While man wins HIV lawsuit against U.S. military, outdated and discriminatory ban remains for others

A college student who was deemed unfit for military service after being diagnosed with HIV has won his legal case, advocates announced this week. 

Eddie Diaz, a student at Vermont’s Norwich University, challenged the discriminatory action after testing positive for the virus in late 2020. Daily Hampshire Gazette reports that despite military officials never making inquiries into his ability to continue training, including communicating with his primary care provider, he was deemed unfit for service and booted from the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.

”He was told he would not be able to get a scholarship through the ROTC or be entitled to other benefits related to military service, including a tuition waiver and medical coverage, the suit said,” the report said. Diaz then sued as a “John Doe” with the aid of Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR).