In a system riddled with red tape, few things can be as frustrating as finding good and affordable healthcare. Add being in the adult industry to the mix – which often creates discrimination from providers – it can be next to impossible.
That’s why I wanted to interview someone who is doing things right for healthcare and for those in adult. Jamey Bell, MHS, MSN, NP has been named by PASS as the organization’s first Medical Director and it’s clear why he’s been chosen.
Nonjudgmental, skilled, and being a staunch advocate for those who are frequently excluded from receiving the healthcare they deserve, are just a few of the reasons that come to mind. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Read more about Jamey in the interview below to find out about his passion for helping those who’ve been disenfranchised by a system who should be looking out for them, what advice he has for sex workers on advocating for their healthcare, and what goals he has at PASS that will help keep the industry safe.
Tell us about your background and what brought you to PASS?
I am a board-certified Nurse Practitioner with over 20 years’ experience in LGBTQ health and healthcare for the homeless.
In 2017, I moved from Chicago to Los Angeles after accepting a position with the Los Angeles LGBT Center where I now serve as Medical Director for the Sexual Health Program. I met Ian O’Brien (Executive Director of PASS) at AVN in 2020 and we talked about shared visions; one of which was promoting the LGBT Center as a space place for folks in the adult industry to seek healthcare. When PASS separated from the Free Speech Coalition (FSC) in 2021, I joined the board of directors of PASS. As the only clinician on the board, I would provide guidance and advice on any health-related issues affecting the community. Most recently, I was named Medical Director of PASS which is an incredible honor.
Why are you so passionate about helping those in the adult industry?
From early in my career, I had patients who were involved in various aspects of sex work. I immediately saw many parallels between the LGBTQ community and the sex worker community. First of all, many folks who do sex work identify somewhere within the LGBTQ spectrum and moreover have often faced the similar types of discrimination in healthcare.
I have always believed it’s crucial to feel comfortable and safe disclosing one’s sexual orientation, gender identity and sex work occupation to be provided with the highest quality care. There may be issues specific to the community that are unfamiliar to medical providers outside of this realm. To this day, I continue to hear heartbreaking stories of how adult industry talent have been judged and mistreated in healthcare settings.
As an advocate for social justice in healthcare, I practice in a manner that treats everyone with respect and dignity.
Jamey pictured with Ian O’Brien, Executive Director of PASS at the September 2022 Monkeypox (Mpox) vaccine clinic for the adult industry, Los Angeles
What are some of the most challenging aspects of your new job?
I think the biggest challenge for me will be balancing my full-time position at the LGBT Center with my part-time, volunteer position with PASS. Other than that, the current cluster of cases of mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen) continues to be challenging with somewhat limited and inconclusive data to work with. We always want to do what’s in the best interest of the health and wellness of talent, while minimizing any added financial burden associated with testing.
Do you have any tips for how adult performers can advocate for themselves in regard to their own healthcare?
Most importantly, seek out medical professionals with whom you can feel completely comfortable disclosing your sex work occupation. LGBTQ healthcare clinics or LGBTQ-welcoming providers tend to be the least judgmental in my experience and most likely have cared for patients from the adult community. If that’s not possible in a certain geographic area, then I encourage folks to be out and proud of their work and not be afraid to “fire” a medical provider who gives off any hint of judgment.
Conversely, sometimes medical providers simply need to be educated by their patients; it’s not that the provider is necessarily judgmental, but rather unfamiliar and open and willing to learn from their patients.
What makes this job all worthwhile?
To be entrusted with someone’s greatest gift, their health, is a privilege I never take lightly.
I have the good fortune of doing work I love and when I hear my patients tell me they felt safe in my care, or that a visit with me made them feel better in any way, it’s all worthwhile. I have met some incredible folks in the adult industry, many of whom I’m honored to call friends. This community has welcomed me, and I hope they know I will always be in their corner when it comes to matters of their health and well-being. It really doesn’t get more worthwhile than that.
What are your biggest goals for the year with PASS?
PASS recently formed a medical advisory panel comprised of infectious disease specialists, laboratory testing specialists and folks from the adult industry with health and social work backgrounds. Our goal is do a deep dive of the current testing panel and make recommendations on how to make the panel more cost-effective based on current medical science.
For example, we don’t need to test for acute Hepatitis B every 14 days; we need ensure folks have access to hepatitis vaccinations so that Hepatitis B is not even a concern. The current panel has existed for many years without being re-examined by experts in the field of HIV and STIs.
Another goal is also to closely monitor the situation with Mgen and inform the community of any new data or recommendations with regard to testing and treatment.
To keep up to date on Jamey, follow him on X @JameyNP and Instagram @Jamey_NP.
Learn more about PASS on their website at passcertified.org, and X @PASScertified.
