Recognizing February 28th, 2025, as HIV is Not a Crime Awareness Day in the City of Philadelphia.

Recognizing February 28th, 2025, as HIV is Not a Crime Awareness Day in the City of Philadelphia. WHEREAS, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a chronic illness that can be effectively managed with anti-retroviral therapy; and since the early days of the HIV epidemic, science, treatment, and prevention have progressed significantly. Individuals now possess effective mechanisms to prevent the spread of HIV. However, misconceptions about HIV transmission, treatment, and prevention continue to guide our outdated laws, and prevent people who are living with, or at risk for, HIV from receiving the health care, services, and respect they need and deserve; and WHEREAS, We now possess effective mechanisms to prevent the transmission of HIV, including barrier protection, such as condoms, pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis; and WHEREAS, It has been recognized by national and international public health authorities that HIV treatment is also HIV prevention, since individuals living with HIV who are receiving antiretroviral therapy and have an undetectable viral load, which is less than 200 copies of HIV per milliliter of blood, cannot transmit HIV through sexual contact; and WHEREAS, Pennsylvanians living with HIV have been charged with crimes for conduct that would not be criminal or would be less severe but for their HIV status, a phenomenon known as HIV criminalization; and WHEREAS, Pennsylvanians living with HIV may fear prosecution or be threatened with prosec…