The U.S. Justice Department has sued the state of Tennessee over its decades-old felony aggravated prostitution law, arguing that it illegally imposes tougher criminal penalties on people who are HIV positive.

The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday sued the state of Tennessee over its decades-old felony aggravated prostitution law, arguing that it illegally imposes tougher criminal penalties on people who are HIV positive.

The lawsuit, filed in western Tennessee, follows an investigation completed in December by the Justice Department that warned that the statute violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. The case heads to court separately from another federal lawsuit filed in October by LGBTQ+ and civil rights advocates over the aggravated prostitution law.

Tennessee is the only state in the United States that imposes a lifetime registration as a “violent sex offender” if convicted of engaging in sex work while living with HIV, regardless of whether the person knew they could transmit the disease.

  • chemical_cutthroat@lemmy.world
    34·
    9 months ago

    There doesn’t have to be an epidemic. There just has to be one case. Ever. One time where another human life is ruined by a sex worker with a deadly virus. Do you not agree? Want to put a number to it? How many people have to die so sex workers with HIV can fuck indiscriminately? Do we even need one? Or can we preempt the misery and just say, “hey, be a decent human and don’t kill other people.” I’m glad your country doesn’t give a shit about people with HIV selling their disease on the street. Good for wherever you live, I hope it works out. Personally, I’d prefer safeguards against that shit. Fuck whoever you want to fuck, but if you are selling it, certain safeguards for health need to be observed.

    • SheeEttinEnglish
      1·
      9 months ago

      To use your previous example, there’s been a nonzero number of people working in food service while having communicable diseases and getting people sick, but nobody has made a big deal out of that.

    • Deceptichum@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      33·
      9 months ago

      There are safeguards, it’s called a decent healthcare system.

      This isn’t the 80s, you can drop the AIDS panic.

      • chemical_cutthroat@lemmy.world
        34·
        9 months ago

        I’m sorry, what?

        A decent healthcare system doesn’t mean shit if you don’t require people with a deadly disease to tell people THEY HAVE A DEADLY DISEASE. Sure, you can help those infected to live better lives, but they would be living much better ones if the prostitute had told them they have HIV so they could make an informed decision not to fuck someone who could kill them. Do you even read what you write? How can you even begin to justify that logic? That’s some sociopathic shit. Again, I’m not trying to say people with HIV shouldn’t be allowed to have sex. Go for it. But informed consent is a big deal.

        • Deceptichum@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          52·
          9 months ago

          Mate you’re more likely to die from a car than you are HIV. It’s not the death sentence you think it is.

          If you’re so worried about it, don’t sleep with a sex worker. It’s not a big deal and doesn’t cause these huge issues you think it does.

          Frankly I’m going to trust expert opinions on the issue over uninformed fear mongering comments.

          • chemical_cutthroat@lemmy.world
            35·
            9 months ago

            Yeah, but a car is a necessary evil in today’s world. Fucking a sex worker who doesn’t disclose their list of deadly diseases isn’t. If you don’t care about it, great, I’m happy for you, but maybe think about others who may not be so comfortable with the idea. Maybe everyone doesn’t share the same joie de vivre as you with regards to completely avoidable lifelong disease. So, how about you be a team player and agree that regulations on informed consent of HIV infected sex workers is a pretty low bar to clear for a better world.

            • Deceptichum@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
              42·
              9 months ago

              If they’re uncomfortable with the idea, they can not do it. Hiring a sex worker is not a necessity in today’s world, nor has it ever been one.

              The risk is so low it’s insignificant to worry about, the risk of affecting someones livelihood from denying them work is higher. How about you be a team player and realise not having regulations discriminating against people with an illness that with treatment is non-transmissible is a pretty low bar to clear for a better world. And instead channel your anger into why your healthcare system doesn’t provide this easy solution to the issue for your fellow citizens.

              • dlpkl@lemmy.world
                22·
                9 months ago

                You take your car to the mechanic. The technician has a faulty torque wrench and isnt sure if he fastened your lug nuts to the correct spec. It’s now your fault if your wheel flies off at 120kmh, since you only use your car to visit friends, but the poor mechanic has bills to pay!

              • chemical_cutthroat@lemmy.world
                14·
                9 months ago

                Oh fuck off with your healthcare high fucking horse. If you have HIV you don’t get to be a sex worker any more. Sorry, that avenue closed. Not everyone gets to be an astronaut. Some of us have to clean toilets. Find a new fucking job where you won’t run the risk of killing someone. This fucking entitled attitude you have and the lack of respect for your fellow human is honestly sickening. I’m done with this conversation now. Spout whatever sociopathic nonsense you want, I’m not going to reply.