China Court Accepts First HIV Discrimination Suit: Report

On Monday, a court in Anqing city in Anhui province accepted what state media are calling China's first HIV employment discrimination suit.

The plaintiff, a recent college graduate who was not identified by name, said he had already passed written tests and interviews for a teaching position in Anqing. After a subsequent medical evaluation revealed he is HIV-positive, the city education department allegedly denied him the teaching job, China Daily reported.

The plaintiff is suing only for the job: He is not asking for monetary compensation, the newspaper said.

China has progressively taken a more proactive stand in preventing HIV. Nonetheless, discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS is widespread in China, forcing some people to hide their serostatus. Some independent advocates and organizations also continue to be harassed by officials.

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