President Barrack Obama has announced that the ban on HIV-positive people entering the US is to be lifted early in 2010.
The disclosure came as Obama signed a bill reauthorizing federal funding for an HIV-related healthcare policy – to improve availability of care for HIV positive people and their families.
At the signing ceremony the President told attendees that the ban on HIV-positive people entering the U.S. was instituted 22 years ago “in a decision rooted in fear rather than fact”.
"We are one of only a dozen countries that still bar people with HIV from entering our own country," he said. "If we want to be the global leader in HIV, we need to act like it."
He added that overturning the ban is a “step that will encourage people to get tested and get treatment. It's a step that will keep families together, and it's a step that will save lives".
Obama said that the repeal would take effect “just after the new year”. With January 1st a holiday the new rule is expected to be implemented on January 4th.
Leading UK sexual health charity The Terence Higgins Trust has welcomed the decision.
Lisa Power, Head of Policy at the charity said "Terrence Higgins Trust has campaigned for many years to end this discriminatory policy. We hope its ending sends a strong signal to governments and politicians globally who support such pointless gestures. Entry bans have no justification on public health grounds. Their only real impact is to increase stigma and prevent ordinary people with HIV from getting on with their lives."
For weekly gay news, chat and soundbites visit www.mand8.com
The disclosure came as Obama signed a bill reauthorizing federal funding for an HIV-related healthcare policy – to improve availability of care for HIV positive people and their families.
At the signing ceremony the President told attendees that the ban on HIV-positive people entering the U.S. was instituted 22 years ago “in a decision rooted in fear rather than fact”.
"We are one of only a dozen countries that still bar people with HIV from entering our own country," he said. "If we want to be the global leader in HIV, we need to act like it."
He added that overturning the ban is a “step that will encourage people to get tested and get treatment. It's a step that will keep families together, and it's a step that will save lives".
Obama said that the repeal would take effect “just after the new year”. With January 1st a holiday the new rule is expected to be implemented on January 4th.
Leading UK sexual health charity The Terence Higgins Trust has welcomed the decision.
Lisa Power, Head of Policy at the charity said "Terrence Higgins Trust has campaigned for many years to end this discriminatory policy. We hope its ending sends a strong signal to governments and politicians globally who support such pointless gestures. Entry bans have no justification on public health grounds. Their only real impact is to increase stigma and prevent ordinary people with HIV from getting on with their lives."
For weekly gay news, chat and soundbites visit www.mand8.com
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