Full Breakdown
Abdul El-Sayed Reaffirms Call to Repeal Michigan HIV Criminalization Law
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Renewed Advocacy in a Competitive Senate Race
Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, an epidemiologist and former Wayne County health director, has reiterated his 2018 position that Michigan’s law criminalizing HIV-positive individuals for sexual activity without disclosure should be repealed. The law, enacted in 1988, classified such conduct as a felony punishable by up to four years in prison. El-Sayed’s stance resurfaces as he contests former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers for the seat once held by retiring Sen. Gary Peters.
Historical Background and 2019 Reform
The original statute targeted any sexual penetration by a person who knew they were HIV-positive, regardless of transmission. In early 2019, a bipartisan reform—passed by a Republican-controlled legislature—narrowed felony provisions to vaginal or anal intercourse where the actor intended to transmit HIV or actually transmitted the virus. Lesser offenses were reduced to misdemeanors, and individuals whose viral load was medically suppressed were shielded from prosecution under a reckless-disregard clause. Governor Gretchen Whitmer, then a gubernatorial candidate, had also called the law “wrong to criminalize sickness” and supported its revision.
Official Statements & Campaign Position
El-Sayed’s 2018 campaign quoted him saying, “You should not be criminalized for a disease. That is absolutely wrong. It’s hateful. It’s discriminatory, and we can, as a state, do better. You can count on me for that,” — Abdul El-Sayed — a sentiment he repeats while seeking Senate office. Campaign spokesperson Roxie Richner emphasized his public-health credentials, stating, “As a public health professional, Abdul has fought to support programs that stem the spread of diseases, including HIV.” — Roxie Richner, campaign spokesperson .
Implications for Public Health and the Election
El-Sayed’s advocacy links HIV decriminalization to broader health equity goals, including Medicaid expansion for transgender Michiganders and “Medicare for all.” If elected, he would become the nation’s first Muslim senator and could influence federal health policy, especially as the Senate debates HIV-related legislation. His stance also highlights a partisan divide: while Democrats emphasize decriminalization as a civil-rights issue, some Republican lawmakers continue to support the original punitive framework.
