WILTON MANORS – Under Florida law, it is unlawful for any person who has HIV, with knowledge of such infection, and having been informed that he or she may communicate it to others through sexual intercourse, to have sexual intercourse with any other person, unless the other person has been informed of the presence of HIV and has consented to the sexual intercourse.

Across the country, as well as closer to home, HIV criminalization laws are becoming of increasing concern to persons living with HIV/AIDS, and their advocates. According to these, fear of legal reprisals has been linked as a factor in preventing people from getting tested for HIV, as well as seeking medical treatment for the condition. It also fuels the societal stigmas for people living with HIV/AIDS. On Wednesday, a roundtable discussion was held at Wilton Manors’ Hagen Park Community Center, in conjunction with Positively U and the Positive Justice Project, as well as other LGBT rights groups and advocates, including Michael Rainier, executive director of the Florida Democratic LGBT Caucus, and chairman of the Redistricting Steering Committee for the School Board of Broward County. “HIV Criminalization Laws: How They Hurt the Health of Floridians” was made possible, in part, through the financial support of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and the Law Offices of George Castrataro.