Quigley Statement on End to HIV/AIDS Travel and Immigration Ban

WASHINGTON D.C. Today, Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL) issued this statement following President Obama's announcement to end the HIV Travel and Immigration Ban during the signing ceremony for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act:

"Today is a great victory for equality. When policy is dictated by prejudice and intolerance all Americans lose. This is an important step toward eliminating the antiquated stigmas associated with those living with HIV, and assuring that they are treated with dignity and respect.

The travel ban was a blatant example of discrimination because we have known for decades that HIV cannot be transmitted by casual contact. I applaud President Obama for ignoring the voices of bigotry and listening, instead, to science and common-sense."

Congressman Quigley spoke out against the HIV Travel Ban on the House floor in July and also wrote a letter calling for its end that was signed by members of the Illinois Congressional delegation and sent to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Congress passed the policy reversal for the HIV Travel Ban last year. It was signed into law, but the Bush Administration was unable to finalize the change before the term ended. The HIV Travel Ban prevented non-U.S. citizens who were HIV-positive from traveling or immigrating to the United States unless the Department of Homeland Security granted them a waiver.