Page 3 - qt edition #49

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022 THE QUEENS TIMES PAGE 3

Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas to Introduce Bill Democracy Wins! Court Agrees With

in the Assembly to Decriminalize Sexual Activity of People Assemblymember Pheffer Amato And
With STIs Orders NYC Board of Elections to Count
Absentee Ballots in 23rd AD Race
New York May Become the Next
State to Repeal Its STI Criminal- New York State Supreme Court noted that under state law, the in-
ization Law Judge Joseph Risi today ordered terpretation of election laws and
the New York City Board of Elec- rules “shall be construed liberally
In honor of World AIDS tions to count 94 absentee ballots in favor of… protecting the right
Day, Assemblymember Jessica and 4 affidavit ballots which the of voters to have their ballot cast
González-Rojas announced that board had mistakenly declared and counted.”
she will introduce a bill in the invalid. The order came as a “Voting is the cornerstone
Assembly to decriminalize the result of a court action brought of our American democracy,”
sexual activity of people living by Assemblymember Pheffer said Doug Forand, campaign
with sexually transmitted infec- Amato to preserve and protect spokesperson. “We will not allow
tions (STIs). More specifically, the integrity of the election pro- anyone to silence the voices of
the new bill would repeal New cess by ensuring that every ballot voters who have exercised their
York State Public Health Law that should be counted would be constitutional right to have their
2307, a 76-year-old law, which counted. votes counted. We are grateful to
makes it a misdemeanor for any The 94 absentee ballots in the courts for following the law
person with a known STI to have question were all from voters and rightfully ruling that these
sexual intercourse with another. who had been deemed qualified ballots must be counted.”
The bill would also expunge any to vote by the Board of Election Due to the close margin, the
prior convictions. Currently, the when they were initially issued race is already subject to an on-
statute has no exceptions for cases their absentee ballots. Though going mandatory hand recount.
when a person with a known STI they were required to by law, the Assemlymember Pheffer Amato
discloses their status, is undetect- Board took no action to notify currently leads by 7 votes overall
able, or uses protection – it broadly these voters of their ability to vote with almost 60% of the ballots re-
criminalizes all sexual activity in a different manner, or to cure counted. The recount is on track
regardless of harm reduction ac- their ballots. Further, the board to conclude Thursday.
tivity. By repealing Public Health
Law 2307, New York would join City Council Speaker Adams And
twelve other states that have either Chancellor Matos Rodríguez Unveil
repealed or amended HIV crimi-
nalization laws. Assemblymember Plans For ‘One Stop’ Welcome Center
González-Rojas is a member of the at York College to Help Students
Assembly Health Committee and
is currently one of four LGBTQ Re-Enroll in School
legislators in the New York State
Assembly.
The criminalization of people across New York State. If passed, and STI transmission through pro-
living with STIs in New York is this new bill would ensure that gressive public health approaches,
rare, but it does occur. Not only are people living with STIs can no yet archaic laws that criminalize
people criminalized pursuant to longer be held criminally liable people living with STIs remain
Public Health Law 2307, but they for having sex. Despite advances on the books. It is past time to
are at risk of prosecution under in treatment and diagnosis, the repeal these stigmatizing laws,
assault statutes, and of civil com- stigmatization and dissemination which disincentivize disclosure,
mitment. Violating Public Health of myths concerning people living ignore current science, and subject
Law 2307 may be determined with STIs and HIV are still high, LGBTQ+ people, young people
to be a “Crime Involving Moral even in New York. Decriminal- of color, and Black and brown
Turpitude’’ for the purpose of im- ization is one important step to cisgender women to unneces-
migration, and a conviction could ending that stigma. More work sary policing. Repealing Public
either make someone deportable must be done to increase testing, Health Law 2307 and ending pros-
or make it difficult for someone and treatment, and to provide re- ecutions based on people’s health This $4.4 million effort is part York’s Power Breakfast and in her
to adjust their immigration status. sources to people living with STIs. status is a moral and public health of CUNY Reconnect, a program State of the City address.
Black and brown young people, The legislation is backed by imperative,” said Jared Trujillo, to encourage New Yorkers with CUNY Reconnect naviga-
Black and brown cisgender wom- the New York Civil Liberties Senior Policy Counsel at the New college credits to complete their tors, which were hired when the
en, low-income people, LGBTQ+ Union (NYCLU), the Center for York Civil Liberties Union. degrees. program launched this fall, have
people, and those occupying mul- HIV Law and Policy, New Pride “PHL §2307 is an outdated already reached out to more than
