{"id":354801,"date":"2023-12-05T13:47:32","date_gmt":"2023-12-05T18:47:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/lgbtq-law\/legal-protections-for-people-living-with-hiv.html"},"modified":"2023-12-05T14:31:49","modified_gmt":"2023-12-05T19:31:49","slug":"legal-protections-for-people-living-with-hiv","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/lgbtq-law\/legal-protections-for-people-living-with-hiv.html","title":{"rendered":"Legal Protections for People Living With HIV"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Legal Protections for People Living With HIV<\/h1>\n
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\n By Vaishali Gaur, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Although HIV and AIDS do not represent the same public health crisis they once did, people living with HIV still face challenges in many settings. <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

More than one million people in the United States are living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)<\/a>. Medical researchers have made great strides in HIV prevention and treatment, and HIV\/AIDS is not as much of a public health crisis as it once was. But people living with HIV (PLHIV) continue to face discrimination at work, in medical settings, and in public spaces.<\/p>\r\n

This article provides an overview of HIV-related discrimination those in the LGBTQ+ community might face and what federal legal protections they have.<\/p>\r\n

What is HIV?<\/h2>\r\n

HIV<\/a> is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system and destroys critical cells used to fight disease and infection.<\/p>\r\n

There is currently no cure for HIV. But PLHIV can control their symptoms through medication and live long, healthy lives. Medication can help lower the viral load lower to "undetectable" levels. This means a test will not be able to detect HIV, and the risk of transmitting HIV through sex is close to zero. But, if not treated, HIV infection can lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).<\/p>\r\n

HIV is transmitted through certain bodily fluids, such as semen, blood, and vaginal discharge. It does not spread via saliva, sweat, tears, or touching. Most people get HIV through anal sex, vaginal sex, or by sharing needles during drug use.<\/p>\r\n

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides detailed information about how HIV is (and is not<\/i>) transmitted<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Discrimination Against People Living with HIV<\/h2>\r\n

There are still misconceptions about the transmission of HIV and what it looks like to live with HIV. <\/p>\r\n

Some persistent myths about HIV include:<\/p>\r\n