On Friday, President Obama lifted the 22 year HIV travel ban which prevented HIV positive individuals from visiting the United States. The ban was imposed in an era of great fear about HIV and AIDS, and was cited as being needed to prevent the spread of the infection. As the SF Chronicle reports,
"In 1987, the U.S. health officials added HIV/AIDS to the list of communicable diseases that could prevent a person from entering the country. Congress, in 1993, codified the ban into law, which was signed by President Bill Clinton."
But even in 1987, when the ban was imposed, scientists knew that the infections was not spread through casual contact. By 1993 when it was signed into law, this was public knowledge.
For years, AIDS activists have called to lift to the ban, which they felt was discriminatory, and which was seen as perpetuating fear and intolerance of people with HIV / AIDS. So when it was lifted on Friday, this was seen as a very positive step.
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