Laverne Cox, Amber Riley Join Fight Against Outdated HIV Criminalization

LOS ANGELES, CA – February 27, 2026 – On the eve of the annual HIV IS NOT A CRIME Awareness Day, The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) has announced a significant boost to its advocacy efforts, welcoming cultural icons Laverne Cox and Amber Riley as its newest Champions. The acclaimed actresses will lend their powerful voices to a nationwide campaign aimed at dismantling a web of archaic laws in over 30 states that criminalize individuals based on their HIV status.

These laws, many enacted during the height of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s and 1990s, remain on the books despite being rendered obsolete by four decades of scientific progress. The campaign, which ETAF has made its priority advocacy initiative, seeks to align state-level legislation with the current medical understanding of HIV, a condition that science has transformed from a death sentence into a manageable, untransmittable chronic illness.

The Science vs. The Law: A Stigmatizing Divide

At the heart of the reform movement is a stark disconnect between law and science. The global medical community, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), has embraced the consensus of “Undetectable = Untransmittable” (U=U). This principle, backed by landmark studies like HPTN 052 and PARTNER, confirms that people living with HIV who achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load through antiretroviral therapy (ART) cannot sexually transmit the virus to a partner.

Yet, in more than half the country, laws rooted in the fear and misinformation of a bygone era persist. These statutes criminalize behaviors that pose little to no risk of transmission. In some jurisdictions, people living with HIV can face felony charges and decades-long prison sentences for actions like spitting, or for failing to disclose their status before sexual contact, even when condoms are used or their viral load is undetectable, making transmission impossible.

“In over 30 states, laws born from the fear and misinformation of the '80s are still destroying Black and trans lives today,” said Laverne Cox in a statement. “Under these laws, people living with HIV can be imprisoned and branded criminals for actions that carry effectively zero risk. The law should never be used to punish people for simply existing with a virus that science has made treatable and untransmittable.”

The CDC itself has noted that these laws are counterproductive to public health. By fueling stigma and creating a punitive environment, they can discourage at-risk individuals from getting tested, seeking treatment, or disclosing their status to partners, ultimately hindering efforts to stop the spread of the virus.

Celebrity Power Amplifies a Decades-Old Fight

The addition of Cox and Riley as ETAF Champions brings significant star power to a fight long waged by grassroots activists, public health officials, and legal advocates. Their involvement is poised to amplify the message of the “HIV IS NOT A CRIME” movement, reaching new audiences and bringing renewed urgency to legislative chambers across the country.

As a prominent advocate for transgender rights, Laverne Cox’s involvement shines a spotlight on the disproportionate impact these laws have on marginalized communities. Research has shown that HIV criminalization laws are not enforced equally, with Black and trans individuals often facing higher rates of prosecution. Amber Riley’s voice adds to this focus, highlighting the devastating toll on families and communities of color.

“HIV criminalization targets our friends, our family, and our neighbors,” stated Amber Riley. “I'm proud to join The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation as a Champion and help stand up for the families and communities being torn apart by laws that have no basis in modern science. This campaign is about reclaiming the narrative from stigma and fear, and replacing it with a story about the dignity every person deserves.”

The campaign, supported by Gilead Sciences, Inc. and the Health Not Prisons Collective, follows a long tradition of celebrity activism that was pioneered by ETAF’s founder, Elizabeth Taylor, who used her global fame to combat AIDS stigma at a time when few others would.

The Path to Reform: Progress and Persistent Hurdles

While the challenge is significant, the movement to modernize HIV laws is gaining momentum. Since 2014, at least 16 states have taken steps to reform or repeal their most punitive statutes. In 2021, Illinois became the second state to completely repeal its HIV-specific criminal code, a landmark victory for advocates. Other states, including California, Nevada, Michigan, and Virginia, have modernized their laws to reduce penalties, require intent to harm, and account for modern prevention methods like U=U.

These successes were not accidental. They are the result of years of tenacious advocacy by coalitions of people living with HIV, legal experts, and public health professionals educating lawmakers and the public. The U.S. Department of Justice has also encouraged reform, releasing a best practices guide to help states align their laws with scientific evidence.

However, significant barriers remain. Deep-seated stigma, which some recent surveys suggest is unfortunately on the rise, continues to fuel political resistance. In many states, lawmakers and the public remain unaware of the scientific realities of U=U. Furthermore, some of the harshest penalties, such as forcing individuals convicted of an HIV-related offense to register as sex offenders, persist in states like Tennessee and Louisiana, creating lifelong consequences that far outweigh any public health benefit.

The work of ETAF and its new champions, Cox and Riley, is to cut through this misinformation and inertia. By centering the conversation on science, justice, and human dignity, they aim to continue the progress made in recent years and accelerate the push for reform in the dozens of states where the law has yet to catch up with the science.