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I'm planing to do my Masters of Arts (M.A) on this very issue . The Criminalization of HIV transmission. It looks at Stigma It looks at Identity Politics It looks at Civil Rights and it most certainly is a POLITICAL ISSUE. This website is a wealth of great information on the issue. Thanks poz.com and Sean Strub. Keep up the fight.
Your assumption that "everyone I was having sex with was infected" is as wrongheaded and head-in-the-sand as those who want to stigmatize those living with HIV. The fact is most gay men or most individuals DO NOT have HIV; I wouldn't wish this diagnosis on anyone just to make myself feel better or think that my assumption renders me free not to exercise due care when having sex. Re-infection does exist, too. And, as another contributor observed, there are other STDs just as nasty as HIV that one can contract without condom usage.
I had full blown aids. I always assumed that me and everyone I was having sex with was infected. Laws should be passed to arrest anyone who doesn't assume the same thing. I recovered. I'm undetectable, I never felt better. This controversy, like all gay controversies of the past are for people who have nothing bet ter to do, including gays. God bless them.
There is a difference between someone who KNOWINGLY passes HIV on to others... Not one or 2 but how about 8 or 9?? We are not talking about a person who just is in denial but someone who WANTS to pass the HIV Virus onto others because they can't handle dealing with the the disease so they figure, humm.. since I'm going to die anyways, I might as well take as many with me as I can. Yes, there are people like this.. more than you would think. The law isn't there for someone who has a trick, and the few week relationship didn't work out.. BOTH people must protect themselves period, lack of doing that is like holding a loaded gun and playing Russian Rulette.. whos fault is that? your own, nobody else. The "bug chasers" those who WANT to get HIV.. for whatever crazy reason cannot use the law to send the other person to prison.. those who intend to infect belong in prison.
Too simplistic I fear. If someone cathes your cold or the flu you do not go to prison. Remember, this applies even when the person discloses and the partner still has sex with him/her after the disclosure.
I am curious...what kind of laws is being handed down for the IDOITS that are not HIV poz and STILL having un-protected sex ? If you are NOT HIV poz and having un-protected sex, you need to be seeing a shrink 5 days a week and stop blaming others for your un-educated decisions in life !
Lots of people are alive today because it is illegal to kill them just like lots of people are hiv negative today because it is illegal to infect them. I know that some sceptics would say no way, but I can assure you that had it not being that infecting someone with this virus is a crime, lots of people would have been infected. Just ask lots of HIV positive people how many times they have come in contact with hiv negative people who dig them for sex without condoms? If not because of the law many would never mind having that sex anyway. It is none of their business to protect their sex partners. Many often stop short of even kissing because breaking the law can sometimes break them altogether. Photo and name published on the internet plus jail time.
david northrup
Unfortunately i am not that surprised.. being a Queer Veteran, growing up in the South and doing Queer Activism in Virginia for seven years before heading west... i am just not shocked or as surprised so much.. but its frieghting so many states have laws remaining on the books criminalizing HIV+ people who have consensual sex with another consenting person or persons... the ignorance and the "make those people bad" mentality of our government.. NOPE we are not the land of the FREE... BRAVE YES... FREE NO... thank you i will have to search and find out all those states..
August 16, 2012