Last week Nick Rhoades, Robert Suttle and I attended a meeting of the
UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) in Geneva, Switzerland.
Nick and Robert both spoke eloquently about their criminalization experiences. Robert's Louisiana driver's license has the words "SEX OFFENDER" in red capital letters underneath his photograph. He wore it on his jacket, to prompt conversation and make the point about how people with HIV are being criminalized and stigmatized in the U.S.
I wasn't as eloquent as either Robert or Nick, but I was able to make the point about how criminalization statutes are creating a viral underclass in the law.
Nick and Robert both spoke eloquently about their criminalization experiences. Robert's Louisiana driver's license has the words "SEX OFFENDER" in red capital letters underneath his photograph. He wore it on his jacket, to prompt conversation and make the point about how people with HIV are being criminalized and stigmatized in the U.S.
I wasn't as eloquent as either Robert or Nick, but I was able to make the point about how criminalization statutes are creating a viral underclass in the law.
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Comments on Sean Strub's blog entry "Speaking at a Meeting of the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) in Geneva, Switzerland "
Impressive all!
It is very sad for what happened to Nick & Robert. Now the fear part has kicked again as we can find ourselves in jails. I hope this criminalization is revoked. Thanks to Sean Strub for the step you are taking. It is unfair to stigmatize and label these people as sex offenders- This is so inhuman and it's not human rights!
Hi everyone at POZ.COM
I'm going to be doing my Masters of Arts (Research) on the issue of Criminalization of HIV transmission in Australia.
"Criminalization of HIV Transmission : An issue of Public Health or Moral Panic"
Wish me luck!
This is not simply an issue confronting the HIV community in the United States. It's global
I argue,its a step backwards and increases Stigma already suffered by the wider HIV Community. The Political Establishment suffer from a lack of knowledge on the issue post HAART. As medical evidence shows with more people on treatment the lower the Viral Load , thus the lower the infectious rate.
Keep up the Fight!
(Sydney, Australia)