Tennessee faces federal lawsuit over decades-old penalties targeting HIV-positive people

By KIMBERLEE KRUESI
Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — LGBTQ+ and civil rights advocates have filed a federal lawsuit challenging Tennessee’s aggravated prostitution statute. They argue that the law stems from the decades-old AIDS scare and discriminates against HIV-positive people. The sweeping complaint details how Tennessee is the only state in the United States that imposes a lifetime registration as a “violent sex offender” if convicted of engaging in sex work while living with HIV. Defendants in the case are Gov. Bill Lee, the state Attorney General, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director and Department of Correction Commissioner. A spokesperson for the attorney general’s office representing the state did not immediately return an emailed request for comment.