HIV/AIDS
Advances in medical treatment mean that an HIV diagnosis is no longer the death sentence it seemed to be in the 1980s. People living with HIV/AIDS are thriving in every walk of life. Nonetheless, people living with HIV/AIDS continue to suffer the effects of stigma, prejudice, and misunderstanding about HIV/AIDS.
The ACLU works to defend and advance the civil rights and civil liberties of people living with HIV/AIDS. We’re committed to fighting against laws that criminalize living with HIV/AIDS. We also seek to make sure that people living with HIV/AIDS in prison or jail have access to the medical care they need and have their medical confidentiality respected. Over the years, we have also worked to address and prevent HIV/AIDS-based discrimination by employers, medical providers, and others through litigation and advocacy toward better laws and policies.
If you know of possible HIV/AIDS-related discrimination, please contact us!
What You Need To Know
- 1.1 millionThere are currently about 1.1 million people living with HIV infection in the United States.
- 3,900+Between 1997 and 2013, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received more than 3,900 complaints alleging ADA violations based on a person’s HIV status.
- 2Recent CDC statistics show that the prevalence of HIV among people living below the poverty line is two times greater than that of those living above it, with the highest HIV rates among people with an annual household income under $10,000.
Current Issues
The ACLU AIDS Project uses impact litigation, public education, and advocacy at the state and federal levels to fight discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS.
People living with HIV/AIDS are disproportionately incarcerated. While in prison, they face widespread discrimination and difficulty accessing appropriate medical care. Misguided laws that criminalize HIV/AIDS exposure make matters worse and are both bad public health and discriminatory.
The Latest
Report: California Schools Make Uneven Progress on Improving Sex Ed
News/Press ReleaseNovember 30, 2011Fighting Ignorance About HIV
Blog Post - Speak FreelySeptember 9, 2013Transportation Security Administration Refused To Hire Qualified Baggage Screener Because He Has HIV
News/Press ReleaseJune 11, 2009
Priscilla Doe v. A Nebraska Restaurant
CaseNovember 13, 2003It Is Time to Modernize Discriminatory HIV/AIDS Laws
Blog Post - Washington MarkupMay 16, 2013Doe v. Clinton - Case Profile
CaseAugust 25, 2009
HIV and Your Civil Rights in the Workplace
Know Your RightsDecember 30, 2014When Stigma Trumps Science in Blood Donations
Blog Post - Speak FreelyNovember 17, 2014
Louisiana Blocks Ebola Scientists From Meeting in New Orleans in Latest Counterproductive Over-Reaction
Blog Post - Free FutureNovember 3, 2014Ebola: Travel Bans, Quarantines, and Political Courage
Blog Post - Free FutureOctober 29, 2014