District 14 City Council Member Pierina Sanchez joined with advocates on Thursday, July 18, to announce the passage of a new law, Int. 435, which will expand access to rapid testing for sexually transmitted infections (STI) across New York City.

While New York City continues to make progress toward ending the HIV epidemic and reducing rates of STI infections, that progress has been uneven—with Black, Latino, low-income, and LGBTQ+ communities facing the starkest inequities and limited access to testing and adequate care, as reported.

“Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, racial inequities in sexually transmitted infection rates have skyrocketed, most harshly impacting New Yorkers at the intersection of Black, Latino, low-income and LGBTQ+ communities,” Sanchez said. “In NYC, Black/African American people and Hispanic/Latino people made up more than 80% of new HIV infections in 2022.”

She added, “The Bronx in particular suffers from the highest rate of HIV infection and deaths across New York State’s 62 counties, the highest rate of chlamydia infections, and the second-highest rates of gonorrhea in the five boroughs. Study after CDC study has shown these inequities are not about risk behaviors but are a direct result of a lack of access to testing, prevention, treatment, and care.”

Sanchez added, That is why the passage of Int. 435 is so important. By expanding access to rapid STI testing in partnership with community-based organizations with the ability to reach the most impacted communities, we are taking an essential step in addressing horrific inequities in STI infection rates and investing in the long-term health of the people of New York City. It is time to ensure everyone has access to the life-saving services they need.”

According to health officials, while New York City (NYC) continues to make progress toward meeting goals to end the HIV epidemic citywide, significant inequities in HIV and STI diagnoses persist. In 2022, Black or Hispanic/Latino individuals in NYC made up 84% of new HIV diagnoses among women and 83% of new HIV diagnoses among men. Racial and ethnic disparities also persist in the distribution of other STIs in NYC. In 2022, the rate of syphilis cases was 2.4 times higher among Black men than White men. 

Health officials said disparities were also found on a socioeconomic level, with rates of gonorrhea and chlamydia increased citywide, but overall infection rates for both STIs disproportionately affected people living in high-poverty neighborhoods, defined as greater than or equal to 30% of the population below the federal poverty level. They said these individuals experienced case rates approximately two times higher than people living in low-poverty neighborhoods. 

For his part, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said, “Just as we saw with COVID-19, communities that have experienced disinvestment in healthcare education and access are the same ones that are disparately impacted by sexually transmitted infections (STIs).” He added, “Intro 435, which the City Council votes on today, will help combat STIs by expanding access to rapid testing services in every borough, prioritizing neighborhoods that are most affected. Increased awareness and treatment availability facilitate and enrich the wellness of our city.”

He went on to say that what he described as “this moment of progress” would not have been possible without the advocates, Sanchez, “or the leadership of Speaker [Adrienne] Adams.” He added, “I thank them all for their efforts, dedication, and partnership on these intertwining issues.”

City officials said that in 2022, The Bronx had the highest rates of chlamydia, being host to four of the ten neighborhoods with the highest rates in NYC, and the second highest rates of gonorrhea in NYC. They said collectively, this underscores the need to increase access to HIV/STI prevention, testing, care, and treatment, and to accelerate efforts to improve HIV/STI-related outcomes for all New Yorkers. Advocates hope the new bill will help address these needs.

“Intro. 435 is crucial to addressing health inequities that prevent vulnerable New Yorkers from accessing potentially life-saving testing in our borough and city,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “I want to thank Council Member Sanchez for her work on this legislation and advocacy to ensure every New Yorker, regardless of their zip code, has the necessary information and support to make informed decisions about their health.”

City officials said the new law will ensure that rapid testing sites for sexually transmitted infections, also known as quickie labs, are available in at least four boroughs in NYC, up from the two sites currently available in Fort Greene, Brooklyn and in Chelsea, Manhattan. Furthermore, Int. 435 includes measures to track the progress in establishing the newest sexual health express clinics and will require an outreach campaign in partnership with organizations with a proven ability to reach the most impacted New Yorkers.

Mohamed Q. Amin, executive director for Caribbean Equality Project, said, “In 2015, the Caribbean Equality Project launched, “Knowing Matters, a Sexual Health and Wellness program” that has been breaking the silence about HIV/AIDS through public education, performing arts, and promoting prevention while offering support and care to the Caribbean LGBTQ+ community living with HIV in New York City.

He said many of the organization’s clients are asylum seekers and low-income and undocumented queer and trans Afro and Indo-Caribbean people of color. “Today, we are telling all New Yorkers, including immigrants and newly arrived migrants, that their health and access to care matters,” Amin said.

“Together, we are sending a powerful message that your neighborhood, immigration status, socio-economic background, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex should not be barriers to health services in NYC,” he added. “Knowing your STI and HIV status matters, and it starts with getting tested.”

City officials said that The Bronx alone has more than 23,000 people living with HIV. This translates to a rate more than three times higher than the overall New York State rate, and the highest within New York City, with rates more than double those of Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.

They said that in 2022, the Bronx also had the highest number of HIV/AIDS deaths in NYC. These rates are especially alarming among Black Non-Hispanic Bronxites, who, officials said, are diagnosed with HIV at almost twice the rate of their Hispanic neighbors and over twice the rate of their White neighbors, and experience the majority of HIV/AIDS deaths in the borough.

They said this worsens when examining transgender and gender-expansive people. They said a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published between 2000 and 2019 pertaining to HIV prevalence among trans people found that trans feminine people are 66 times more likely than the general population to receive an HIV diagnosis and that transmasculine people are nearly seven times more likely than the general population internationally.

They said that collected surveillance data from 2019 showed that 46% of transgender women and 41% of transgender men who received an HIV diagnosis were African American. 

News of the new law was also welcomed by Dr. Marcus Sandling, Clinical Director of Sexual Health, Callen-Lorde, who said, “I commend Councilmember Sanchez, the bill sponsor, and the city council for taking action to increase access to critical healthcare in our communities. With a recent spike in infection rates, access to rapid testing can dramatically curb the spread of sexually transmitted infections and allow for immediate treatment. This approach is a key strategy for safeguarding the health of every New York City resident in the long-term.

The councilwoman concluded, “Advancements in medicine have allowed people to live full lives with HIV, provided that they have access to necessary education, treatment, and care. Through Int 435, the City is taking critical action to address longstanding inequities by ensuring that rapid testing will be available and accessible to communities in need.”