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The Army policy on this is stupid. Unless you contract HIV somehow in the line of duty. Then if you get HIV on your own due to your lifestyle and bad choices. You should be immediately discharged.
Ken, I want to thank you for your strength and courage to share your story. Sorry for the negative comments you have had to read here. Just shows how much education we have to do. Ignorance, stigma, and discrimination for plwha has not gone away. Never fear though, we have your back. HIV is not a Crime, we have to continue to fight to modernize laws and educate the public. Elliot Henney, THANK YOU for sharing the truth now, hopefully we can find a way to get justice for Ken.
My name is Elliot Henney and I was the primary witness for the prosecution. After substantial alcohol abuse, intense counseling, and heavy soul searching in the aftermath of this case, I have decided to publicly speak out against this bogus prosecution. I was lied to by the prosecution, and my quiet life in San Diego shattered. As the openly gay son of a very accepting retired Naval Officer here in DC, this case deeply troubled me. I've always wanted to serve my country. Now is my chance.
It would be great in this day age of technology if you could create a website or blog to act as a patician, where we could instantly sign online and it would be sent to the different department heads along with the President.
Stop these prosecutions, it's a shame!
So much injustice in the world, yet the military service of the United States of America is governed by the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)--a code which allows prosecutions based on status, rather than actions. Should civilian stateside society be happy about the UCMJ-based PROSECUTIONS of STATUS, rather than actions? Battles must be fought--& not just on the battlefield
RE Ken's comments you have to ask yourself why then this even happened? what was the gain for the victim? obviously to me, as well as the military, you are guilty. making a decidedly poor choice and then blaming the victim is shameful. while i'm glad you served your time and now suffer consequences, it seems that this experience hasn't taught you to acknowledge your part. It's time to take responsibility, learn from this experience, and use protection next time you have sex, consensual or not.
CJ
Tami, your view does not take into account the rights of all of the other non-infected soldiers. The last thing I should have to worry about in combat is getting aids from the blood of one of my fellow soldiers. We have enough to deal with. You want to manage to the exception to forward your liberal agenda, I'd rather protect the majority. Unless you got aids in the line of duty, you should be put out. Your life choices should not put me at risk.
January 10, 2015 • Columbus