US HIV travel ban lifted

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Even as new airport security restrictions go into effect for passengers bound for the United States, the is lifting another kind of travel restriction — the one on travellers with HIV. Anchor Jeb Sharp has more.

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JEB SHARP: As we reported the United States has imposed tighter screening procedures on certain passengers traveling to this country.  But the US also lifted a travel restriction today.  That’s the 22-year ban on anyone with HIV or AIDS entering the country.  The ban was introduced at the height of fears about a global AIDS epidemic.  Legislation lifting the HIV/AIDS travel ban came into effect today.  President Obama says that the ban was not compatible with American ambitions of becoming a world leader in the fight against AIDS.  The ban did have one tangible effect on that ambition says Rachel Tiven who heads the advocacy group Immigration Equality.

RACHEL TIVEN: There has not been a major AIDS conference in the United States since 1990.  So 20 years in which the US has missed out on a chance to host and really showcase the work on combating the epidemic.

JEB: That’s set to change.  The 2012 World AIDS Conference will be held in Washington.

RACHEL: And that brings 25,000 delegates from around the world to the United States to address the most recent terrific research.

JEB: The Human Rights Campaign, a Gay Rights group also hailed the end of the ban.  The group’s president said today a sad chapter in our nation’s response to people with HIV and AIDS has finally come to a close and we are a better nation for it.

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