Subscribe to Breaking NewsLowenstein: HIV+ travelers to be allowed in the US
I’ve been all fire and brimstone on the Obama administration lately– and, I think, my anger has been justifiable.
But my overarching disappoitnment with how the administration is handling most issues important to the LGBT community doesn’t mean I’m incapable of recognizing the small, positive steps they’re taking in the right direction. Last week’s ceremony offering official apology to Dr. Frank Kameny for his 1957 firing from the civil service was a nice symbolic step, for example. The administration’s decision to insist of counting same-sex marriages in the 2010 census was also a sign of progress.
And then at the end of last week, we got an action that was more than just symbolic.
The Obama administration has taken the first step toward lifting the ban on HIV positive foreign citizens from entering the United States. The administration’s Office of Management and Budget posted a notice on Friday indicating that the department of Health and Human Services should begin the work to reverse its regulation which disallows HIV positive foreigners from entering the US.
Congress passed the policy change last year, and though the bill was signed by President Bush, it has not been implemented at this point.
The implementation likely has wide-ranging effects on both travel and immigration policy. Under the current law, foreign citizens who are HIV positive canont travel to the United States and immigrants can be subject to HIV testing, and deportation if they’re found to be HIV positive. The exact changes to be made in curent regulation will be determined by the Department of Health and Human Services, but the bill passed by Congress grants broad authority to overturn the ban completely.
You know, I wake up in the middle of the night, and just have to reiterate this Troy. 25 million people. 25 MILLION. Dead. How DARE you say HIV is not fatal.
So your argument Troy is that I shouldn’t consider HIV fatal, because it’s like cancer, heart disease, and many other diseases? Great reasoning.
Fact is HIV is fatal. Take a look statistically around the world, and see what you find. RICH, WHITE people “live” with HIV – for a while, poor people (those who can’t afford the drug cocktails) die. Sadly, quite often.
HIV caused AIDS has killed more than 25 MILLION, read that Troy, 25 MILLION people world wide. How DARE you say it’s not a fatal disease any longer.
Tell that to the 2 MILLION plus people who died from HIV/AIDS in 2007.
Get your facts right, Troy.
Yes, the advances made have been wonderful. But there is no “cure”.
Belittling the impact of AIDS is one of the reasons the infection rate is still growing in some places, and another reason 21pct of HIV positive patients don’t even have any idea that they have it.
For those *Very* few in the world who have access to the medication(s), we’ve come along way with HIV/AIDS treatment (not curing). For the vast majority, it is till incredibly fatal.
Break out of our “community” and look at the world around you Troy.
Take a trip to Zimbabwe, or other parts of Sub Saharan Africa, were up to 1 in 6 people have it, and nearly none of them are getting treatment, and then tell me HIV isn’t fatal…
You’d think after 25 years, the gay community would know more about how HIV is infecting the entire world, and not just our mostly privileged white American gay community.
Sad, Troy. Very sad.
Well said Troy.
In 2009 there is really no excuse for ignorance on this topic.
cm Said: “HIV is a transmittable, fatal disease. Not a name. Ridiculous example.”
WOW – cm – get your facts correct.
HIV is not a fatal disease anymore. I am many others who are LIVING with HIV/AIDS are living longer and healthier than ever before.
I have friends who have survived over 20 years with HIV / AIDS.
HIV & AIDS is just like cancer, heart disease and many other diseases now. With the proper medical care, treatment and drugs – we can now live long, fulfilling and life expectant lives. In fact Persons with HIV/AIDS do not normally die from AIDS. They die from other symptoms because of our decreased immune system.
SO – GET IT RIGHT – HIV / AIDS is NOT FATAL.
Geez….you’d think people within our own community would have the correct knowledge and info now….some 25 years after AIDS started. Very Sad.
Bryan, that is patently ridiculous. HIV is a transmittable, fatal disease. Not a name. Ridiculous example.
I believe for anyone to completely understand discrimination one has to be the individual experiencing it first hand .
Can we get laws passed to bar anyone named “David” from freely moving about the country? Perhaps not allowed to cross state or country lines. Maybe we can get the right to refuse service to anyone named “David.”
“Sorry We Do Not Serve Anyone named David – Now Move On”.
We’re giving Obama credit for something that was passed by last year’s Congress and signed by W. The great Savior is just now attempting to implement the change? 6 months into his administration and almost a year after it’s passing?
Did Lowenstein just stumble through a time portal from 1983? The last I heard, HIV/aids was a Pandemic,with heterosexual women of color as the fastest growing infected group. She needs to visit http://www.hivaidstribe.com to get a serious reality check! I’m gay but I think her energy is in this instance, totally misdirected.
Loki, out
thanks jenna, for making HIV a gay disease once again.
David,
The trend of HIV is moving from developed countries to developing ones. If you’re worried about more HIV+ entrants, the best place to do is stay put here in US.
Also, if you’re worried about how it will stress our economy, HIV/AIDS is a global economic problem. If it worsens in the East, it also affects the West.
Well Warren, maybe it isn’t significant to YOU – but obviously it IS significant to many other people. People who don’t care if it is significant to you or not. But thanks for sharing.
While I recognize that this is a gay issue for many Americans, on a global scale the face of HIV is a young, brown skinned heterosexual female. I am please this ban is being lifted, but I do not see it as a significant piece on the equal rights agenda for gay people specifically. Nonetheless, it is a step foward on the equal rights of all people and for that I am pleased.
David – Do shut up. .
This lifting of the ban is long overdue. The United States is the one major country on the list of countries that ban HIV positive people that you might not expect. Countries like Turkey have no such restrictions. Almost of none of Europe has had these restrictions for quite some time. The U.S. needs to do the right thing and reverse this ridiculous ban.
That’s all we need, more HIV positive people entering the United States. Soon will be more HIV positive immigrants claiming permanent residents status and refuges in our country. That will increase the HIV population that already exists. America will soon be joining Africa & India with the highest RED FLAG alert HIV diseased countries in the world. I can just see it all coming down in the future, if president Obama lets that happen.
Inasmuch as the bill was passed by Congress last year, and signed into law by George W. Bush, it seems weird to give Obama credit for this policy change.