February 28 is HIV is Not a Crime Awareness Day, which was first observed in 2022 by the Sero ProjectExit Disclaimer in collaboration with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS FoundationExit Disclaimer. This awareness day is an opportunity to amplify the voices of those who have been criminalized based on their HIV status.

Living with HIV is not a crime, but in more than 30 U.S. states, people are being imprisoned due to their HIV status. HIV criminalization laws consist of using a person’s positive HIV status in a criminal prosecution, increasing charges or punishments because the person has HIV.

In partnership with ChangeLab Solutions and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is bringing together a dynamic team of experts at the forefront of HIV law, policy, and research to discuss the importance of HIV decriminalization, CDC’s new HIV Criminalization Legal and Policy Assessment tool, and the path towards a more equitable future. Don’t miss this important discussion on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 10:00 AM PT/1:00 PM ET. You can register here Exit Disclaimer.

Be prepared with the Sero Project’s HIV is Not a Crime Awareness Day toolkit that’s full information, suggested best practices, social media templates, and more. Visit https://bit.ly/HINACDay2023ToolkitExit Disclaimer or en Español: https://bit.ly/HINACDayKitDePromoExit Disclaimer.

Event Planning Guide 

Watch Harold Phillips, Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, in his video conversation with HIV.gov, filmed in April 2022, as he discusses the National HIV/AIDS Strategy’s call to modernize or repeal outdated HIV-specific criminal exposure laws:

Watch this 2019 video from the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD)Exit Disclaimer ‘Stigma Series’ regarding the modernization of HIV laws and policies in North Carolina:

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