A federal judge recently ruled that the Pentagon cannot reject enlistees who are HIV-positive from joining the U.S. armed forces. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema argued that the ban on such individuals would perpetuate the stigma surrounding HIV-positive individuals and hinder the military’s recruitment goals. She emphasized that modern science has significantly improved the treatment of HIV, allowing asymptomatic service members with undetectable viral loads to perform all military duties.
The ruling stemmed from a class-action lawsuit filed by the pro-LGBT Lambda Legal fund on behalf of Minority Veterans of America and three HIV-positive individuals who were unable to enlist due to the Pentagon’s policy. Judge Brinkema criticized the policy as irrational and contributing to the discrimination against HIV-positive individuals.
The Pentagon’s argument against allowing HIV-positive individuals to enlist revolved around the potential risks they could pose during military service, such as viral rebound due to medication issues or insufficient adherence. However, advancements in antiretroviral therapy have made HIV treatment more effective, with the Supreme Court prohibiting discrimination against HIV-positive individuals in 1998.
Despite these concerns, the judge’s ruling overturned the Pentagon’s policy, opening the doors for HIV-positive individuals to serve in the military. One of the plaintiffs, Isaiah Wilkins, expressed his eagerness to pursue his dream of serving in the Army without facing discriminatory barriers. The Pentagon has not commented on the ruling or indicated whether they plan to appeal the decision. Please rewrite this sentence.
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