HIV

(San Francisco, November 6, 2003) - As Cirque du Soleil opens its “Alegria” show in San Francisco tonight, Lambda Legal and community leaders announced protests against the company for discriminating against people with HIV.

(San Francisco, November 13, 2003) - One week after Lambda Legal and community activists launched protests against Cirque du Soleil for discriminating against people with HIV, the company has started sending a six-paragraph letter to members of the public - admitting that it fired a gymnast solely because he has HIV, but claiming that such action is not “discrimination.”

(LOS ANGELES, June 19, 2000) — The California Supreme Court Monday unanimously ruled that insurers cannot deny benefits to policyholders who develop AIDS several years after becoming insured, a practice that is widespread in the industry but which the Court said is illegal, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund said.

(NEW YORK, June 8, 2000) — Six months after the United States Supreme Court let stand Alabama's segregation of prisoners with HIV, a broad coalition of health and civil rights experts and clergy is meeting to build a national strategy to defend the diminishing rights of this vulnerable population.

(San Francisco, November 16, 2003) - Leading local and national organizations are joining forces to protest Cirque du Soleil for discriminating against people with HIV, Lambda Legal said today. The groups and an increasing number of concerned individuals will join Lambda Legal for a community action outside Cirque du Soleil’s “Alegria” performance in San Francisco Thursday night - and in growing protests in the weeks and months ahead.

(Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2003) - Saying that Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program may cost an Altoona man his life by refusing to cover a liver transplant because he has HIV, Lambda Legal will argue its appeal in the case at a hearing tomorrow (Wednesday, Nov. 19), asking the state program to reverse its denial in light of a range of scientific data and the man’s personal health history and experience.

(San Francisco, November 19, 2003) - Several high-profile athletes, performers and AIDS experts - including Olympic competitors and pioneering HIV doctors - have joined growing public protests against Cirque du Soleil for firing a gymnast because he has HIV, Lambda Legal announced today. Local and national groups will join Lambda Legal for a community action outside Cirque du Soleil’s “Alegria” performance in San Francisco tomorrow night - and in growing protests in the weeks and months ahead.

(San Francisco, November 20, 2003) - Leading advocates and community members will protest Cirque du Soleil’s HIV discrimination tonight at Cirque du Soleil’s “Alegria” outside of Pac Bell Park at 6:30 p.m. Matthew Cusick, a gay man who was illegally fired from his performance job at Cirque du Soleil because he has HIV, will attend the event and speak to the community.

(San Francisco, November 25, 2003) - Following successful protests at Cirque du Soleil shows in San Francisco and Los Angeles in recent days, Lambda Legal and local activists today announced plans for additional protests outside shows in San Francisco and Orange County to denounce Cirque for firing a gymnast because he has HIV.

(New York, December 1, 2003) - Lambda Legal released its seventh World AIDS Day Report Card today, failing companies and agencies that discriminate while praising organizations who fight misinformation and discrimination against people with HIV and AIDS.