Congresswoman Lee Issues Statement on Supreme Court Case USAID v. AOSI
Published on Monday, 22 April 2013 09:38
Congresswoman Lee, along with Senators Enzi, Leahy, Daschle and Frist, and Reps. Lowey, Waxman, Berman, and Kolbe, signed an amicus brief in support of AOSI. “At the heart of this case is a pledge, the Anti-Prostitution Loyalty Oath, which requires groups getting money to fight AIDS from USAID to specifically pledge to be against prostitution.
The unfortunate side-effect of this pledge is that groups are barred from reaching one of the most at-risk groups for AIDS: sex workers. “As a member for the United Nations Global Commission on HIV and the Law, I am deeply concerned that the global response to the AIDS crisis is being undermined by this harmful and discriminatory law.
The pledge is counterproductive to the good work that many AIDS organizations are performing, and I’ve introduced legislation to repeal it. I hope the Supreme Court does the right thing and rules in favor of stripping this provision.” Source: lee.house.gov