You are looking at a global map that details countries that impose HIV travel and residence restrictions. (Expands when you click.) The United State is one of many nations colored "red" that impose restrictions against HIV-positive foreign nationals from entering the country. The Obama Administration has taken the first steps in lifting the regulatory ban that was signed into law last summer by George W. Bush.
The Office of Management and Budget posted a notice on its site Friday afternoon indicating that the department of Health and Human Services could move forward with steps to change a regulation that has restricted HIV-positive people from gaining entrance into the United States.
The proposed change will likely have an impact on both travel and immigration to the United States. Under current regulations, non-U.S. citizens who are HIV-positive cannot travel to the United States unless they are granted a waiver by the Department of Homeland Security. Immigrants have also been required to be tested for HIV. The actual regulatory change, however, will not be available until next week, and advocates are waiting to analyze the exact language.
The new regulations will be published in the federal register tomorrow and must undergo several review periods. "We’re hoping it will take effect by the end of the year," says Steve Ralls, communications director for Immigration Equality.
The HIV travel ban is a mean-spirited relic of the Jesse Helms era. It was approved in 1987 and codified by Congress in 1993. Good bye and good riddance ... and kudos to the Obama Administration for taking the first steps to lift the ban.
UPDATE: Duh. Didn't post the map earlier.
UPDATE2: HRC Backstory reports the new regs will be published in the Federal Register tomorrow "which will signal the start of the public comment period."
Well, I guess all intense criticism from the gay community these last few weeks is starting to pay off. Maybe the President has to be pushed on this issue (gay civil rights). They say that President Johnson (or was it Roosevelt) told civil rights leaders, "go out and make me do it" Meaning create a public situation where the the President has no choice but to act. Maybe that was my President's plan all along. Obama is an intellectual and smart; I aint. If all the outrage & criticism directed at SlimJi...I mean, my President didn't hurt his feelings, it sure shouldn't have hurt mine. It was necessary....I guess.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 29 June 2009 at 12:15
Great that we're burying a relic ofregulation...discrimination is discrimination...we cannot discriminate against folks because of a medical condition
Posted by: Cocoa Rican | 29 June 2009 at 13:35
Kudos to President Obama & Rod for putting the word out, btw why am I not surprised that there is only now 3 posted comments regarding this subject matter but if that lil closet case from "pretty ricky" had posted another web clip featured here on Rod's blog by now there would have been 40 plus comments already posted.......our community as a whole can be so backwards at times.
Posted by: Quest | 29 June 2009 at 16:08
((I guess all intense criticism from the gay community these last few weeks is starting to pay off.))
Yes Derrick that's why several crumbs have been thrown our way. Like the "benefits" for partners that don't include health benefits...and same sex partners being counted in the census...and the HIV travel ban that was signed a year ago.
The squeaky wheel gets the oil. You can't get anything unless you ask for it...even crumbs as opposed to slices of bread. But I see you're still caught up in "intense criticism" of the president that people are doing to get your rights, as opposed to the fact your rights are being denied.
Gotta love our people. We're so used to asking for nothing and being treated like nothing that we think it's okay...
Posted by: FQ | 29 June 2009 at 16:25
@ Quest:
THANK YOU!
I have disagreed with Rod on some things but he usually presents both sides. And props to keeping up on HIV news ...
It is AMAZING that up to half of gay Black men are HIV positive and yet we express NO INTEREST in HIV stories ... unless it is porn or DL related.
Oh and where are all the many commenters who claimed they "didn't care" about DADT, DOMA, ENDA etc but "cared" about HIV. Would LOVE for you to jump in...
Posted by: FQ | 29 June 2009 at 16:31
What are the blue countries and the yellow countries?
Gary, did you go to the link? Red means there are HIV travel restrictions or bans, blue means no restrictions, yellow means unsure. Very simple. -RM
Posted by: Gary | 30 June 2009 at 08:43