News

The U.S. Conference of Mayors passed a resolution calling for the elimination of HIV-specific criminal laws.

The New York State Assembly passed A2736, known as the "No Condoms as Evidence" bill, on Friday, June 20, 2013. The bill (A2736/SB1369) was introduced in the Senate by Velmanette Montgomery and in the Assembly by Barbara Clark.

In Agency for International Development v. Alliance for Open Society Internation, No. 12-10, a case concerning funding under the Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003 for HIV advocacy and relief efforts abroad, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal requirement that funding recipients affirm opposition to sex work.

CHLP members Catherine Hanssens and Rashida Richardson will be attending a forum tonight at 10pm on WWRL (AM 1600) that will focus on HIV Criminalization.  Hosted by Virginia Fields, President and CEO of the National Black Leadership on AIDS.  

The New York City Council held a hearing on June 18 on Resolution No. 710-A, calling on the New York State Legislature to prohibit condom possession from being used as evidence of wrongdoing. CHLP weighed in.

As part of an Hispanic AIDS Forum workshop on sexual health advocacy, The Center for HIV Law & Policy discusses the role of sexual orientation and HIV status in immigration law, and the importance of immigrants' rights in the movement for LGBT and HIV equality.  

Louisiana settled a constitutional challenge to sex offender registration requirements imposed on sex workers that disproportionately affected African American women and gay and transgender individuals. Alexis Agathocleous of the Center for Constitutional Right and attorney Andrea J. Ritchie of Streetwise and Safe litigated the case on behalf of Women With a Vision and affected sex workers.

Proposed federal legislation would encourage states to repeal statutes that are based on outdated fears, according to a June 10, 2013 editorial from the Vermont-based Valley News.

HIV criminalization has become a global human rights issue because it contributes to stigma and discrimination, according to a syndicated June 10, 2013 article by Susan Abram.

Nushawn Williams served twelve years and has remained behind bars for another three, waiting to see if he will be civilly committed for life because, while 19 years old, he had sex while HIV positive.