WASHINGTON STATE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
NEWS RELEASE
June 26, 2008 For further information contact:
Marc Brenman
Executive Director
(360) 753-2558
mbrenman@hum.wa.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Discrimination Based on HIV Status is Against the Law
OLYMPIA, WA – For twenty years, the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD) has explicitly prohibited discrimination on the basis of real or perceived HIV/ AIDS status. Whether you already know your HIV status, or plan to learn more on June 27 as part of National HIV Testing Day, it is important to know your rights to nondiscrimination on the basis of HIV status.
The Washington State Human Rights Commission (WSHRC) enforces the WLAD, which prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodation, credit and lending, and insurance.
Under the WLAD, it is illegal to discriminate because of person’s real or perceived HIV status or because of an association with a family member or friend who is living with HIV. Examples of illegal discrimination include refusal to allow entrance to a place of public accommodation; unequal terms, conditions or privileges of employment; denial of service; or refusal to hire or rent.
In recent years, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have advised health care providers to make HIV screening more routine. As a result, more people have the opportunity to learn their status and access appropriate care. Marc Brenman, WSHRC Executive Director said, “Historically, negative stereotypes about HIV have been used to stigmatize entire groups of people. As more people learn their HIV status, we want to make sure people know their rights. With the advancement of HIV medications and treatments, many HIV positive people have returned to work and other life activities. People with HIV should be treated no differently than those without HIV.”
To learn more about HIV testing, visit http://www.hivtest.org/index.cfm. For an HIV testing site near you, send a text message with your zip code to KNOWIT(566948). To file a discrimination complaint, visit www.hum.wa.gov or call 1-800-233-3247 VOICE or 1-800-300-7525 TTY.
The Commissioners of the WSHRC are Yvonne Lopez Morton, Chair, Spokane; Ellis Casson, Seattle; Deborah Sioux Cano-Lee, Olympia; Jerry Hebert, Kitsap County; and Shawn Murinko, Olympia. The Executive Director of the WSHRC is Marc Brenman.
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