Supreme Court says law can’t dictate anti-AIDS groups’ speech

[susi]

By Robert Barnes, Thursday, June 20

http://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...f84846-d9bc-11e2-a9f2-42ee3912ae0e_story.html

The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the federal government may not force groups that receive funding for overseas anti-HIV/AIDS programs to adopt its views against prostitution and sex trafficking.

The justices ruled 6 to 2 that a requirement in a multibillion-dollar anti-AIDS program that withholds funds from organizations that do not have a policy “explicitly opposing prostitution and sex trafficking” violates an organization's free-speech rights.

“This case is not about the government’s ability to enlist the assistance of those with whom it already agrees,” wrote Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. “It is about compelling a grant recipient to adopt a particular belief as a condition of funding.”

 

[vancity_cowboy]

before anyody gets their knickers in an uproar, this article DOES refer to a u.s. supreme court ruling... just sayin'

 

[susi]

correct VCB, but it does have implications for access to HIV funding across the planet including here in canada. this has been a huge win for removing sex work from the discussion of HIV or access to funding for prevention ie- outreach teams, harm reduction supplies....

the HIV foundations in the US raise massive amounts of money and could be appealed to for a number of initiatives called for by canadian sex workers not the least of which is a national outreach team with focus on rural communities which historically have far less access to support than larger urban centers.

anyway, a victory on the global scale even though its technically a US decision, US policy has a huge effect through the UN and other NGO's who signed onto the oath against sex workers.

love susie

 

[vancity_cowboy]

correct VCB, but it does have implications for access to HIV funding across the planet including here in canada. this has been a huge win for removing sex work from the discussion of HIV or access to funding for prevention ie- outreach teams, harm reduction supplies....

the HIV foundations in the US raise massive amounts of money and could be appealed to for a number of initiatives called for by canadian sex workers not the least of which is a national outreach team with focus on rural communities which historically have far less access to support than larger urban centers.

anyway, a victory on the global scale even though its technically a US decision, US policy has a huge effect through the UN and other NGO's who signed onto the oath against sex workers.

love susie

i agree with you 100% susi, and thanks for bringing this to our attention. it does represent a major step in the right direction, and will probably affect decisions outside of u.s. borders

my remarks were aimed at the posters that have poor reading comprehension and tend to think that everything written is taking place in canada. then the thread takes off with those same posters making outrageous statements, then the flame wars start... well you know how it goes

cheers