Critiquing STI Nondisclosure Laws: Unveiling Their Roots and Impact
CW: for gynecological trauma
Several people brought up laws around STI nondisclosure yesterday. It’s something I have yet to address on this account, but it’s something that needs to be addressed.
Laws that criminalize nondisclosure of STIs are rooted in racism and white supremacy. What I share in these slides is not new. It’s more hidden US American history that plays a large role in systemic racism in healthcare, specifically towards Black women and Black women’s sexuality.
Globally, research shows that criminalization for exposure to and/or transmission of an STI by punishing one person has not shown a decrease in exposure or transmission.
This is the beginning of a much larger conversation. One that cannot be tackled by one person, one post, or one resource. I invite you to follow and engage with the content of the educators below. Please feel free to comment the work of others who add to this conversation.