April 22, 2008

ACLU Urges Peace Corps to Rethink HIV Policy

A man recently let go by the Peace Corps after testing positive for HIV is working with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to change the Peace Corps’ policy toward HIV-positive volunteers, The Denver Post reports (denverpost.com, 4/22).

Jeremiah Johnson, 25, tested HIV negative when he first enlisted as a Peace Corps volunteer. However, according to The Denver Post, after spending more than 16 months teaching English at a Ukrainian secondary school, Johnson tested HIV positive. He soon received a termination letter, which explained that he could no longer work in the Ukraine; the letter also allegedly said that Johnson was not eligible to relocate within the Peace Corps.

“I only want the Peace Corps to change its policy so it is in accordance with U.S. federal anti-discriminatory laws,” Johnson told the newspaper. “And if [their current policy] is in accordance with federal laws, at least clarify what their policy is so another volunteer won’t have to experience the stress brought on by this.”

On Monday, April 21, the ACLU sent a four-page letter to the Peace Corps demanding that they stop barring HIV-positive people from volunteering, citing a recent federal appeals court decision that deemed it illegal for the Foreign Service to turn away HIV-positive people who wish to serve their country abroad.

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Jeff Hart, Potomac, MD, 2008-05-02 18:48:02
I was a Peace Corps Volunteer, & I understand the policy. They are looking for "healthy" volunteers so that they don't have to worry (or be liable) for 'the sick' getting 'sicker'. They don't let people with heart trouble, or diabetes, etc. in either. I don't agree with the policy of throwing people out who have already made a committment to serve. I especially think that HIV+ individuals should be allowed, if not recruited to work in other countries where HIV is such a problem.

Rob Marchetti, Harrisburg, PA, 2008-04-29 15:58:18
I saw a bumper sticker the other day that read "if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention" I'm outraged!

Kim, , 2008-04-29 13:34:29
This is not right and I hope this policy is abolished. There is no justification to banning those who have HIV from volunteering. The only thing is to assign them to one of the countries who don't have the strict laws barring those with HIV, but that is only a few countries.There is no excuse. To have this level of ignorance in the 21st century is unacceptable.

Paul, , 2008-04-24 12:16:42
This is a travesty of this man's rights under the constitution of the USA. He should be protected under "The Americans with Disabilities Act". He is not in the US Military, nor did he attempt to deceive anyone in that he was negative when accepted into the Peace Corp. He showed up positive later, in all probility due to to the varying length of the incubation period. To make this public is also a violation of his right to privacy.