U.S. Waives Travel Ban for HIV-Positive Foreigners Attending, Participating in Gay Games 2006
The U.S. government, which bars HIV-positive non-residents from entering the country, has ruled that it will waive the regulation for foreigners attending or participating in the Gay Games 2006, which are scheduled to be held in Chicago in July, the Chicago Tribune reports. The rule usually is waived for major events and conferences, according to Gay Games Co-Vice Chair Kevin Boyer (Chicago Tribune, 2/7). The government granted the games Designated Event Status, which allows HIV-positive foreigners to travel to the U.S. using travel visas issued on a special form instead of being placed permanently in the applicant's passport. Travelers do not have to declare their HIV status on the application-they can simply mark "N/A" on the form. The games will be held July 15-22 and the waiver is effective from July 8-28. (Advocate, 2/7).
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