On February 15, the U.S. Department of State lifted a ban prohibiting HIV-positive people from becoming United States diplomats, the Associated Press/Google reports (ap.google.com, 2/15).
The ban was lifted following a 2003 lawsuit against the State Department when an HIV-positive man was disqualified from foreign service due to his HIV status, despite the fact that he met all other requirements. According to the AP, people living with HIV will now be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to ensure that they meet the “worldwide availability” standard.
Bebe Anderson—HIV project director of New York-based advocacy group Lambda Legal—heralded the decision.
“At long last,” she says, “the State Department is taking down its sign that read, ‘People with HIV need not apply.’”
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Beth Benne, RN, is HIV negative, but
the virus has impacted her life. She currently supervises a biannual HIV/AIDS awareness week as
the director of the student health center at Pierce College, a
community commuter school in Woodland Hills, California.
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Overheard in the Women's Forum
"I recently met a guy who is negative. I did tell him about my status and he decided to kiss me anyway (we didn't go further than that). But a day later, he called and said that he actually had a mouth ulcer that time when we kissed and he was very worried. Asked if he can get the virus from me that way. For that moment, I felt so insulted and yet I felt so bad. It was my first time having a contact with a "negative" guy."
