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maybe this already exists Jennifer. there are 34 states that still currently have HIV criminalization laws and it’s been proven to be an ineffective, outdated, and racist public health intervention that only harm communities. https://twitter.com/JRubinBlogger/status/1312225298042232833
some background of HIV criminalization laws: through the Ryan White CARE Act (a ctd. driving force for getting communities treatment and prevention) the U.S. required states to implement these laws before they got federal funding.
though we have advancements such "U=U" (undetectable = untransmittable; 0% of transmission for those who adhere to treatment), PrEP (an HIV prevention drug), and testing, we still have these laws exist in its original outdated form.
we also know that people will less likely get tested in fear of persecution. a study in 2018 concluded the fear of knowing their status could lead to an 18.5% increase in HIV transmission. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0193269
in addition, people living with HIV who are in criminalization states fear seeking treatment, which is not only a detriment to their own health, but also to public health, because, as a result, HIV continues to spread within communities.
and finally, in 2020 we know that HIV is no longer a death sentence. People living with HIV live long and healthy lives, and are actually more in tune with their own physical health.
so in short; stop criminalizing disease. it is an anti-science approach that only breeds bias and stigma and disproportionately impacts marginalized communities that are affected by police abuse and fall victim to our broken prison system
