February 28th Is “HIV Is Not A Crime Awareness Day” (HIVNAC).
HIVNAC is an opportunity to amplify the voices of those who have been criminalized based on their HIV status and advocate for HIV criminal law reform.
- As of 2022, 35 states have laws that criminalize HIV
- 25% of the adult LGBTQ+ population lives in a state with an HIV criminalization law.
- Due to racial prejudice and bias, Black people are more likely than their non-Black peers to be arrested and convicted for HIV crimes. They also face longer sentences after conviction.
Check to see if your state has an HIV criminalization law HERE.
No research supports the idea that HIV criminalization laws successfully reduce HIV transmission. The creation of these laws stemmed from fear and ignorance about HIV that fueled a backlash against people living with HIV. HIV criminalization laws discourage testing and seeking treatment, increase stigma, and dissuade people from disclosing their status for fear of prosecution.
President Biden’s updated National HIV/AIDS Strategy calls for the repeal and reform of state HIV criminalization laws as a strategy to reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination and the barriers they pose for people living with HIV. Join us in supporting the passage of the REPEAL HIV Discrimination Act! Introduced by U.S. Representative Baraba Lee, this bill would create the data and infrastructure to assist federal and state governments in modernizing laws and policies and eliminating discrimination concerning people living with HIV AIDS.
