Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this piece are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the position of Positive Women’s Network – USA.

June 14, 2018

by Shyronn Jones, PWN-USA Georgia State Lead

Who took the photo?

The photo was taken by my teenage son, Shymere Jones.

The purpose of your artistic work

My purpose is to educate viewers about the detrimental effects of HIV criminalization and to bring awareness to the need to REPEAL HIV Criminalization laws.

What gave me the idea

I wanted to face the threat that already surrounds me in a culture afraid of African American women living with HIV and turn it into power. I wanted to represent myself as a person of strength, power, dignity and worthy of rights. Having the T-shirt in my possession and a social media presence, I was determined to take a strong and impactful photo that would provoke thought and action. I wanted my photo to make the viewer wonder why I’m taking a stand against HIV De-Criminalization in hopes they will discover the detrimental effects of HIV Criminalization.

How I came up with the positioning and visuals

I mimicked the silhouette on the HIV IS NOT A CRIME T-SHIRT. The only difference is that I’m fearlessly facing the viewer, so they can look at me, consider my life and feel my fierceness. I will not be silent about who I am and the injustice I face, nor will my beauty be contained or ignored.

Background info about the design

My artistic work signifies: “Hands up, don’t shoot” a gesture across the United States by people of color who are fed up with police violence and mass incarceration. The concrete wall in front of my apartment building reminds me of a prison cell block and how prison is one of the worst places for people living with HIV because treatment services and prevention methods are limited.

Why the issue is important to you

As a policy fellow with the Positive Women’s Network-USA (PWN-USA), a national membership body of women living with HIV who work to create a world where women living with HIV can live dignified lives free from stigma, repealing  HIV criminalization laws is one of my most passionate advocacy efforts because these laws worsen the ability to end HIV-related stigma and the HIV epidemic.

What I’m doing around it

I’m using my artistic work as an opportunity to engage with stakeholders about why HIV criminalization laws should be repealed. I have been educating the public and advising elected officials to repeal HIV-specific laws. My postcard is currently a part of “CELL COUNTS” an HIV Criminalization Visual AIDS exhibition on view in New York City curated by Kyle Croft and Asher Mones. Theodore “Ted” Kerr has written about my postcards for the” WALLS TURNED SIDEWAYS: Artist Confront the American Justice System” Catalog and Art Exhibition curated by Risa Puleo which will be displayed from August 25 through January 06, 2019 at the Contemporary Art Museum in Houston. I’m also featured in a short film along with my artistic work for Visual AIDS: Day With(out) Art. This film will be screened on World AIDS Day 2018 in over 100 museums in the United States.

Brief update on what has been happening in Georgia

The HIV criminal laws in Georgia around disclosure and “reckless conduct” were passed in 1988 and were intensified in 2003 with an “assault with intent” subsection added. While there were no related arrested in the first nine years of the law, since then an average of 27 people a year were arrested under Georgia’s HIV criminal law.

In 2017, a Georgia House of Representatives study committee (created by HR 240) held a public hearing focused on HIV. The committee heard presentations from clinicians and public health officials, including information on why HIV criminal laws should be revisited. The hearing made national headlines due to Representative Betty Price’s inquiry if there are any Georgia law that allow people living with HIV to be quarantined. Her statements were widely rebuked! While the committee’s recommendations seemed to lean towards modernization, no legislative champions have arisen thus far.

In January 2018, the Williams Institute conducted a study on HIV criminal laws in Georgia. The study concluded that of the people who were arrested under HIV related crimes, 46% of them were Black men, 26% of them were white men, 16% of them were Black women and 12% of them were white women. The study revealed that race plays a factor where these laws are concerned.

We have more work to do, but we are confident that we can REPEAL these laws in Georgia! For more information and to download the Williams Institute Study, visit the Georgia HIV Justice Coalition online.

Reasons why HIV Criminalization laws MUST be REPEALED!

  • These laws have an absence of science.
  • HIV criminalization laws are rooted in unfounded fears around transmission.
  • With HIV status disclosure, the burden of proof is on the accused person.
  • HIV criminalization may deter people from getting tested for HIV.
  • These laws may deter people living with HIV from seeking medical care.
  • These laws are void of updates in HIV prevention efforts.
  • HIV criminalization magnifies HIV stigma.
  • These laws do not require intent to harm, exposure, or HIV transmission to occur.
  • Disclosure of HIV status can be dangerous.
  • These laws further burden vulnerable populations.
  • HIV criminalization laws create a false sense of security.
  • These laws single out people living with HIV.