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Showing posts from January 25, 2021

My Public Statement on HIV Decriminalization in Support of SB 1183

My Public Comments on SB 1183: Repeal of HIV Criminalization Laws  https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?211+sum+SB1138 SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED: Sexually transmitted infections; infected sexual battery; repeal.  Repeals the crime of infected sexual battery. The bill also repeals the crime of donating or selling blood, body fluids, organs, and tissues by persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus and the provisions regarding the testing of certain persons for human immunodeficiency virus or hepatitis B or C viruses. The bill contains technical amendments. The criminalization of HIV transmission, exposure and non-disclosure has become a critical preventive strategy to end the HIV epidemic, target interventions to reduce HIV-specific health disparities, ameliorate the effects of stigma and racial inequity in VA law, and thus advance the interests of public health, the Commonwealth   targeted interventions in public health aimed at reducing stigma and racial inequity in VA law