Center for HIV Law & Policy

Center for HIV Law & Policy Abolitionists working to make positive justice possible. https://linktr.ee/hivlawandpolicy

CHLP fights stigma and discrimination at the intersection of HIV, race, health status, disability, class, s*xuality, and gender identity and expression, with a focus on criminal and public health systems. As part of this work, we support movement building that amplifies the power of individuals and communities to mobilize for change rooted in racial, gender, and economic justice. We do this throug

h legal advocacy, high-impact policy initiatives, and the creation of cross-issue partnerships, networks, and resources. We support and increase the advocacy power and HIV expertise of attorneys, community members, and service providers, and advance policy initiatives that are grounded in and uphold social justice, science, and the public health. We do this by providing high-quality legal and policy materials through an accessible web-based resource bank; cultivating interdisciplinary support networks of experts, activists, and professionals; and coordinating a strategic leadership hub to track and advance advocacy on critical HIV legal, health, and human rights issues. CHLP offers a collaborative approach to the persistent problem of HIV discrimination, and the shortage of trained advocates to address the problem: a national center dedicated to coordinating and expanding the power of HIV advocates. Strategic coordination and sharing of resources is a sound approach to maximizing the representation of those with HIV, allowing existing organizations to use limited resources as efficiently as possible. CHLP works with experts and community members from local direct service providers to national organizations to identify, create, and share high-quality legal and policy resources and advocacy strategies. Please note: CHLP does not provide direct client services or legal advice. If you are looking for an attorney to provide you with legal representation or advice, please consult the Legal Assistance page in our Resource Bank. CHLP is an independent project of the National Center for Civic Innovation (NCCI), http://www.civicinnovation.org, a 501(c)(3) organization created by the Fund for the City of New York, 121 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10013-5675.

🇧🇷 CHLP’s traveled to Rio de Janeiro for AIDS 2026, the 26th International AIDS Conference. Our Executive Director S. ...
08/28/2026

🇧🇷 CHLP’s traveled to Rio de Janeiro for AIDS 2026, the 26th International AIDS Conference. Our Executive Director S. Mandisa Moore-O’Neal, Senior PJP Attorney Jada Hicks, Staff Attorney Sean McCormick, and Grants Manager Nyx Zierhut gathered with thousands of HIV professionals at the world's largest conference on HIV and AIDS and:

🌟 mingled with international activists, including trans q***r s*x worker networks
🌟 met with fellow advocates, including the HIV Justice Network, in the Global Village
🌟 convened with funders, including content creation with Elton John AIDS Foundation

Jada and Sean presented two posters at the conference that highlight research on HIV criminalization in the U.S. “It was energizing to connect with long-time allies and those doing international work,” said Sean. “And to bring our poster messaging about HIV criminalization to those in the biomedical field, who are less familiar with this aspect of HIV advocacy.”

▶️ It Takes All of Us: Decriminalizing HIV in the United States and what it means for other countries
Authors: Sean McCormick and Jada Hicks, CHLP; Ariel Luna, Equality Federation (Equality Federation); and Ronnie Taylor, FreeState Justice (FreeState Justice).

▶️ Exposing Inequity: Assessing the scope and enforcement of HIV criminalization on women and Black, brown, and LGBTQ+ people in the U.S.
Authors: Sean McCormick and Jada Hicks, CHLP; Robert Suttle, Robert Suttle Consulting (Robert Suttle); Nathan Cisneros, Williams Institute at UCLA Law (The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law).

đź“– Read more about the posters at hivlawandpolicy.org/resources or https://www.hivlawandpolicy.org/resources/international-aids-conference-posters-chlp-et-al-2026

đź“· Photos:
#1 Jada, Sean, and Mandisa at AIDS 2026.
#2 Mandisa, Jada, Nyx, and Sean at the HIV Justice Network booth in the Global Village.
#3 Sean and Jada interviewed by Sharmini Mahendrasingam, Elton John AIDS Foundation.
#4 Jada and Ariel discuss their poster, It Takes All of Us.
#5 Sean and Robert discuss their poster, Exposing Inequality.
#6 Collage of protests and performances from the Global Village.

08/26/2026

CHLP’s S. Mandisa Moore-O’Neal and Kytara Epps explain what we mean when we say intersectionality.

When we say intersectionality, we’re talking about a way of understanding different forms of oppression and their impact on our lives. Intersectionality gives us a more expansive way of understanding how power and oppression operate. It is not just a layer of multiple identities stacked upon each other to calculate your level of oppression. Intersectionality is a framework and lens to look at how we get to the outcome or intersection of how people are made vulnerable due to oppressive structures.

As part of our strategic planning process, CHLP’s developed this and other shared definitions for terms that deepen collective understanding of our work. These definitions help anchor reflection and assessment as our work unfolds within an ever-changing terrain. Check out CHLP’s justice and liberation glossary at https://www.hivlawandpolicy.org/glossary

08/26/2026

In this reel, CHLP Senior PJP Attorney Jada Hicks spoke to Elton John AIDS Foundation at the IAC conference in Brazil about the importance of the leadership of people most impacted by HIV and HIV criminalization, especially Black and brown people with lived experience.

