Gay Games Gets HIV Waiver For Foreign Athletes

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/02/020706games.htm

Organizers of this summer's Gay Games in Chicago announced Tuesday that the government has agreed to a blanket waiver for non-U.S. citizens living with HIV/AIDS to travel to the United States.

Kathleen Webster, co-president of the international Federation of Gay Games, said that the games has been granted Designated Event Status by federal authorities.

Under existing law PWAs can be denied entry into the country.

Athletes and visitors to the games will have to apply in advance for the waiver, called a B-2 travel visa. The visa, valid 8-28 July 2006, will be issued on a special form instead of being placed permanently in the person’s passport.

[eyesroll]

1. Is there any reason besides bigotry that we don't allow HIV+ people into

the country?

I sort-of understand why it might have made sense in the early 80s, when not much was known about transmission. But now?

For that matter...is this just honor-system stuff here? How does Customs even know someones HIV status?

[davidinalameda]

2. there is no reason that HIV positive people should not be allowed

into the US

if someone is bringing HIV meds with them, then that would be a sure way to find out

other than that, I'm not sure