their families, as well as attacking the doctor-patient relationship," said Dr. Uri Belkind and Aruna Krishnakumar, who are involved with adolescent health at the organization.

“What are they going to have, a prostitution card?" asked Republican state Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo. "This is a 100 percent step in the direction to decriminalize prostitution,” added Pirozzolo, who said the goal should be to discourage, not encourage, prostitution.

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