tiple marginalized identities have Agenda, Legal Action Center, 76-year-old law that reflects old 3,000 former students re-en- 50,000 people who were once en-
well-documented histories of po- Housing Works, Make the Road prejudices and is contrary to rolled this semester and more rolled at CUNY and did not finish
lice trauma, criminalization, and NY, Legal Aid Society, Transgen- modern science. It stigmatizes than 10,000 students have been a degree. They have engaged with
harassment from law enforcement. der Law Center, Treatment Action STIs and HIV which is contrary contacted. over 17,000 of those students and
These groups are also at risk for Group, and Lambda Legal. to public health and disproportion- re-enrolled 3,000 of them. Help-
HIV and other STIs. Public health “On this World AIDS Day, ately harms communities of color. New York City Council Speaker ing these former students resume
research has found that increasing I’m honored to join advocates in We need more access to testing Adrienne Adams joined Chancel- their pursuit of degrees or other
criminalization doesn’t change be- announcing that I’m introducing and healthcare, not criminaliza- lor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez and credentials will enable them to
havior and that HIV transmission legislation to finally decriminal- tion.” - Jose Abrigo, HIV Project York College President Berenecea advance their careers, improving
has gone down nationally. This ize the sexual activity of people Director, Lambda Legal. Johnson Eanes today to unveil their economic mobility and the
repeal bill anticipates potential living with sexually transmitted “PHL 2307 is indicative of the plans for the construction of York city’s post-pandemic economy.
changes in politics that would infections (STIs), including HIV. lack of sexual health and infec- College’s new Welcome Center, a “Helping working New York-
result in greater enforcement or New Yorkers living with HIV or tious disease literacy surrounding dedicated facility where former ers complete their college degrees
weaponization of Public Health other STIs already face barriers the routes, risks, prevention tools, students will meet with counselors will expand opportunities for eco-
Law 2307 as it stands, which to accessing the care and support and treatment realities for the about re-enrolling in school and nomic mobility that advance our
would further perpetuate race, they need, and criminalizing transmission of HIV and other in- getting the services and support communities and local economy,”
gender, and class inequities in the them for sexual behavior only fectious diseases. This law works they need to complete a degree or said Speaker Adrienne Adams.
criminal legal system. perpetuates racial inequities and to perpetuate discrimination and credential. “CUNY Reconnect has already
2023 is the 20th anniversary of stigma rather than combat trans- vilify those living with stigma- The new center is part of supported thousands of students
Lawrence v. Texas, the Supreme mission. Our laws should reflect tized diseases, undermining New CUNY Reconnect, a $4.4 million re-enrolling at CUNY and will
Court case that decriminalized modern-day science. We know York’s public health goals to ad- program advanced by Speaker reach even more people with the
adult consensual sexual relation- that increasing access to testing, dress infectious diseases and end Adams in this year’s city budget services and guidance they need.
ships after decades of police ha- treatment, and other resources the HIV epidemic.” - Jada Hicks, to engage and re-enroll thousands The addition of a new Welcome
rassment of marginalized people. helps to curb the transmission of Staff Attorney, The Center for of working-age New Yorkers who Center at York College will fur-
Repealing New York’s archaic STIs, not criminalization. This HIV Law and Policy. have earned credits but left college ther advance these efforts, and I
statute is another step toward re- archaic part of New York’s Public “PHL §2307 is an archaic law before they graduated. Black and am excited by the impact it will
specting individual autonomy and Health Law belongs in the trash that maintains a harmful moral Latina women disproportion- have for students at my alma ma-
protecting vulnerable populations heap of history, and I urge my panic about people living with ately comprise the population ter. I am grateful for the leadership
from dubious policing. Advocates colleagues in Albany to support HIV and STIs. Sex workers and of students with college credits of Chancellor Matos Rodriguez,
believe it’s time for the legislature this bill in the upcoming legis- people profiled as sex workers, but no degree. The program was York College President Johnson
to recognize that Public Health lative session,” said New York particularly trans and nonbi- envisioned by the Center for an Eanes, my Council colleagues,
Law 2307 is counterproductive to State Assemblymember Jessica nary people of color, are put at Urban Future’s research and first and everyone who is supporting
public health measures to reduce González-Rojas. proposed by Speaker Adams at
STI transmission, including HIV, “New York has reduced HIV (Continued on page 10) the Association for a Better New (Continued on page 4)