22nd
The Crime of Being HIV Positive
Hundreds of Americans have been arraigned on charges of alleged nondisclosure of HIV statues or transmission of HIV and many have served time in jail — most often in cases where HIV was not transmitted, experts say. Though laws vary by state, there are currently 33 states that criminalize HIV exposure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…HIV advocates and legal experts are trying to get these laws off the books, saying they do far more harm than good. The laws deliberately discriminate against a specific group of people, they lead to innocent people serving jail time, and are often based on an outdated understanding of how HIV is transmitted…
Powerful video documenting one woman’s story of being prosecuted for being HIV positive. HIV is not a crime. For more information on HIV criminalization, check out: Sero Project and Positive Justice Project
