Robert Suttle: The Case for Ending HIV Criminalization
LGBTQ&A
Jeffrey Masters
4.7 • 703 Ratings
🗓️ 19 August 2025
⏱️ 38 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Across 32 states, outdated HIV criminalization laws continue to punish people living with HIV. Robert Suttle shares his story of being prosecuted in Louisiana after a former partner accused him of not disclosing his status and he explains why these laws are based on bad science.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey, I'm Jeffrey Masters, and today on the podcast, we are tackling HIV criminalization |
| 0:08.8 | laws. Over 30 states in the U.S. have such laws on the books, and these can look like a lot |
| 0:14.2 | of different things depending on where you live. Some cover not disclosing your HIV status |
| 0:19.5 | before having sex with someone. That can be a felony even if transmission doesn't occur. |
| 0:24.4 | And some states have laws that will send someone living with HIV to prison simply for spitting or biting. |
| 0:29.8 | Even though, and I want to be clear, even though those actions do not carry any risk of transmitting the virus. |
| 0:36.6 | And so today I want to introduce you to Robert Settle, who has first-hand experience with |
| 0:41.2 | these laws. |
| 0:42.7 | Robert was accused by a former partner of not disclosing a status, a claim he denies, |
| 0:47.3 | and Robert went to prison. |
| 0:48.7 | But since getting out, Robert has become a really fierce advocate. |
| 0:52.4 | He co-founded the Sero Project, which works with those directly |
| 0:55.6 | impacted by HIV criminalization laws. And he also is a national advocate for the Elizabeth Taylor |
| 1:00.9 | AIDS Foundation. So without further ado, this is LGBTQ&A with Robert Suttall. |
| 1:13.6 | So with Robert Suttall. So you were 24 when you discovered that you were living with HIV. |
| 1:17.6 | Yes. |
| 1:18.6 | Can I ask what year was that? |
| 1:19.6 | That was 2003. |
| 1:20.6 | 2003. |
| 1:21.6 | Okay. |
| 1:22.6 | I asked that because at the time, was it still considered, like, in your mind, at least, |
| 1:25.6 | like a, quote-unquote, like, death sentence? |
... |
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