More HIV Criminalization: The Enforcement of Out-of-Date Laws
HIV criminalization is the enforcement of out-of-date laws that criminalize People Who Live With HIV (PWLWH) for otherwise legal conduct regardless of transmission occurring, proof of intent, viral suppression, and in many cases without regard to proof of disclosure. According to the Williams Institute, more than two-thirds of U.S. states and territories have enacted HIV criminal laws, and are most prevalent in communities disproportionately impacted by HIV for Black and Brown Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), women, LGBTQ+ communities, migrant and immigrant communities, sex workers and people who have experienced incarceration. There is no study or data to support that these laws prevent or lower HIV transmission rates and they work against public health efforts to prevent, test, and treat HIV. And yet, many laws disregard this fact. Lawmakers use debunked science from the onset of the HIV epidemic to justify these unjust laws.
We at SisterLove would like you to join our coalition against HIV criminalization by signing our petition telling your state and federal lawmakers that HIV is not a crime. Your support is essential to our mission of educating the public on HIV, as well as emphasize your personal commitment to raising awareness to show the impact these laws have on people living with HIV.
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