City Council Votes to Expand Rapid STI Testing, Require Transparency on Dress Codes

On July 18, the City Council passed several pieces of legislation, including a bill to expand the city’s rapid STI testing sites and a separate effort calling for greater transparency about school dress codes in New York City, in light of concerns that existing policies have had a disproportionately negative impact on LGBTQ students and students of color.

The legislative effort aimed at improve rapid screening of STIs New York City’s infrastructure would require the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to offer rapid STI testing services in at least four of the city’s five boroughs. The Health Department would determine the location of rapid testing sites and report to the Council on the rationale for those particular locations, according to the City Council. The Health Department would conduct an outreach campaign to inform community members about the location and availability of these sites. The city would be required to report back to the Council every three years on the availability of rapid STI testing.

The legislation was led by City Councilwoman Pierina Sanchez, who said in a written statement that inequities in STI rates since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic have had “the harshest impact”[ed] “New Yorkers at the Intersection of Black, Latino, Low-Income, and LGBTQ+ Communities.” It was co-sponsored by dozens of city lawmakers, including LGBTQIA+ Caucus co-chairs Erik Bottcher of Manhattan and Tiffany Cabn of Queens.

It took years for the city to get back on track with STI testing after several sexual health clinics closed amid the pandemic. Two of the city’s sexual health clinics, Crown Heights and Riverside, remain closed, according to the city’s website. Rapid tests are currently only available at two clinics, which is less than half the number of clinics that would be open under the new legislation.

In 2022, New York City saw a slight increase in new HIV infections among men who have sex with men. While not exactly the same number as new infections, there were 1,624 new diagnoses in 2022, 79% of which were among men. Of those, 62% were among men who have sex with men, and within that group, 82% were Black or Latino, according to the city’s health department. Meanwhile, syphilis cases have increased 74% since 2017, while gonorrhea has increased 28%, according to 2021 national data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In New York City, chlamydia rates among men increased 13.2% between 2020 and 2021, while gonorrhea rates increased 12.9%.

“By expanding access to rapid STI testing in partnership with community-based organizations that can reach the hardest-hit communities, we are taking a critical step toward addressing the terrible inequities in STI infection rates and investing in the long-term health of New York City residents,” Sanchez said in a written statement. “It’s time to ensure everyone has access to the lifesaving services they need.”

On the same day, the Board approved a joint effort to address concerns about school dress codes and the unfair impact those policies can have on LGBTQ students and students of color. One of those two initiatives was a bill A bill sponsored by Manhattan and Bronx Councilwoman Diana Ayala would require the Department of Education to post dress code policies online and report on dress code policies at Department of Education schools for five years, according to the council. The report would also have to state whether schools have dress codes and provide data on violations and penalties.

The uneven dress code policies in New York City public schools have led to disproportionate sanctions and consequences for students who simply speak out, Ayala said in a written statement. Students and families should have the ability to easily access any school’s dress code in a central location on the Department of Education’s website and determine whether their school’s policies are truly non-discriminatory and in line with DOE guidelines. I hope this transparency will lead us toward consistent, inclusive, and equitable policies across our school system that do not unfairly target our students.

The Council also adopted a separate but related law resolution The Council called on the city’s Department of Education to establish an inclusive school dress code policy that is Title IX compliant and considers diverse cultures, gender expressions, and body diversity. The resolution was championed by Councilwoman Althea Stevens of the Bronx.

Council Speaker Adrienne Adams praised city lawmakers for taking steps to strengthen rapid STI testing and address school dress code policies.

“Expanding health services to meet the needs of New Yorkers in their communities has always been a priority for this Council,” Adams said in a written statement. “With today’s legislation, more residents will soon have better access to rapid STI testing that can prevent unnecessary spread and transmission. The Council is also taking steps to help address inequities in our public school systems’ dress code policies, a concern raised by youth advocates through the Council’s Young Women’s Initiative 2.0. By requiring greater transparency and calling for inclusion in dress codes, our legislation can help advance anti-discrimination protections that support all students.”

Gay City News has reached out to the mayor's office for comment and is awaiting a response.