According to this article, a gay volunteer in Cambodia, Romany Tin, said he was terminated from the volunteer program when they found out he had contracted HIV.
“Tin told BuzzFeed News he was teaching English in rural Cambodia and was shocked to find out his status, but his immediate mindset was “I want to make sure I can come back.” Tin flew back to Washington DC to receive treatment and within a month was considered undetectable. However the Peace Corps informed him that he was going to be dismissed from his assignment in Cambodia because of his diagnosis.”
The Peace Corps is Terminating Gay Men for Being HIV Positive
Buzzfeed article
I don’t think him being gay had anything to do about it, and think it’s a bit shameful that both him and those articles are playing the gay card. But it is interesting that he both most likely contracted HIV in country (he would have been tested before he was sent here), and that “Cambodia is not on the approved list of countries” for HIV positive volunteers to serve.
The U.S. government terminated a Peace Corps Volunteer for being HIV positive?
Back to basics. Does the Cambodian government issue visas and other required documents to people who are HIV positive? Is it legal for HIV positive foreigners to reside in Cambodia? Is it legal to employ them for volunteer or paid positions?
They should all be made to wear some sort of identification to show their HIV status. Some sort of star sewn on their clothing perhaps.Alexandra wrote:Back to basics. Does the Cambodian government issue visas and other required documents to people who are HIV positive? Is it legal for HIV positive foreigners to reside in Cambodia? Is it legal to employ them for volunteer or paid positions?
“The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent.”
All jokes aside, isn't this exactly what the medical examination for work permits is supposed to cover? I can't imagine someone with HIV passing the test, and if they do then what's the point?Stramash wrote:They should all be made to wear some sort of identification to show their HIV status. Some sort of star sewn on their clothing perhaps.
But of course, "U.S. government discriminates against cute young gay boy stopping him from saving cute brown children" sells more magazines than "Cambodia enforces foreign employment laws".
As far as I know (happy to be corrected) they only test for syphilis, which sort of explains why Playboy hasn't worked in years.Alexandra wrote:All jokes aside, isn't this exactly what the medical examination for work permits is supposed to cover? I can't imagine someone with HIV passing the test, and if they do then what's the point?Stramash wrote:They should all be made to wear some sort of identification to show their HIV status. Some sort of star sewn on their clothing perhaps.
But of course, "U.S. government discriminates against cute young gay boy stopping him from saving cute brown children" sells more magazines than "Cambodia enforces foreign employment laws".
“The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent.”
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I don't know about the Peace Corps specifically, but I'm aware that American foreign service officers need a medical clearance to permit them to be sent to shitholes with poor to nonexistent medical care for two years. If you need ongoing, regular treatment from a physician for a serious medical condition, you're more or less disqualified from joining the foreign service, as you're not eligible for "worldwide availability."
It appears that the Peace Corps medical clearance process is similar. This isn't HIV discrimination, they disqualify all sick or medication dependent applicants.
https://www.peacecorps.gov/volunteer/he ... ce-process
It appears that the Peace Corps medical clearance process is similar. This isn't HIV discrimination, they disqualify all sick or medication dependent applicants.
https://www.peacecorps.gov/volunteer/he ... ce-process
Follow my lame Twitter feed: @gavin_mac
Maybe through blood. The HIV question is in the yes/no section. Do you take any medicine, have you had any operations done, do you have HIV, etc.Stramash wrote:As far as I know (happy to be corrected) they only test for syphilis, which sort of explains why Playboy hasn't worked in years.
Alexandra wrote:Maybe through blood. The HIV question is in the yes/no section. Do you take any medicine, have you had any operations done, do you have HIV, etc.Stramash wrote:As far as I know (happy to be corrected) they only test for syphilis, which sort of explains why Playboy hasn't worked in years.
Ah, a foolproof scientific method then.
“The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent.”
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In this case for the Cambodian volunteer, it appears that they justified the termination on two factors: 1) that it would take more than 45 days to resolve, and 2) the PC would be unable to provide adequate follow up treatment oversees. They did not state that Cambodia would not allow it (such as in Ukraine). The volunteer argues that it was resolved (enough) after a month.gavinmac wrote:I don't know about the Peace Corps specifically, but I'm aware that American foreign service officers need a medical clearance to permit them to be sent to shitholes with poor to nonexistent medical care for two years. If you need ongoing, regular treatment from a physician for a serious medical condition, you're more or less disqualified from joining the foreign service, as you're not eligible for "worldwide availability."
It appears that the Peace Corps medical clearance process is similar. This isn't HIV discrimination, they disqualify all sick or medication dependent applicants.
https://www.peacecorps.gov/volunteer/he ... ce-process
The ACLU took up a similar case in 2008, and won. https://www.aclu.org/cases/hiv-advocacy ... rect/34948
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