January 9, 2008 | Health Matters

NY sex clubs may be closed

A six-page memo, titled "Policy Regarding Bathhouses and Other Commercial Sex Venues in New York City," was drafted in wake of an alarming trend among young New York gays. HIV and syphilis rates are up, with three percent of gay men being infected each year.

"In view of this increase it is appropriate to re-evaluate New York's current policies regarding commercial sex venues to see if policy changes could reduce the spread of these infections," wrote Dr Thomas Farley, a former professor at Tulane University's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

There is little regulation for businesses operating as a sex club, although the state health code does ban sex in "any place in which entry, membership, goods or services are purchased."

Four options were presented in the report. First, the city could maintain the status quo and close sites which actively violate city ordinances. Second, sex parties could be shut down "based on circumstantial evidence (that is, without direct observation of sexual activity)".  A third option is to close all sex clubs and bathhouses in the city. Finally, the report suggested the city could regulate the industry more aggressively, with regular on site inspections, outreach and HIV testing.

These are currently only ideas for the city to consider. Rather than acting like the sex police, we suggest they seriously consider option four. This way they can work within the community to encourage behavior changes that could possibly save lives.