Tag Archives: HIV decriminalization

HIV Plus Magazine reports: Speaking via a pre-recorded video to attendees of the HIV is Not a Crime Training Academy, Hilary Clinton says if she wins the Presidential election, she will work to reform outdated, stigmatizing HIV criminalization laws. Clinton thanked attendees for their work, saying that efforts like HIV is Not a Crime “lift us all up.” Saying we …

Via the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: A former Lindenwood University wrestler was sentenced Monday to 30 years in prison for recklessly infecting one sex partner with HIV and risking the infection of four others. Jurors in May had found Michael L. Johnson, 23, guilty of five felony charges after testimony that included experts in infectious diseases and the men who had …

Via the Associated Press: The highest U.S. military court’s reversal of a Kansas airman’s aggravated assault conviction for exposing multiple sex partners to HIV at swinger parties in Wichita will effectively end such prosecutions in the armed forces, his attorney said. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces unanimously ruled Monday that prosecutors failed to prove that any …

Via the Associated Press: An HIV-positive man who told a partner that they could safely have unprotected sex should face a misdemeanor reckless endangerment charge, not a felony, New York’s highest court ruled Thursday. The Court of Appeals said Terrance Williams didn’t expose his partner “out of any malevolent desire” to give him the virus that causes AIDS, though he …

Via press release: On World AIDS Day 2014, Lambda Legal urges those tasked with enforcing U.S. criminal law – from governors to prosecutors to police detectives – to halt the criminal prosecution of people based on their HIV status, thereby assisting efforts to combat the misconceptions, fear, stereotypes, discrimination and stigma faced by people living with HIV that fuel the …

Via press release from Lambda Legal: Today the Iowa Supreme Court set aside the conviction of Nick Rhoades, an HIV-positive Iowan who was initially sentenced to 25 years in prison, with required registration as a sex offender, after having a one-time sexual encounter with another man during which they used a condom. In reversing the conviction, the Court recognized that …

Yesterday the Iowa House approved a bill that reforms draconian HIV transmission laws. The bill was approved by the state Senate in February. Current Iowa law makes it a felony to expose someone to HIV without their knowledge whether or not transmission takes place or if condoms had been used. The Iowa Legislature has sent to the governor a measure …

The Iowa Court of Appeals today upheld the conviction of Nick Rhoades, a gay man who did not disclose his HIV+ status to a sex partner he met online in 2008. His partner, who did not become infected, called police after learning of the man’s HIV status even though condoms were used during their encounter. At his trial, Rhoades pleaded …

Via Poz Magazine: The U.S. House Appropriations Committee has passed an HIV criminalization amendment to a funding bill, according to a statement by the Sero Project. U.S. Representative Barbara Lee (D–Calif.) offered the amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2014. The amendment would require the attorney general to initiate a review of federal and state …

Yesterday Rep. Barbara Lee reintroduced a bill that could eventually force the repeal of laws that criminalize exposing others to HIV.  Lee first introduced the bill in 2011.  Lambda Legal has issued a press release in support of the bill. The REPEAL (“Repeal Existing Policies that Encourage and Allow Legal”) HIV Discrimination Act calls for review of all federal and …

Earlier this month the Presidential Advisory Council On HIV/AIDS passed a resolution calling for the federal government to help states repeal HIV criminalization laws. (I missed this story when it first came out.)  Todd Heywood reports at American Independent: While the resolution is only advisory, it recommends that the departments of Justice and Health and Human Services issue guidance and …

Earlier this week investigative reporter Todd Heywood raised questions about Here Comes Honey Boo Boo cast member Lee Thompson (known on the show as Uncle Poodle), who claims to have had a former boyfriend sent to prison for five years for infecting him with HIV. Today ACT UP responded to the story via press release. While it’s unfortunate that Thompson …

Last week the gay blogosphere erupted into divisive discussions upon the news that Here Comes Honey Boo Boo cast member Lee Thompson (who is known on the show as Uncle Poodle) is claiming that he had his former boyfriend charged with HIV transmission and sent to prison for five years after learning that he himself is HIV-positive in May of …

Here Comes Honey Boo Boo cast member Lee Thompson, who is known on the show as Uncle Poodle and who gained praise last year for being out on the program, has revealed that he had his former boyfriend charged with HIV transmission after learning that he himself was HIV-positive last year. I was adamant about getting my HIV status checked …