HIV Is Not A Crime Awareness Day: Breaking the Stigma and Advocating for Change



HIV Is Not A Crime Awareness Day: Breaking the Stigma and Advocating for Change

Every year on February 28th, we observe HIV Is Not A Crime Awareness Day, a crucial time to educate, advocate, and fight against the criminalization of people living with HIV. This day highlights the injustice of outdated laws and policies that disproportionately target and stigmatize individuals based on their HIV status. It also serves as a call to action for policy reform, education, and community support.

Understanding HIV Criminalization

HIV criminalization refers to laws that penalize people living with HIV for behaviors that would not be considered crimes if they did not have HIV. In many states across the U.S., people can be prosecuted for non-disclosure, perceived exposure, or even transmission—regardless of actual risk or intent. Many of these laws were enacted in the early days of the HIV epidemic, when fear and misinformation outweighed scientific understanding. Today, these laws remain outdated and fail to reflect the advances in HIV treatment and prevention.

Research has shown that people living with HIV who are on effective treatment and maintain an undetectable viral load cannot transmit the virus (Undetectable = Untransmittable, or U=U). Yet, many laws do not take this into account, leading to wrongful prosecutions and reinforcing stigma.

The Impact of HIV Criminalization

HIV criminalization disproportionately affects Black, Latino, LGBTQ+, and low-income individuals, exacerbating existing inequalities in healthcare and the justice system. These laws discourage people from getting tested and seeking treatment, as they create fear around knowing one’s status. Instead of reducing HIV transmission, they fuel stigma, discrimination, and fear.

Advocacy and Reform Efforts

There is hope for change. Advocacy groups, legal organizations, and people living with HIV are fighting to reform these unjust laws. Organizations such as The Sero Project, Positive Women’s Network, and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation are working to repeal or modernize these laws, ensuring they align with current scientific knowledge.

How You Can Take Action

  1. Educate Yourself and Others – Learn about HIV criminalization laws in your state and share information with your community.
  2. Support Policy Reform – Contact lawmakers and advocate for the modernization or repeal of outdated HIV criminalization laws.
  3. Join the Conversation – Use social media to raise awareness with hashtags like #HIVIsNotACrime #EndHIVCriminalization #UequalsU.
  4. Support Organizations Fighting for Change – Donate to or volunteer with groups working to end HIV criminalization.
  5. Encourage Testing and Treatment – Promoting regular HIV testing and treatment access helps reduce stigma and improves public health outcomes.

Breaking the Stigma Together

HIV Is Not A Crime Awareness Day is more than a day of recognition—it’s a movement for justice, equality, and dignity. By working together, we can create a future where people living with HIV are treated with fairness, respect, and compassion, rather than fear and discrimination.

HIV is not a crime. Stigma is. Let’s work together to end it.






We appreciate you taking the time to engage with our work. Our mission | The Swingle Family Foundation aims to be a beacon for LGBTQ+ individuals and their rights by participating in community outreach and providing services needed by the community. 

You can find more information about our programs and initiatives on our website: The Swingle Family Foundation Inc Website . Join the conversation and access valuable resources on The HUB
Location: Easton, PA, USA

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