HIV Laws Need An Update

Proposed federal legislation would encourage states to repeal HIV-specific criminal laws that are based on outdated fears, according to a June 10, 2013 editorial from the Vermont-based Valley News. The Repeal HIV Discrimination Act of 2013, introduced by U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), would encourage state governments to repeal laws that are based on unfounded fears. As the editorial notes, the Center for HIV Law and Policy has documented and monitored dozens of cases in which people have been charged for criminally transmitting HIV by biting or spitting (even though these activities do not transmit), or convicted of failing to disclose HIV status to a sexual partner (even if the virus was not transmitted). On June 6, the Los Angeles Times also endorsed the Repeal HIV Discrimination Act.

The editorial is available at: http://www.vnews.com/opinion/6908841-95/editorial-hiv-laws-need-an-update

The Los Angeles Times editorial is available at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-hiv-state-laws-review-20130606,0,6253519.story