Good News for HIV+ Foreigners Still Wealthy Enough to Vacation in the U.S.
 
 

hiv-travel-denial

The Obama administration just took the "first step" to repeal a regulation that bans HIV-positive foreigners from visiting the U.S. Because, obviously, they care CARRYING THE PLAGUE! By lifting the ban, HIV-positive tourists, meanwhile, won't be the only ones positively affected — foreigners hoping to emigrate from abroad will also no longer be restricted because of their bloodstream. Great. But what actually happened to give us a smile?

The Office of Management and Budget on Friday updated its website to say the Health and Human Services Department could get its groove on with lifting the regulation, which was enacted in 1987 during the Reagan administration and upheld by President Clinton in 1993.

planerainbow

But you'll see how that's just a step; HHS only received the okay that it can move forward, but now it must actually, you know, move forward. As you'll recall, last year Congress enacted legislation to repeal the ban, but the Bush administration — often credited with its AIDS policies — didn't push it through.

Folks are optimistic we're headed in the right direction — and updates last year's move by Congress to lift the HIV ban for foreign nationals. And just in time, the White House issued this MTV-esque call on Americans to get tested.

Expect POZ magazine to quickly organize an international expo.

(Photo: Trevor Hope)

 
Jun 28, 2009 · Link · 5 Responses
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Comments (5)

No. 1 · mb00

I'm very happy that this is happening. No one should be banned from coming here due to their status.
I'm a bit naive on this subject, but how would border officials even know if the person was HIV+, it isn't like it's tattooed on their foreheads, so, can someone explain this to me?

Posted: Jun 28, 2009 at 8:54 pm
No. 2 · bobito

@mb00: from what I've been told, if they find the antiviral medications in a traveler's luggage, they send do not let the person leave the airport. There are ways to avoid this situation, such as mailing one's meds to a friend in America before you fly, and I think there are some HIV support organizations that provide some help in this, too.

I also read that, if they do a random luggage search and find antiviral meds, then they stamp HIV+ into the traveller's passport, making all future attempts to travel into countries that ban HIV+ visitors impossible, but I don't remember where I read.

I hope they actually do lift this ban – it's embarassing that we have had this unenlightened, inhumane and ineffective policy for so long.

Posted: Jun 29, 2009 at 3:16 am
No. 3 · John Santos

Glad to see Queerty keeping us informed about the HIV travel ban.

Also, you could have given a hat tip to Mark from Slap Upside The Head for using his comic in this post, just as you did Trevor Hope for using his picture.

http://www.slapupsidethehead.com/

Posted: Jun 29, 2009 at 9:24 am
No. 4 · Fitz

This is more important than how it is being treated here. Especially when, for some people, HIV is a manageable illness.

Posted: Jun 29, 2009 at 11:01 am
No. 5 · Timothy

You are wrong.

The Bush administration DID push it through at the very end of his term. Obama REVERSED the lifting of the ban along with all of Bush's end of year decisions.

This in one in which Bush was better than Obama.

Please change the incorrect information.

Posted: Jun 29, 2009 at 2:55 pm
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