I believe that Sickle Cell Anemia and HIV/AIDS are two issues within the Black/urban communities that are forgotten. There are thirty-five (35) states that have HIV and STD criminalization laws in effect. They were implemented during the early years of the HIV pandemic to discourage various behaviors that would or could lead to one being exposed to HIV. They were also put into place to promote safer sex practices and a means of accountability for some. Today, many are advocating that these laws are unfair and should be repealed, reexamined, and/or modified.
You are to speak before a national panel who will be making recommendations whether to keep the criminalization laws as they are and/or strengthen them or modified and/or repeal them.
