House Bill 39- Decriminalizing the transfer of HIV

MARYLAND – Lawmakers in Maryland have banded together to push forward House Bill 39, which comes after the passing of Senate Bill 356 that gained bipartisan support. 

Repeal of Prohibition

HB39 is also known as The Repeal of Prohibition on Transfer of Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This bill in short would remove penalties associated with the intentional or unintentional transferring of HIV. Currently, the misdemeanor could come with 3 years in prison and a $2500 fine.

Down with Discrimination

One Maryland official says this original legislation was meant to discriminate, something he takes personally. “Well, I think that what it does is it eliminates one more bigoted law on the books.” Bill co-sponsor Delegate Aaron Kaufman is the first delegate elected living with cerebral palsy, and currently the only Maryland delegate with a natural-born disability.

He says he knows all too well a discriminatory law when he sees one, like the one he and others are trying to repeal. “This is a way for us as Maryland Lawmakers to say we love you, we care about you, and we will stand up for you, while still ensuring that people who deliberately infect individuals face a stiff punishment.”

GRID is GONE

In the 1980s AIDS was originally referred to as “Gay Related Immune Deficiency” or GRID. Kaufman says that caused a lot of pain in the gay community and misconceptions surrounding the disease itself, leading to bias legislation. In July of that year, the CDC released statement debunking the idea that only gay people could contract the disease, saying in part quote: “There’s no such thing as a universal ‘gay lifestyle’.”

Kaufman says there was a time when many thought contracting AIDS or HIV was a quote “punishment by God” and now, it’s time to move forward. “This really was rooted in bigotry towards gays and lesbians, which I find as I said abhorrent, and I wanted to associate myself with getting rid of this ancient law from a bygone year that has hurt many people.”

CDC

Common HIV symptoms include flu-like traits within 2 to 4 weeks of contraction, but some people have no symptoms at all, so you must get tested to be sure. The CDC says there is currently no effective cure, and once people get HIV, they have it for life. However, medical care can control the virus, giving one the chance at a long life. For more information on House Bill 39 you can visit the Maryland General Assembly’s website, and any additional information needed on HIV or AIDS, you can visit the Center for Disease Control.