Staff Reports
New York Governor Kathy Hochul is facing criticism for allocating $1 million in taxpayer funds towards providing healthcare services to prostitutes. The funds will be used to support primary health care, sexual and behavioral health care, and dental care for individuals in the sex work industry as part of the state’s new “sex worker health pilot program.” Critics argue that this move encourages vice and is a step towards decriminalizing prostitution in New York. They also highlight that Hochul is implementing the program without the approval of the New York State Legislature.
Republican Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo is among those who have criticized Hochul’s decision, stating that it promotes and normalizes prostitution. He believes the focus should be on discouraging the practice rather than supporting it with taxpayer money. On the other hand, a spokesperson from the Department of Health defends the program, stating that it aims to provide comprehensive sexual health services without stigma or discrimination.
Hochul is launching this taxpayer-funded program without the approval of the New York State Legislature.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul Promptly Slammed for Allocating $1 Million to Free Health Care for Prostitutes https://t.co/lIBOPIfvf2
— ❣️Anne❣️ (@USA_Anne711) July 25, 2023
Criticism towards Hochul extends beyond the allocation of funds for sex worker healthcare. Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, criticizes Hochul’s previous soft-on-crime policies and the state’s homelessness crisis. He argues that funding healthcare for prostitutes will only attract more individuals to engage in such activities, further deteriorating the quality of life for New Yorkers.
Furthermore, one of the organizations awarded the funds, Callen-Lorde, supports the decriminalization of sex work and sees it as a human rights issue. However, it is important to note that Hochul implemented the program without the consent of the state legislature or the taxpayers, questioning the legitimacy of the program’s support.
This controversy surrounding Hochul’s decision to allocate taxpayer funds to support sex worker healthcare comes amid a larger debate on gender-affirming care for transgender individuals. President Joe Biden condemns opposition to this care, decrying it as hateful and cruel. However, critics argue that these procedures, including irreversible mutilation of children’s bodies, such as double mastectomies and castrations, are extreme and immoral.
Overall, this issue raises concerns about the use of taxpayer money and the potential consequences of funding controversial healthcare programs. It is clear that this decision by Governor Hochul has sparked heated debate and is receiving significant backlash from conservatives.
