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February 19, 2008
State Department Lifts Ban on Positive Diplomats
On February 15, the U.S. Department of State lifted a ban prohibiting HIV-positive people from becoming United States diplomats, the Associated Press/Google reports (ap.google.com, 2/15).
The ban was lifted following a 2003 lawsuit against the State Department when an HIV-positive man was disqualified from foreign service due to his HIV status, despite the fact that he met all other requirements. According to the AP, people living with HIV will now be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to ensure that they meet the “worldwide availability” standard.
Bebe Anderson—HIV project director of New York-based advocacy group Lambda Legal—heralded the decision.
“At long last,” she says, “the State Department is taking down its sign that read, ‘People with HIV need not apply.’”
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