Then and now. Laws to prevent the spread of HIV vs Laws to prevent COVID.
Back then the Republican offered lots of restrictive laws, that limited freedom to stop the spread of HIV. Not now.
At least 35 states have criminal laws that punish HIV-positive people for exposing others to the virus, even if they take precautions such as using a condom. Below is a summary each state’s laws.
Supporters of these laws say they deter people from spreading the virus and set a standard for disclosure and precautions in an ongoing epidemic. But critics say they thwart public health goals because they stigmatize the disease; undermine trust in health officials, who are sometimes enlisted to assist with criminal prosecutions; and fail to take into account the latest science surrounding HIV transmission.
In 2011, the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors issued a policy statement, criticizing these laws and calling on its members to examine their effects. But as the statements below show, state health authorities have mixed opinions about the effect of HIV-specific laws and prosecutions. | Related Story »
State-by-State: HIV Laws
https://projects.propublica.org/tables/penalties.html