Gay, HIV-Positive Man Named to South Africa's High Court

South African President Kgalema Motlanthe named a gay, HIV-positive jurist to the country's highest court on New Year's Eve, The Star newspaper reported. Judge Edwin Cameron was thoroughly vetted by the Judicial Service Committee about his vocal AIDS activism, and the committee unanimously recommended his appointment to the Supreme Court of Appeal. Cameron was the first judge in South Africa to disclose his HIV status, telling BBC News in 2005 that he was inspired to act after a woman was stoned to death after admitting her HIV status in a radio interview. Former President Nelson Mandela has hailed Cameron as "one of South Africa's new heroes," and activist Zachie Achmat called the appointment "one of the best New Year's presents ever."

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