Equality California and other organizations praised Gov. Jerry Brown for signing legislation to reform outdated laws that unfairly criminalized and stigmatized people living with HIV.

The legislation, SB 239, was authored by state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Asssemblyman Todd Gloria (D-San Diego), and was co-sponsored by Equality California, APLA Health, ACLU of California, Black AIDS Institute, Lambda Legal and Positive Women’s Network-USA. The legislation updates California criminal law to approach transmission of HIV in the same way as transmission of other serious communicable diseases. It also brings California statutes up to date with the current understanding of HIV prevention, treatment and transmission.

The bill fulfills a key goal of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and is consistent with guidance from the U.S. Department of Justice and with California’s “Getting to Zero” new HIV infections strategy.

Over the past 25 years, laws were passed in California that criminalized otherwise legal behaviors or added penalties to existing crimes for people living with HIV. The laws were largely based on fears about people with HIV, a limited understanding of the risks of HIV transmission and a limited number of effective prevention options.

“Gov. Brown has corrected an ugly era of California politics when misunderstanding and fear of people living with HIV was widespread,” said Craig E. Thompson, CEO of APLA Health.

For information, visit eq-ca.org/chcr.