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Josh Shapiro repeals HIV law that made a diagnosis a felony enhancement in Pennsylvania
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed a law removing a felony enhancement for people with HIV who fail to disclose their status while engaging in prostitution, addressing outdated laws rooted in AIDS-era fear and misinformation.
- The legislation, Senate Bill 45, passed unanimously and reclassifies most prostitution offenses under human trafficking laws, aiming to target abusers and traffickers rather than vulnerable individuals with HIV.
- LGBTQ+ lawmakers and advocates, including Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, emphasized that the law now reflects current scientific understanding that people with an undetectable viral load cannot sexually transmit HIV.
- Public health officials highlighted that criminalizing HIV status fosters stigma and discourages testing and treatment, undermining effective responses to the HIV epidemic.
- The reform represents a bipartisan victory in modernizing Pennsylvania's criminal code and promoting equality for people living with HIV.
