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Last Friday, Oct 5, the Supreme Court released a decision that will affect how HIV positive people will be prosecuted when accused of aggravated sexual assault for failing to disclose their HIV status to a sex partner. A coalition of HIV/AIDS groups who acted as intervenors in the two cases called the decision “a cold endorsement of AIDS-phobia,” with several groups criticizing the Supreme Court for perpetuating the stigma and violence lived by HIV+ people, particularly women.

Taking their cue from a famous ACT-UP! public intervention in 1988, members of Canada’s AIDS ACTION NOW! unfurled a banner that read “CLEAN NEEDLES STOPS AIDS” at a Nationals Baseball game in Washington, DC Friday night July 20. Two days earlier, 8 activists were arrested for hoisting a banner near the US Capitol building also promoting harm reduction.

After seven years under consideration by the US Federal Drug Administration (FDA), at-home HIV saliva test, OraQuick, has been approved for distribution in over 30,000 US pharmacies. AIDS researchers and activists in Canada largely support Health Canada approving at-home tests here, but some remain wary…

The prosecution is asking for 2 years of prison time for an American living in Montréal convicted of sexual assault for failing to disclose his HIV status to a partner. The conviction comes as the Supreme Court is reviewing two cases which will determine whether the criminalization of HIV non-disclosure is a violation of the Charter of Human Rights.

From February 23 to March 4, 2012, for the fourth consecutive year, the RADICAL QUEER SEMAINE will host a week of events on gender and sexuality and occupy a main space for 10 days “free from heterosexism and oppression.” The rag-tag group of queers has assembled a gigantic programme of workshops, parties, and art events, starting this Thursday, Feb 23rd with their opening panel: Queer In/Justice. 2229 Ste Catherine Est, 6:30pm

Thirty-two activists and sympathizers were gathered last night at the offices of ACCM, brought together by agit-prop poster art and a shared desire to combat serophobia. The debate arose following the flash-demo February 7 against the criminalization of HIV non-disclosure during which two posters designed by Toronto artists Mikiki and Allyson Mitchell for Toronto’s AIDS ACTION NOW! were displayed by protesters.

The Omnibus Crime Bill C-10 is poised to set Canada back and undo decades of legislation and social services that truly prevent crime and build safer communities. The Bill will focus on petty crime, and further criminalize and imprison vulnerable people, such as queers, HIV positive people, and First Nations. Forget the Box staff writer Ethan Cox looked at how IT COULD GET WORSE if Bill C-10 is allowed to pass.

Michel Lavoie has been sentences to 6 years and 7 months in prison for knowingly transmitting HIV to his ex-lover. He was sentenced yesterday, April 7, at the Palais de Justice in Trois-Rivières.

With law enforcers across the country seeking more prosecutions for HIV transmission or exposure, it seems the criminalization of HIV non-disclosure is here to stay.

Accused of having unprotected sex with numerous partners without disclosing his HIV positive status, Steve Biron was back in court in Québec City Jan 31. Once again denied bail, Biron will stay in jail until his court appearance on March 21st.