The world is making progress.
Last week President Obama signed an extension of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS bill. The legislation provides care, treatment and support services to nearly half a million people, most of whom are low-income. Thousands of people use these services on a daily basis.
This is actually the fourth extension of this bill since its original passing in 1990, but Obama said that this was the first time that the bill was not controversial and passed with bi-partisan support.
In another move toward achieving equality and eliminating the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, President Obama also invalidated a 22-year-old restriction on the entry of HIV infected people into the United States. Our country has had one of the most restrictive policies on the immigration and travel of HIV-positive people in the world. In addition, non-citizens living long-term in the United States were denied permanent resident categorization solely on the basis of their HIV-positive status.
Sadly, this restriction has remained in affect all these years, despite the ignorance that is was created under. The original restriction was enforced when it was thought that HIV could be transmitted through the respiratory system.
It is common knowledge that HIV cannot be transmitted casually.
"If we want to be a global leader in combating HIV/AIDS, we need to act like it", Obama said. Beginning in January, those living with HIV/AIDS are no longer banned from our country.
http://www.examiner.com/x-20707-Seat...e-with-HIVAIDS
I think this is great news, i know there was a thread on GWW recently someone posted about this and trying to get it over turned.
Regards,
Lee
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