Abdul El-Sayed Supports Repeal of Michigan HIV Disclosure Law

<p>Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed called for repealing a Michigan law that made it a felony for individuals aware of their HIV-positive status to engage in sexual activity without informing their partner. This stance has remained consistent as he campaigns in a competitive Senate race.</p><p>During his unsuccessful bid for Michigan governor in 2018, El-Sayed criticized the law, which imposed a prison sentence of up to four years for those who did not disclose their HIV status before engaging in sexual penetration.</p><p>"You should not be criminalized for a disease. That is absolutely wrong. It’s hateful. It’s discriminatory, and we can, as a state, do better. You can count on me for that," El-Sayed stated during his gubernatorial campaign.</p><p>Currently, El-Sayed, an epidemiologist and former health director for Wayne County, is competing against former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in the midterm race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters. This race is crucial for Democrats aiming to regain control of the Senate.</p><p>In 2018, El-Sayed's campaign website advocated for the repeal of HIV/AIDS criminalization laws and the inclusion of transgender individuals in state Medicaid. When asked about decriminalizing HIV, he remarked, "One of the big things that we have to recognize about HIV is that no disease can be illegal. The continuing forward of these laws on the books stigmatize people with the disease."</p><p>Governor Gretchen Whitmer also expressed support for changing the law, stating, "It’s wrong to criminalize sickness, which is what this law has effectively done. It absolutely should be revisited."</p><p>The law was amended in early 2019, following bipartisan support in a GOP-controlled legislature. The revised law limited felony charges to cases involving intent to transmit HIV or actual transmission, reduced certain non-transmission offenses to misdemeanors, and protected medically suppressed individuals from prosecution under reckless-disregard provisions.</p><p>El-Sayed's campaign spokesperson, Roxie Richner, confirmed his support for the bipartisan reform bill that passed in 2019, stating, "As a public health professional, Abdul has fought to support programs that stem the spread of diseases, including HIV."</p><p>Richner also criticized the Trump administration for defunding organizations that provide frontline care to prevent HIV transmission, asserting that El-Sayed would work to protect public health infrastructure if elected to the Senate.</p><p>El-Sayed reiterated his commitment to fighting discrimination against individuals with HIV. Recently, he received an endorsement from the Human Rights Campaign, a prominent LGBTQ advocacy group, and emphasized his intention to ensure that all Michiganders can live without discrimination.</p><p>If elected, El-Sayed would be the first Muslim senator in the United States. His campaign also includes support for "Medicare for all," calls to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza, which he has described as "genocide" against Palestinians.</p>