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HIV Criminalization: A Call to Action
HIV criminalization is the enforcement of out-of-date laws that criminalize People Who Live With HIV (PWLWH) for otherwise legal conduct regardless of transmission occurring, proof of intent, viral suppression, and in many cases without regard to proof of disclosure.
According to the Williams Institute, more than two-thirds of U.S. states and territories have enacted HIV criminal laws, and are most prevalent in communities disproportionately impacted by HIV for Black and Brown Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), women, LGBTQ+ communities, migrant and immigrant communities, sex workers and people who have experienced incarceration. There is no study or data to support that these laws prevent or lower HIV transmission rates and they work against public health efforts to prevent, test, and treat HIV. And yet, many laws disregard this fact. Lawmakers use debunked science from the onset of the HIV epidemic to justify these unjust laws.
We at SisterLove are dedicated to fighting against HIV criminalization and we need your help. Join our coalition by signing our petition and telling your state and federal lawmakers that HIV is not a crime. Your support is essential to our mission of educating the public on HIV and raising awareness of the impact these laws have on people living with HIV.
In addition to our advocacy work, SisterLove also recognizes and honors the strength and resilience of those living with HIV.
We recently held our Leading Women's Society Gala on World AIDS Day 2022, where we honored over 200 women living with HIV. We also launched the Healthy Love Bus, a mobile clinic that provides HIV testing and education to communities in need.
As we continue to fight against HIV criminalization, we also celebrate the Black HerStory of HIV and the 8 Black women who have led the fight to end the epidemic.
