Perpetuating Stigma: In the Life Media Documentary on the Criminalization of HIV

Unfortunately, the United States has the greatest amount of HIV criminalization laws under which those living with HIV can be subject to criminal liability for the presumed risk of exposing another to the virus.   In The Life Media's newest documentary, Perpetuating Stigma, presents profound insight on the impact of stigma and fear in criminalization laws directed towards people living with HIV, and their effect on women living with HIV in particular.

For example, some of those prosecuted under criminalization statutes bit or spit on another individual, demonstrating a complete misunderstandings of how HIV/AIDS is transmitted.  The application of these laws in cases involving sexual exposure often do not consider whether sex was consensual, whether a condom or other protection was used, the viral load involved and other important factors. These laws seek to criminalize exposure, even in cases in which there is virtually no risk or a very low risk of transmission and may succeed even if the HIV positive partner disclosed his or her status to his or her partner but cannot provide proof.

Moreover, no transmission of the virus must take place in order to prosecute under vague criminalization laws.  Instead, men and women living with HIV can end up convicted of violent crimes, such as assault with deadly intent, or be legally labeled sex offenders.  The legalization of stigma apparent in the use of criminalization laws not only impairs the lives and dignity of those charged and the community of people living with HIV in general, but also proves grossly ineffective in the effort to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic.  The tens of thousands of dollars spent on prosecuting people under HIV criminalization laws can much better be spent in treatment and prevention programs.  Please take a moment to view the video here.