A controversial bill that allows rape survivors to force suspected attackers to be tested for HIV was signed into law yesterday by New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, who said it would give women the “ability to receive timely treatment and peace of mind.”
The bill was criticized by HIV and women’s activists, including New York City’s Housing Works and the New York chapter of the National Organization for Women, because of its focus on identifying the status of suspected attackers instead of the health of rape survivors.
There are also concerns that the law may give people a false sense of security because HIV tests are not always reliable.
Queenie
