A federal court heard arguments in two cases were heard today (Sept. 14) in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia asking to bar the Trump Administration and the Pentagon from discriminating against people living with HIV by denying them the opportunity to enlist, deploy or commission as an officer.
In Roe and Voe v. Esper, Lambda Legal and the Modern Military Association of America, with partner law firm Winston & Strawn, filed a lawsuit on behalf of two HIV-positive members of the U.S.
Air Force who were given discharge orders. Current military policy is to discharge anyone who cannot deploy for 12 consecutive months and people with HIV are not considered deployable.