By Alisa Hill, MCJ Outreach Liaison, Health Justice Campaign
Mississippi has one of the highest rates of HIV diagnosis in the country, and archaic laws criminalizing HIV are contributing to this epidemic. The impact of the current laws is devastating. People avoid testing to avoid legal exposure, which results in more undiagnosed cases and increased transmission. Instead of encouraging people to get tested and get the care they need, the state’s HIV criminalization laws do the opposite.
This is where stigma takes root. When the law treats an HIV diagnosis as a potential crime rather than a manageable health condition, it tells people that seeking care is riskier than staying silent. That stigma follows people into clinics, families, and relationships. And it keeps far too many from getting tested at all.
Our fight to educate Mississippians and policymakers about HIV, our rights, and the science behind HIV must continueuntil we accomplish complete reform.
The Science Has Moved On. Mississippi’s Laws Haven’t.
Mississippi’s laws still allow prosecution based on HIV status alone, even when there’s no intent to harm, no actual transmission, and no realistic risk involved. Modern science tells us that people on effective HIV treatment who reach an undetectable viral load cannot transmit the virus. This is known as U=U: Undetectable equals Untransmittable. Mississippi’s laws haven’t kept pace with that reality.
There is real momentum in changing that through legislation introduced in the 2026 legislative session, whichwould have brought Mississippi’s HIV laws up to date with current science and reduced criminal penalties for people who pose no real risk to others. The bill did not pass, but its introduction during the legislative session was a critical step in garnering widespread support for the decriminalization movement in Mississippi, and it lays the groundwork for the next push. The Mississippi Decriminalization Network is committed to fighting until the law is fully reformed.
Join Us on Zero Stigma Day
Join us on July 21st (Zero Stigma Day) for an engaging webinar that will bring together experts in public health, law, and community advocacy to discuss how we can reduce HIV stigma and improve care for everyone. The panel will be moderated by Linda Dixon, Director, Health Justice.
Speakers include:
- Dr. Thomas Dobbs, Dean of Population Health, University of Mississippi Medical Center
- Dr. June Gipson, President/CEO, My Brother’s Keeper, Inc.
- Dominique Grant, HIV Is Not A Crime Ambassador, Mississippi Center for Justice
- Jada Hicks, Senior Positive Justice Project Attorney, Center for HIV Law and Policy
