Image of Jiz Lee by SE Photoimaging.
Today is January 4 — the day that final rule goes into effect, finally lifting the US embargo on HIV+ non-residents, and removing the requirement that immigrants and aliens undergo required HIV testing to come to this country. Welcome to America, finally. Today, the HIV entry ban repeal is effective.
To celebrate, I’ve been saving this exclusive on performer FiveStar‘s fantastic Bicycle Bondage calendar — to raise funds for her AIDS Lifecycle ride, she teamed up with local queer sex workers and porn stars to make a calendar of bikes and babes of all genders in varying states of bondage. FiveStar needs donations for the epic HIV/AIDS fundraising bike ride ahead, and you can contribute in any amount here on FiveStar’s AIDS/Lifecycle page, or you can buy one of her whimsical, slightly kinky bike-fetish calendars. They’re fantastic and *mostly* work-safe; preview thumbnail images here. A contribution of any kind is highly recommended, especially on a day like today, when the Bush administration’s Machiavellian rule about HIV and people hoping to enter our country *for any reason* has finally been lifted. Now people with HIV residing outside the US, and those who love them, can breathe a bit.
Prior to this final rule, aliens with HIV infection were considered to have a communicable disease of public health significance and were thus inadmissible to the United States per the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). While HIV infection is a serious health condition, it is not a communicable disease that is a significant public health risk for introduction, transmission, and spread to the U.S. population through casual contact. As a result of this final rule, aliens will no longer be inadmissible into the United States based solely on the ground they are infected with HIV, and they will not be required to undergo HIV testing as part of the required medical examination for U.S. immigration.
DATES: This final rule is effective January 4, 2010. (…read all, edocket.access.gpo.gov)
Don’t miss: Bicycle Bondage (blog, bicyclebondage.com)
Outtake calendar image of Mistress Tina by Tristan C.
This is a great cause. I missed this posting on your site until I heard about it on the Kink On Tap podcast and they had several guest on talking about it. I went back tonight to check to see if you covered in and sure enough you did. This podcast is live on ustream on Sundays from 7:00 CST until to around 8:30 CST.
If you have not heard about this podcast it is a great educational podcast and I learn a lot by listening to what is said as well and they have interesting guests. I know that they are looking for more guest and I would think it would be so cool if you could come to this podcast.
Love your work as well as your podcasts please continue them as time allows.
I can’t wait to get mine! I love the images, and I love the cause.
YESSSSS!!! Violet thank you for sharing this news of Fivestar’s ride in AIDS LifeCycle and her (if I don’t say so myself) awesome calendar fundraiser!