11/29/2009

US Lift HIV Travel Ban! - MTV Staying Alive

This is a short piece I wrote for the MTV Staying Alive Foundation website, in response to the US FINALLY abolishing their HIV travel restrictions. Ever heard of such a silly bulls**t thing? Well unfortunately, this blind eye constriction of human rights is still alive in many countries around the world... Here's the article:

About Time Too...
When I was born, back in 1987, the US was just about putting into motion this wonderfully oppressive HIV travel ban; a despicable restriction on those living with HIV/AIDS, prohibiting them from entering the land of hope and glory, because of their supposedly poisonous blood. The time has rightfully come, for change (thanks for that line Obama).



South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Russia (among a few others) remain on the list of countries that turn away those with HIV status. Such nations only encourage the stigma surrounding the disease, segregating those HIV+ with little remorse, or interest in understanding. This goes way further than the effect of getting chosen last in sports ed – dry your eyes mate please. The travel bans are rooted in fear and ignorance. I’ve witnessed first-hand, families in the Democratic Republic of Congo broken apart through HIV stigma (one 14 year old told me he was abandoned, as his “infection was an omen on the household”). And so, I am disgusted that any bans still exist...

Read the full article here

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