Disabled Danish Man Asks Government to Pay for Hookers

In Denmark, local authorities compensate disabled people when they incur any extra costs because of their disability preventing them being able to access necessities. Torben Hansen, who has cerebral palsy, thinks that the law should apply to his being able to satisfy his sex drive. Hansen has cerebral palsy that severely affects his speech and mobility. But his disability evidently doesn’t affect his mobility in the bedroom. Hansen told BBC World Service’s Outlook program, "I want them to cover the extra expenses for the prostitutes to get here, because it's a lot more expensive getting them to come to my home rather than me going to a brothel. It's a necessity for me. I can't move very well, and it's impossible for me to go there."

Prostitution is not illegal in Denmark as long as it is not a woman’s sole source of income. Hansen attended a course at a social center where he and other disabled people were taught that if they had needs, they could "do something about it." So shortly after the course, he started seeing a prostitute. "I had a strong desire to have sex, and I think I gained the confidence around that time to get the call girls to come to me," Hansen said. "Since then I've had a lot of escort girls coming to see me—but I've also had girlfriends." Hansen’s last girlfriend died in 2003 after a six-month courtship. Shortly after her death, Hansen resumed his arrangements with ladies of the evening.

According to Hansen, research into the problems experienced by disabled people has shown that not being sexually fulfilled can lead to "frustration and aggression." And since his disability means he cannot go see hookers on his own, he believes the government should absorb the cost of them having to come to his house. "It's unfair to deny people with disabilities the right to a sex life," he added. He also says that there are many people who agree with him. "Most of it's been positive, but I've read some very angry letters and comments in the papers... a lot of politicians have been critical, especially women politicians against prostitution."

One of those women politicians, Kristen Brosboel, is a Social Democrat member of the Danish Parliament. "Obviously I recognize that he has a problem that people without a disability may not have - but I disagree with the fact that we should support his visits with a prostitute with tax money," Brosboel told Outlook. "We also spend tax money on trying to prevent prostitution, helping women out of prostitution—and we have a clear policy that this is a social problem that we want to solve. So I think that's very much in contradiction with spending tax money on requiring prostitutes." Hansen’s case is currently being considered.