New York authorities are considering lifting a nearly 40-year ban on sex bathhouses and adult saunas. The initiative has been introduced in the state legislature, reports infohub.kz.
The bill, proposed by State Senator Eric Bottcher and Assemblymember Tony Simone, would replace the current ban with modern regulations. The sponsors argue that approaches to HIV prevention have changed dramatically over the past decades.
“It’s 2026, not 1986. Public health research over the last 30 years clearly shows that the ban on sex bathhouses and adult saunas should be lifted,” Simone said.
Pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP), regular testing, and effective treatment are now available. Therefore, restrictions adopted decades ago no longer align with current medical practice.
Additionally, politicians argue that sex bathhouses have historically been an important part of New York’s LGBTQ community. They say legal operation of such venues would bring them “out of the shadows,” make them safer, and serve 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 was introduced in New York in the mid-1980s, at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. At that time, authorities closed such venues, believing they contributed to the spread of the virus. Since then, the law has remained largely unchanged and has been in effect for about 40 years.
If the initiative is approved, New York would join a number of states that have begun revisiting old restrictions. Minnesota has already lifted a similar ban.