GLAD’s AIDS Law Project has created a Provider Assessment Form to hear from HIV providers about the current issues and legal challenges facing people living with HIV in Massachusetts. Our goal is to identify areas where legal problems still exist, and where major public education efforts are needed to ensure that people living with HIV are treated equally under the law. For more information, contact Noreen Giga.
Although the face of the HIV/AIDS epidemic has changed dramatically since GLAD
founded its AIDS Law Project in 1984, the need for strong legal protections is as critical as
ever. Extraordinary improvements in medical treatment of HIV have allowed many people to live
longer, return to work, and live full, productive lives. On the other hand, the new drug
therapies do not work for everyone, and the side effects can be debilitating.
People with HIV continue to face severe discrimination in employment, housing
and other areas. They may be denied health care based on irrational fears
of HIV transmission, or have their HIV status disclosed illegally. Meanwhile,
new problems are emerging. People with HIV are now living long enough to
be refused appropriate care for unrelated medical needs, such as organ transplants,
based on their HIV status. Individuals who return to work after long stretches
away from the job market face tough questions and suspicion. Others are not
able to go back to work due to severe fatigue or illness caused by HIV medications,
yet disability insurance providers attempt to strip them of coverage because
they appear clinically stable.
In addition, we have much work to do in the area of prevention. Today, HIV infection is on
the rise again after many years of decrease, with major disparities based on race or ethnicity,
gender, and sexual orientation. We are all being hit hard. While blacks and Hispanics make up
only 12% of the population, they account for half of all HIV/AIDS cases; Male-to-male sexual
contact accounts for more than half of the cases recently diagnosed among men, and gay
youth under the age of 22 are among the most at risk; women's infection rates are soaring,
with 59% being infected through heterosexual sex; and injection drug use leads to 30% of
all infections.
Strong legal protections for people living with HIV are essential prerequisites to
effective risk-reduction and prevention strategies. By fighting discrimination
based on HIV status, protecting people's privacy, and improving access
to
information about HIV-related legal issues, we can turn the tide and strengthen the
health of our communities.
GLAD's AIDS Law Project is here to help you defend your rights. You can read more about your rights as an HIV-positive person in our publications at right or you can call our Legal InfoLine at 800-455-GLAD. Read sample questions from our InfoLine!
If you are a case manager or medical or social service provider and you think your agency would benefit from an in-service training about GLAD’s AIDS Law Project and HIV-related legal issues, please call the AIDS Law Project at 617-426-1350 to schedule an outreach.
GLAD staff members join demonstrations in support of pharmacy access to clean needles on June 22, 2006.
Subscribe to the AIDS Law Project's new Quarterly E-Newsletter -- designed especially for HIV medical and social service providers and consumers! Every few months, we'll send you an e-newsletter with breaking news, hotline Q&A's, and information about GLAD's new projects and upcoming events. Subscription is free and available to any intererested community member -- just send an email to Noreen Giga asking for your name to be added to our distribution list.
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