280: US Senate votes to repeal travel ban on those with HIV

I hadn't even realized that, as things stand currently, the US prevents HIV-positive people from entering the country. According to today's linked article from All Headline News (AHN), 12 other countries maintain similar restrictions. But things may be about to change in the US at least, as the Senate voted yesterday to repeal the ban, which has been in place for more than two decades. The provision to end the ban was sponsored by Democrat Senator John Kerry and Republican Senator Gordon Smith, as part of the PEPFAR reauthorization measure (aimed at tackling HIV and AIDS in developing countries). The Senate passed that measure 80-16, allocating more money to it than President Bush originally requested! All in all, a hopeful day in both the fight against HIV/AIDS and the battle against discrimination.