08/21/2026

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on August 21, 1996. Today marks the 30th anniversary of the legislation, which originally aimed to secure health insurance continuity when changing jobs and later evolved into national patient privacy and data security standards.

Watch this CHLP webinar that explains the basics of HIPAA, including when it applies and when it doesn't, and how it protects patient confidentiality within the context of HIV and public health. Walk away with a greater understanding of HIPAA as well as how it relates to the HIV decriminalization movement.

CHLP is grateful to have amazing interns showing up to do this work with us all summer. They come to CHLP inspired to co...
08/21/2026

CHLP is grateful to have amazing interns showing up to do this work with us all summer. They come to CHLP inspired to contribute to the important work that we do to liberate people living with HIV and all of our communities.

Mackhai Nguyen is a rising 3L at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. Mackhai is interested in immigration, LGBTQI+ issues, and breaking down the carceral system.

Thank you, Mackhai!

CHLP is an abolitionist legal and policy organization. Our envisions and works for a world where HIV and other stigmatized health conditions are no longer criminalized but met with compassion and the resources to thrive.

CHLP is grateful to have amazing interns showing up to do this work with us all summer. They come to CHLP inspired to co...
08/14/2026

CHLP is grateful to have amazing interns showing up to do this work with us all summer. They come to CHLP inspired to contribute to the important work that we do to liberate people living with HIV and all of our communities.

Madina Tabesh is a rising 3L at Rutgers Law School and joined CHLP this summer as a 2026 Gleason/Kettel Summer Law Fellow. Awarded by The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, the fellowship supports emerging leaders committed to advancing LGBTQ+ rights and equity through law and public policy.

Read more at https://www.hivlawandpolicy.org/news/chlp-congratulates-2026-gleasonkettel-summer-law-fellow-madina-tabesh

Madina has a background in public health, health equity, and civil rights advocacy. Her interests in healthcare, data privacy, and social justice align closely with CHLP's work to challenge stigma, discrimination, criminalization, and surveillance impacting LGBTQ+ communities and people living with HIV.

Thank you, Madina!

CHLP is an abolitionist legal and policy organization. Our envisions and works for a world where HIV and other stigmatized health conditions are no longer criminalized but met with compassion and the resources to thrive.

Pennsylvania’s newly signed SB 45 ends a discriminatory HIV-specific felony enhancement that punished people engaged in ...
08/13/2026

Pennsylvania’s newly signed SB 45 ends a discriminatory HIV-specific felony enhancement that punished people engaged in s*x work more harshly simply because they were living with HIV. That change is the result of years of organizing by people living with HIV and advocates across Pennsylvania—and it deserves to be celebrated.

But we cannot call SB 45 an unqualified HIV decriminalization victory. The law also expands other forms of criminalization, further conflating consensual s*x work with trafficking, increasing prosecutorial power, and imposing harsher penalties that can put s*x workers, trafficking survivors, and the people they rely on at greater risk of policing and incarceration.

In a new open letter, CHLP, Positive Women's Network - USA, and The SERO Project name both truths. Progress for people living with HIV cannot come at the expense of other communities targeted by the criminal legal system. Our movements are strongest when we practice principled solidarity—and when our victories reduce criminalization rather than shift its harms onto others.

Read the full letter at https://www.hivlawandpolicy.org/news/national-hiv-organizations-caution-pennsylvania-ends-hiv-discrimination-while-deepening-harms

08/12/2026

CHLP’s Sean McCormick explains what we mean when we say harm reduction.

When we say harm reduction, we’re talking about the philosophy and set of practices that center the humanity and self-determination of people in lessening the impact of oppressive systems. Harm reductionists aim to reduce the social, political, and legal consequences of criminalization, surveillance, and stigmatization, which have emerged as a response to issues facing our communities.

As part of our strategic planning process, CHLP’s developed this and other shared definitions for terms that deepen collective understanding of our work. These definitions help anchor reflection and assessment as our work unfolds within an ever-changing terrain. Check out CHLP’s justice and liberation glossary at https://www.hivlawandpolicy.org/glossary

08/12/2026

Let's talk about it!

08/10/2026

Join the HIV BASIC Collective for this discussion of The Consensus Statement on HIV Bodily Autonomy, Surveillance, and Informed Consent (BASIC) and the next steps in this work to build collective power for an HIV response grounded in bodily autonomy, informed consent, and freedom from surveillance and criminalization.

Launched in March 2026 by Michael Scarce and Melanie Reese, CHLP, Positive Women’s Network-USA, The Sero Project, Transgender Law Center, and HIV Justice Network, the HIV BASIC initiative brings together people living with HIV, abolitionists, legal advocates, and organizers engaged and determined to address the longstanding issues at the intersection of health data collection, surveillance, and criminalization.

Monday, August 10, starting at 3:00pm ET for 90 minutes

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