WHEREAS, Pennsylvanians living with HIV have been charged
with crimes for conduct that would not be criminal or would be
less severe but for their HIV status, a phenomenon known as HIV
criminalization; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvanians living with HIV may fear prosecution
or be threatened with prosecution, especially in cases of
intimate partner abuse; and
WHEREAS, HIV criminalization increases stigma against
individuals living with HIV and, according to the United States
Department of Health and Human Services 2019 Plan for Ending the
HIV Epidemic, stigma "can be a debilitating barrier preventing
people living with, or at risk for, HIV from receiving the
health care, services, and respect they need and deserve"; and
WHEREAS, HIV criminalization laws have been
disproportionately used to prosecute people of color, women, sex
workers, the LGBTQ+ community and other marginalized groups; and
WHEREAS, Misperceptions about HIV transmission, treatment and
prevention, as well as HIV criminalization and its impact on
individuals living with HIV are common; and
WHEREAS, It is vitally important for all elected officials in
this Commonwealth to consider updating or repealing outdated
laws and practices regarding HIV criminalization and to
encourage every Pennsylvanian to educate themselves about HIV
and HIV criminalization; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate
February 28, 2024, as "HIV is Not a Crime Awareness Day" in
Pennsylvania.
20240HR0310PN2554 - 2 -
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