Homepage

Black woman at a protest holding a sign with a raised fist painted on it

Making positive justice possible.

CHLP is an abolitionist legal and policy organization that envisions and works for a world where HIV and other stigmatized health conditions are no longer criminalized but met with compassion and the resources to thrive.

Search Our Resources
Find Policies In Your State

Introducing the CHLP 2023 Impact Report

Impact Report 2023 over duotone image of protester holding a sign

View a pdf of the 2023 Impact Report.

This first-of-its-kind report from CHLP highlights our work to manifest change and advance our mission throughout 2023. Our first year under the leadership of Executive Director S. Mandisa Moore-O’Neal was one of transformation and grounded reassessments during which CHLP:

  • Adopted a new mission, vision, and unapologetically abolitionist framework that has become a model for the HIV justice movement;
  • Celebrated the DOJ findings that HIV criminal laws violate the ADA, based on an innovative legal strategy developed by CHLP;
  • Challenged the CDC on Molecular HIV Surveillance policy and created a roadmap for advocates on how to address MHS with lawmakers; 
  • Demanded improvements to the Older Americans Act while working to develop a legal primer for people living and aging with HIV, and much more.

The vital partnership of our friends, colleagues, and funders is crucial to this and the important work that lies ahead. Thank you for your continued support.

 

In the News

The words "Our Work Continues … the Political Terrain is Steeper" and below a black and white photo of fists raised all on a white background.
November 8, 2024

Our Work Continues … the Political Terrain is Steeper

S. Mandisa Moore-O'Neal (she/her)
Executive Director, CHLP
Let me be extremely clear: We will not be deterred or derailed. Our work continues and we will continue to do it well and offer a sound assessment of the political conditions we are in as a part of the legal and policy analysis so many have come to rely on and expect from us.
Red and purple background with white type reading We've Got This. We've Got Us. and the CHLP Logo
November 7, 2024

A Message from Organizations Committed to Advancing LGBTQIA2S+ Freedom Beyond the 2024 Elections

Our LGBTQIA2S+ community has risen again and again to meet moments that have challenged our rights, our humanity, and our freedom.

Aerial photo of Louisiana state capitol with words Louisiana seeks reentry waiver approval at the top.
November 1, 2024

Louisiana Applies to Improve Reentry Healthcare, Incorporating Comments from CHLP and Allies

CHLP, the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR), and the Capitol Area Reentry Program worked with CHLPI on public comments on The State of Louisiana Section 1115 Waiver Application to The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Read the CHLP Blog
See All News
Illustration with red and black tones of a Black woman looking intently at the viewer with other Black people standing behind her

Visionary Justice

If you share CHLP's vision of radical, transformative, and Visionary Justice, please donate to our fundraising campaign. The entire CHLP team thanks you for your solidarity and support. We cannot create the world we all deserve without you! 

Donate

What We Do

Positive Justice Project

A national coalition of organizations and individuals working to end HIV criminalization.

Sexual Health Literacy

Working for the rights of youth in state custody to comprehensive, LGBTQ-affirming sexual health care.

Molecular HIV Surveillance

Protecting the privacy and rights of people living with HIV and from the misuse of molecular surveillance data.

Recent Webinars

Kill the Bill: Navigating Through Legislative Decisions and Mobilizing Advocates
Event

Kill the Bill: Navigating Through Legislative Decisions and Mobilizing Advocates

Aging and HIV webinar logo graphic with headshots
Event

Aging & HIV: Webinar Discusses CHLP's New Legal Primer

Event Logo graphic with headshots
Event

The DOJ Findings on the ADA in Tennessee, Part 2: How Advocates are Applying the Findings

What's the Hoopla About HIPAA event graphic with speaker headshots
Event

What’s the Hoopla about HIPAA?

Event logo graphic with event title, date and presenter headshots.
Event

The DOJ Findings on the ADA in Tennessee, Part 1: Exploring the Facts

Let's Talk Abolition Logo Graphic
Event

Let's Talk Abolition: Pride Edition

See More Events
Lawyers hands with law books

Find Laws In Your State

Information on HIV criminalization laws and policies in every state based on research for CHLP's Sourcebook on State and Federal HIV Criminal Law and Practice.

Go to Our Policy Map

Featured CHLP Publications

HIV Criminalization in the United States Logo Graphic
Resource

HIV Criminalization in the United States: A Sourcebook on State and Federal HIV Criminal Law and Practice, CHLP (updated January 2024)

January 31, 2024
PJP UPDATE Logo for new website
Resource

The PJP Update, Positive Justice Project (September 2022)

September 12, 2022
Map infographic displaying stats related to HIV Criminalization in the US
Resource

Map: HIV Criminalization in the United States, CHLP (updated 2022)

June 28, 2022
Timeline of State Reforms and Repeals of HIV Criminal Laws
Resource

Timeline of State Reforms and Repeals of HIV Criminal Laws, CHLP (updated 2022)

June 28, 2022
Viral Hepatitis Map
Resource

Map: An Overview of States Criminalizing Viral Hepatitis, CHLP (updated May 2022)

May 18, 2022
U.S. HIV Laws and Prosecutorial Tools Chart Thumbnail
Resource

U.S. HIV Laws and Prosecutorial Tools, CHLP (updated 2022)

April 4, 2022
Browse All CHLP Publications

Latest Resources

CHLP's National Resource Center on HIV, Infectious Disease, Sexual Health and Identity is a comprehensive database of materials to inform and support sound laws and advocacy around stigmatized identities.

White Papers and Reports

HIV Criminalization in Indiana: Evaluation of Transmission Risk, Williams Institute UCLA School of Law, July 2024

Indiana has six laws that criminalize people living with HIV, spanning both the public health and criminal codes. This study evaluates whether these laws reflect current understandings of HIV science and criminalize conduct that poses negligible or no risk of transmitting HIV.
White Papers and Reports

Systemic and Operational Challenges Hinder Efforts to Ensure HIV Care for Medicaid Enrollees, OEI (2024)

This report by the Office of the Inspector General was conducted by interviewing select state Medicaid agencies and comprehensive, risk-based Medicaid managed care plans to explore challenges that contribute to gaps in HIV care and potential actions that could improve their ability to ensure that

Guides (Legal or Medical)

How to Recognize and Address Discrimination, Legal Action Center (2020)

This booklet is for people with HIV, AIDS, a substance use disorder and/or a conviction record who want to know their rights to be free of discrimination.

See All Resources

Support CHLP

More than 90% of every donation we receive goes directly to support our advocacy programs on behalf of people living with HIV.

Donate