On Tuesday, July 9, 2019, Michael Johnson, a former college wrestler imprisoned for nearly six years for the alleged failure to disclose his HIV status before sex, left prison to restart his life.
A grassroots action--a people’s political march with no corporate floats and no police involvement--to highlight the social and political battles that continue to be fought and to shine a light on the most marginalized members of the queer community.
On May 3, CHLP Staff Attorney Jada Hicks participated in an HIV criminalization panel discussion as part of the educational programming for GK Callahan’s exhibit, Mapping Stigma: An Archive of the Contracting An Issue Project, at Leedy-Volkous Art Center.
CHLP Executive Director Catherine Hanssens spoke with The Appeal about how criminalizing consensual sexual contact is a “pointless, dangerous and stigmatizing response” to a public health issue, and how reform efforts must end the “irrational and unconscionable” use of sex offender registries.
CHLP Staff Attorney Jada Hicks spoke with Filter magazine about how the Florida law does have some positive reforms but does not decriminalize those most affected by not addressing existing sentencing enhancements that are leveled against sex workers who are HIV positive.
