Tennessee May Revise Controversial HIV Law

Proposed legislation seeks to remove lifetime sex offender registration for HIV-positive sex workers, amid federal lawsuit and DOJ intervention.

Tennessee is the only U.S. state to impose a lifetime registration as a 'violent sex offender' on anyone convicted of engaging in sex work while living with HIV.
The law is being challenged in federal court by LGBTQ+ and civil rights advocates who argue that it discriminates against HIV-positive people.
The U.S. Department of Justice has called on the state to repeal the measure, stating it violates the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Republican Sen. Page Walley has introduced legislation that would remove the requirement for those convicted of aggravated prostitution to register as a violent sex offender, but maintains the charge.
The proposed legislation still needs to clear the full Senate and House chambers before it could make it to Gov. Bill Lee's desk for consideration.