Fact Sheet

Please take note:  On June 26, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional.  For information about how this development may potentially affect married same-sex couples' federal taxes, click here.

As a result of vast improvements in HIV treatment, more and more people with HIV are reaching retirement and enjoying the “golden years” that lie beyond. Sadly, however, some are facing discrimination as they seek living arrangements and long-term care services suitable for seniors.

More than two decades have elapsed since the first HIV cases were identified in the United States, but the unfortunate reality is that there is still stigma associated with HIV. Too often, disclosure that a person has HIV wreaks havoc on that person’s life.

Youth in foster care and juvenile justice systems who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning (LGBTQ) or living with HIV have basic rights.

Meet Tambry and Suzanne, Sean and Kale, Kathleen and Linda, Louise and Robie, Danny and Allen, and Jill and Pauline.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults have many legal rights while in the care of a nursing home in New York State, including the right to be free from discrimination, neglect and emotional and physical abuse.

Prisoners living with HIV may have trouble getting the health care they need and deserve. If untreated or mistreated, HIV can result in serious illness or even death. To prevent these things from happening, people living with HIV in prison should be aware of—and insist upon—their legal right to medical care.

The information provided here is a summary of provisions of the referenced statutes. In most instances, the wording used here is wording found in the referenced statutes (one exception is that “HIV” is used for convenience in this chart although the statute may use a different term, such as “AIDS” or “causative agent of AIDS”).