Rashida Richardson talks about HIV criminalization and the Positive Justice Project's state and national organizing to bring it to an end, hosted by the Manhattan HIV Care Network.

At the beginning of this month, we lost John Falkenberg, a uniquely brilliant, generous and funny human being.  Several of his friends wrote remembrances, and they all sound a strikingly similar theme.  We reprint them here to honor, in a very small way, a very big life.

By Catherine Hanssens, Executive Director, CHLP 

As visionary and organizer Bayard Rustin observed, the proof that one truly believes is in action. John Falkenberg was a true believer. 

By Susan Rodriguez, Founding Executive Director, SMART, Inc. 

He was truly a giant among us, a genius and a brilliant human being who was as humble as he was smart.

By Joseph Sonnabend, MD

Those of us who knew him have lost the very best of friends. 

Prior to 2010, U.S. immigration law prohibited people with HIV from entering the country. Although HIV status is no longer a bar to entry into the country, Reuters reported on May 22, 2013, that HIV-affected immigrants, particularly women, face uncertainty and barriers to travel.

CHLP Legal Director, Iván Espinoza-Madrigal will be outlining some of the basic legal issues in employment discrimination affecting LGBT and HIV+ people.  May 29, 1:00pm-2:30pm EDT. 

By Oscar Mairena, Manager, Policy & Legislative Affairs and Viral Hepatitis, NASTAD

This month, Congresswomen Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) introduced bipartisan legislation, HR1843, the Repeal Existing Policies that Encourage or Allow Legal (REPEAL) HIV Discrimination Act.

The Center for HIV Law and Policy (CHLP) has updated two resources that could be helpful to HIV anti-discrimination advocates and attorneys representing PLWH.

This new toolkit has everything you need to get your member of Congress to become a REPEAL Act co-sponsor.

By Christina Rodriguez, SMART Youth

Christina Rodgirquez, a founding member of SMART Youth, chose HIV disclosure, relationships and criminalization as the topic of a recent speech she delivered as part of a college course. We think it's worth a read.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) was joined by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) to introduce H.R. 1843, the Repeal Existing Policies that Encourage and Allow Legal (REPEAL) HIV Discrimination Act. The REPEAL Act expresses the sense of Congress that federal and state laws, policies, and regulations should not place a unique or additional burden on individuals solely as a result of their HIV status.

CHLP's Adrian Guzman Testifies on NYC Administration for Children's Services Close to Home Draft Plan on Limited Secure Placement 

Rashida Richardson of CHLP and PJP member Athena Moore of NBLCA will present "Women, HIV and Criminal Law: What Can You Do?" at the Iris House 8th Annual Women as the Face of AIDS Summit.

HIV Criminalization, Immigration, and Domestic & Sexual Violence

Teen SENSE, in collaboration with the Hetrick-Martin Institute: Newark, is sponsoring three community roundtable events for youth and advocates to share their experiences.  Tuesday, April 2, 2013 from 4:30pm – 5:30pm; Thursday, April 4, 2013 from 3:30pm – 5:30pm and Friday, April 5, 2013 from 4:30pm – 5:30pm.  For more information or to RSVP, contact Adrian Guzman at 212-430-6733 or aguzman@hivlawandpolicy.org

The Center for HIV Law and Policy (CHLP), the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and the American Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (AAPA) have published a fact sheet that they hope will bring law enforcement officers up to speed on the real risks of HIV from possible exposure to the bodily fluids of those they police.

 The Positive Justice Project, in collaboration with the ACLU of Michigan, AIDS Partnership Michigan, The National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, Serra Services PLLC and several other local advocates, will host a Community Roundtable on HIV Criminalization in Michigan on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 in the Lake Superior Room of the Library of Michigan (207 West Kalamazoo Street, Lansing, MI 48915). 

CHLP staff attorney Rashida Richardson will be a panelist at the College of Staten Island's "Careers in Activism, Advocacy & Evolving Politics on HIV/AIDS." 

Young women in a program focused on contraception access, sexual health capacity, and leadership-building were using contraceptives and safer sexual practices long after graduation.