Sequester Could Lead to Large Cuts to AIDS Treatment Programs

The AIDS Drug Assistance Program is among the many federal programs that will take a hit if $85 billion in across-the-board spending cuts go through March 1, and those cuts could potentially lead to an increase in HIV transmission, the White House said Sunday in a report on the anticipated state-by-state impacts of the so-called sequester.

Presidential Panel Calls on States to Repeal HIV Criminalization

The Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) passed a resolution last week that calls for an end to federal and state HIV-specific criminal laws and prosecutions.

Time for HIV criminal statutes to face scientific scrutiny, says former presidential panelist

A member of the first federal commission to look at the HIV epidemic says it is “probably past time” for states to revisit their HIV-specific criminal laws.

“I think it would be time to go back,” said Dr. Colleen Conway-Welch, a member of the commission created by President Reagan to investigate the disease. “In fact, it’s probably past time to go back and subject those laws to scientific scrutiny.”

Video of Michigan traffic stop leads to concerns about HIV discrimination

LANSING, Mich. — A Dearborn, Mich., police officer was caught on tape telling a man and a woman that he was issuing them traffic and marijuana possession tickets because he was “aggravated” that the woman failed to disclose her HIV-positive status before he searched the couple’s car. The incident has raised allegations of discrimination and violations of civil rights.

Survey suggests HIV laws intimidating, counterproductive

WASHINGTON, DC — Nearly half of HIV-positive respondents to a recently released survey on HIV criminalization say they believe they will not receive a fair hearing in the criminal justice system if they ever face charges for failing to disclose their status to sexual partners.

Criminalization of HIV nondisclosure may discourage testing, study indicates

LANSING — A team of researchers has published findings that they say indicate criminalization of HIV may discourage testing and hinder efforts to prevent the spread of the disease.

New US AIDS policy director draws mixed reviews for recent remarks

With a president who has declared the end of AIDS is in reach, Dr. Grant Colfax has a massive job in front of him. But his first interview with The American Independent has some activists challenging his take on controversial elements of the epidemic impacting an estimated 1.2 million Americans.

HUD Secretary Donovan discusses new rules to protect LGBT community from housing discrimination

U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan Friday told a White House conference on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender homelessness that a new federal housing rule is an “idea whose time has come.

FBI changes definition of rape after 85 years

The FBI’s decision last week to revise the definition of rape for its annual Uniform Crime Reporting Program is being praised by sexual assault advocates and the LGBT community.

VIDEO: Bryan Fischer says HIV does not cause AIDS

Adding to an ongoing list of controversial statements, American Family Association President Bryan Fischer is now claiming that HIV is not the cause of AIDS or the AIDS epidemic.