US Drops Ban on HIV - Positive Diplomats

A recent article by the Associated Press claims the State Department is changing current rules that automatically disqualify HIV-positive people from becoming U.S. diplomats. Many people are disqualified for all kinds of medical reasons since diplomats are supposed to be able to go anywhere, anytime regardless of local hospital or medical services.

According to the article, "The department removed HIV from a list of medical conditions that automatically prevent foreign service candidates from meeting an employment requirement that they be able to work anywhere in the world."

In addition, "Officials denied that the policy had ever intentionally discriminated against HIV-positive people and noted that the policy had applied only to incoming diplomats, not those who had contracted the virus or other diseases while in the foreign service."