Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 28, 1996

Contact: Barry Taylor or Mona Noriega (312) 759-8110

Chicago Board of Education Adopts New AIDS Policy

Lambda's Challenge Results In Elimination Of Discriminatory Inquiries

(CHICAGO, March 28, 1996 ) -- In response to pressure from Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Chicago Board of Education announced today that it has revised its AIDS policy.

Lambda had written the Board voicing strenuous objection to the Board of Education's previous policy, which required prospective teachers to disclose their HIV status as part of the application process. HIV-positive applicants were also required to report their t-cell count, history of opportunistic infections, treatments the applicant is currently undergoing, and even the manner in which the applicant was infected.

"We credit the Board for acknowledging that its previous policy required immediate revision, and we are pleased at their stated commitment to continue working with us to refine the current policy," said Barry Taylor, AIDS Project Staff Attorney in the Midwest Regional Office of Lambda and counsel in this case. "Requiring job applicants to disclose whether they are HIV-positive or have AIDS violates federal anti-discrimination laws and personal privacy rights."

Lambda's challenge to the Board was on behalf of a teacher who was subjected to intrusive inquiries and medical examinations when applying for a job in the Chicago Public Schools. Lambda's negotiations with the Board of Education continue with respect to other aspects of the policy and the compensation its client should receive.

"While eliminating the mandatory disclosure of HIV status is an important first step, the new policy still contains provisions that must be addressed," Taylor said. "The policy's inaccurate characterization of teachers with HIV as a potential direct threat, and the restrictions on HIV-positive school children, are especially troubling."

Lambda and other HIV advocacy groups are reviewing the language of the new policy and expect to see changes to the policy which better reflect current knowledge about HIV transmission and the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS.

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