D.C. Mayoral Candidate Wants HIV Status on Driver's Licenses
A Video Blog
By Justin B. Terry-Smith
September 2, 2010
Leo Alexander is one of the candidates for the Washington, D.C. Mayoral Election. A couple of weeks ago on August 11th Alexander made a statement at a Forum that he will push for HIV testing at the DMV [Department of Motor Vehicles]. If most of you are not familiar with it, some other people call it the MVA [Motor Vehicle Administration]. You know that place where you pick up your License.
To me this is almost as bad as someone branding me with a red hot poker. This would be one of the most heinous acts done to people with HIV I've seen. This is appalling. I'm so glad he is not a heavy hitter in the race for D.C.'s Mayor. This would be in violation of so many health information privacy/HIPAA laws it's not even funny. Does he even know what HIPAA is?
Also there is another thing about Alexander. Two of my reliable sources approached Alexander about this statement at a picnic some days later. Alexander was asked about what he said at the Forum and he stands strong in his convictions. He also was asked what his campaign was proposing to do about hate crimes against the LGBT Community in D.C. He said he wasn't aware that hate crimes was an LGBT issue -- he associated hate crimes with being only towards black people.
I'm thinking where has this man been sleeping? UNDER A ROCK? Hate crimes is an issue for EVERYONE -- White, Black, Gay etc. So I guess for Leo Alexander to report a hate crime for me, I'm going to have to get the words "Black F@ggot" spray painted on my car.
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Justin B. Terry-Smith may be one of the most public African Americans living with HIV: He has his own blog and Web site, and he's even on YouTube. And who can blame him? Only 30, he already has an incredible story to tell. Justin admits he used to live "a very dangerous life," but since his diagnosis three years ago, the former heavy drinker and drug user has turned his life around.
Photo credit: Don Harris