Outraged mum speaks out after teacher asks school kids ‘if they are HIV positive’
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The treatment can lead to blood-borne infections if not carried out properly (Creative Commons)
An outraged mum has spoken out after children at a school in New Jersey were allegedly asked if they were HIV positive before a trip.
The alleged incident happened at Hackensack Middle School, when sixth-graders were asked the question before a four-day camping trip, reports ABC 7.
However, the school released a statement to ABC 7 claiming that the incident was a misunderstanding. According to the school, the children were asked by the teacher about “HIB”, an acronym for “Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying.”
But the family stands by the story, insisting that the children were asked if they were “HIV positive”, and that this use of language could not be mistaken for “HIB” instead.
Earlier this week, it was reported that a school in Oregon had forced an LGBTQ student to read bible passages as a form of punishment.
And, earlier this month, Hermiston School District, also in Oregon, banned pupils from taking part in a statewide reading competition because the list of books includes one about a trans child.
Meanwhile, also this month, schoolgirl in California reportedly claimed she was told to cover up a T-shirt emblazoned with the words: “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning.”
Terrence Higgins Trust recently launched a new programme to make HIV self-testing kits free to all gay and bisexual men, as well as trans women.
PinkNews tried out the HIV self-testing kit live on Facebook with Terrence Higgins Trust’s Liam Beattie at PinkNews’ London office.