CHLP Guest Column in Louisiana's The Advocate Argues Against Bill Criminalizing Health Conditions
In an op-ed published in Louisiana's largest daily newspaper, The Advocate, CHLP Executive Director S. Mandisa Moore-O’Neal and HIV advocate Millicent Foster speak out against a proposed Louisiana bill that would have criminalized nearly every adult in the state for knowing if they had a sexually transmitted infection (STI). They argue that the legislation, HB76, which sought to make it a felony to knowingly expose another person to an incurable STI, would not improve public health but instead worsen stigma and discourage testing and treatment.
They highlight that Louisiana already ranks among the highest in the nation for STI rates, including HIV, syphilis, and gonorrhea. They warn that punitive laws like the proposed bill fail to address the root causes of these epidemics, such as lack of access to healthcare and comprehensive sex education. Instead, they often disproportionately target marginalized communities, including Black people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people living in poverty, while doing little to reduce transmission rates.
Moore-O’Neal and Foster call for lawmakers to abandon criminalization efforts and invest in proven public health strategies such as increased access to testing, treatment, and education. They emphasize that building trust in healthcare systems and reducing stigma are essential to addressing Louisiana’s STI crisis effectively and equitably.
