Repeal the HIV Travel and Immigration Ban

Filed under: General News — Michael van der Galien, Editor-in-Chief on July 10, 2008 @ 11:37 pm CEST

If you’re an American, please consider taking the time to join Pete Abel in his attempt to convince US Senators to repeal the travel and immigration ban for individuals who suffer from HIV Aids. Andrew Sullivan recently wrote about this subject for the Washington Post; I advise you to read the op-ed first, then Pete Abel’s post and, after that, to send an e-mail to your Senators and other representatives.

The fact that there are only twelve countries in the world that ban HIV-positive visitors, nonimmigrants and immigrants from their territory should be enough to convince you that this ban is barbaric. In the case, however, that it’s not… well, lets just make a list of the ‘no-HIV-Twelve’:

1. Armenia

2. Brunei

3. Iraq

4. Libya

5. Moldova

6. Oman

7. Qatar

8. Russia

9. Saudi Arabia

10. South Korea

11. Sudan

12. United States

That list says it all, doesn’t it?

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1 RAH

July 12, 2008 @ 3:59 pm CEST

I totally disagree. Visitors and Immigrants do not have a right to the US. That is totally in our purview. As hosts we have the right to determine if we want to accept people who are infectious. Many HIV infected people have become that way due to their personal choices and reckless disregard to prevent transmission. Mr. Sullivan may be that case due to his sexual choices. HIV is actually coming under control and we do not need others to increase infection rates for a deadly disease. Travelers are also prevented from coming into the country who have other infectious diseases. This is a public safety issue. Not a civil rights issue.
Africa suffers dreadfully from this disease due to reckless behavior and poor hygiene and medical services. We do not need to suffer the same fate.

Many who suffer this disease deliberately infect partners and some in the gay lifestyle are in love with the idea of death.
Health professional are at risks since the is a blood born disease and we want to reduce the risks by reducing the amount of onfected people. That would be contradicted by allowing infected people to visit and stay in the US.