In Gates v Rowland, HIV positive prisoners sued under section 504 to be allowed to work as food preparers and servers in the prison kitchen. The prison argued that excluding the prisoners based solely on their HIV status was justified on the grounds that other prisoners “frequently have irrational suspicions or phobias” about PWAs that will not be stopped by educating them on the real facts about HIV. Prison officials claimed that by allowing positive prisoners to handle food could lead to violence from other prisoners directed toward the positive prisoners and the prison staff.
Its a tough battle. Educate yourself and get as prepared as you can. Incarceration with HIV is challenging at best. Keep your eyes on the light at the end of the tunnel.
HIV would be hard in any situation let alone in a prison. People are always afraid of the unknown.
ReplyDelete