New York authorities are considering lifting a nearly 40-year ban on sex bathhouses and adult saunas. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
According to the New York Post, the bill was introduced by State Senator Eric Bottcher and Assembly Member Tony Simone. They propose to repeal the existing ban and replace it with modern regulation. According to the authors of the initiative, the approach to HIV prevention has changed dramatically over the past decades.
"It's 2026, not 1986. Research in public health over the last 30 years clearly shows that the ban on sex bathhouses and adult saunas should be lifted," Simone said.
PrEP, PEP, regular testing, and effective treatment have emerged. Therefore, restrictions adopted decades ago no longer align with modern medical practice.
Moreover, politicians believe that sex bathhouses have historically been an important part of New York's LGBT community. In their view, legal operation of such establishments would bring them "out of the shadows," make them safer, and use them as platforms for disease prevention and visitor education.
However, the initiative has already sparked controversy. Opponents of the bill argue that such establishments could facilitate the spread of infections and encourage risky sexual behavior.
The ban on sex bathhouses in New York was introduced in the mid-1980s, at the height of the HIV and AIDS epidemic. At that time, authorities closed such establishments, believing they contributed to the spread of the virus. Since then, the law has remained virtually unchanged and has been in effect for about 40 years.
If the initiative is approved, New York will join the ranks of states that have begun to reconsider old restrictions. Previously, Minnesota had already lifted a similar ban.
Earlier, Kursiv LifeStyle wrote about where citizens and foreigners with HIV can receive therapy in Kazakhstan.