01/03/2026
HIV is not a crime. But in 32 U.S. states and 90+ countries around the world, outdated laws still prosecute people for their HIV status. And these laws don't affect everyone equally.
In Maryland, between 2000 and 2024, Black people accounted for 82% of HIV-related criminal cases, despite being 30% of the population. In 2025, Maryland eradicated laws that criminalize people for having HIV.
This progress is possible because of sustained advocacy.
That's why the Elton John AIDS Foundation partners with Center for HIV Law & Policy, backing over 20 years of legal advocacy rooted in human rights. With funding from the Foundation, the Positive Justice Project is working to end HIV criminalization in the U.S. by:
🔸 Advocating for policy reform
🔸 Creating tools and resources for leaders and community members
🔸 Educates policymakers and communities
🔸 Support for lawyers handling HIV-related criminal cases
Criminalizing HIV doesn’t prevent transmission.
It discourages testing.
It pushes people away from care.
HIV is not a crime. It’s time our laws caught up with the science.
