News

On December 1, 2009, World AIDS Day, the Center for HIV Law and Policy is releasing a groundbreaking report and guide on the medical and legal issues surrounding HIV and pregnancy in the United States. The guide, HIV and Pregnancy: Medical and Legal Considerations for Women and Their Advocates, makes it clear that persistent beliefs among medical, social service, and justice system professionals that women with HIV should avoid childbearing are unsupported by medical science or the law. The guide is the first of its kind, and charts the intersecting medical, ethical, and legal issues that can arise for HIV-positive women who are or may become pregnant.

CHLP is proud to announce that Jody Marksamer, Esq., is CHLP's newest issue specialist. Marksamer joins the CHLP team as an expert in issues affecting LGBTQ youth in child welfare and juvenile justice settings.

Dr. Aronow brings significant expertise in HIV and neurology and a unique perspective on patient needs and rights.

CHLP's Executive Director, Catherine Hanssens, presented on the creation and use of CHLP's online Resource Bank.

Regan Hofmann, POZ editor-in-chief, recently sat down with Catherine Hanssens to discuss the criminalization of HIV exposure and the recent spate of prosecutions, a snapshot of which is included in a list recently prepared by CHLP.

On August 11, U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken tentatively approved a settlement that ends SSA’s policy of denying or suspending benefits based on an arrest warrant alone.

Last week, the International Center for Research for Women released a report containing analyses and recommendations from its 2009 “Sex, Rights and the Law in a World with AIDS” conference in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

A U.S. Army veteran denied a security job with a U.S. State Department contractor because he is HIV-positive has reached a settlement with the State Department that includes policy changes preventing people living with HIV from being automatically barred from working under State Department contracts in the future.

On August 21, 2009, a coalition of advocates representing women living with HIV called on the Senate and House of Representatives to address the urgent need for health care reform that specifically addresses the needs of all women affected by HIV/AIDS.

On July 16, 2009, the U.S. Department of Justice issued an announcement and fact sheet unambiguously stating that exclusion of people with HIV/AIDS from occupational training and trades that require state licensing violates federal antidiscrimination law.