AIDS Watch
CHLP Senior PJP Attorney Jada Hicks will be attending and presenting at AIDS Watch on March 17 in Arlington, Virginia.
Maryland’s Full Repeal of HIV Criminalization: A National Model for Advocacy and Reform
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
3:35 - 4:35pm
This workshop examines how Maryland achieved the full repeal of HIV criminalization laws and what it offers as a replicable model for states across the country. Participants will walk through the policy landscape that existed prior to repeal, the harms caused by outdated criminal statutes, and the advocacy strategies that moved lawmakers from incremental reform to full repeal. The session will highlight the role of coalition building, community leadership, and lived experience in shaping legislative outcomes. It will also cover the importance of centering racial equity, transgender justice, and public health best practices, including the impact of modern HIV treatment, PrEP, and U equals U on policy arguments.
Presenters:
- Jada Hicks, CHLP
- Ronnie L. Taylor, FreeState Justice
- Phillip Westry, FreeState Justice
AIDSWatch is the largest constituent-driven HIV federal advocacy event in the country. The theme of this year’s AIDSWatch is Defending Progress, Demanding Justice. As we encounter increased political attacks that threaten to dismantle decades of progress at the local, state, federal, and global levels, we must reflect on what our movements have won and demand what we are still owed. At AIDSWatch 2026, we will discuss evolving threats, lessons learned, and movement-building strategies, and then, we will bring our concerns directly to Congress on Capitol Hill.
