 Ottawa Police say Steven Paul Boone is charged with having sex with several partners and knowingly spreading a sexually transmitted disease.
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OTTAWA - The Aids Committee of Ottawa (ACO) is livid with the guilty verdict handed to Steven Boone on Wednesday for attempted murder and administering a noxious substance -- HIV -- to his sexual partners.
"These verdicts will aid to increase rates of HIV in Canada as talking about sex goes back into the closet and stigma against people living with HIV/AIDS continues to thrive," states an excerpt from the ACO press release sent out on Thursday.
In addition to attempted murder and administering a noxious substance, Boone was convicted of three counts of aggravated sexual assault related to three men he penetrated anally without a condom and one man he penetrated using a condom.
Boone told his partners he was clean.
The ACO argues that the severity of these verdicts "contradict medical science and merely promote fear and hatred."
"An AIDS diagnosis in Canada today is rare and highly treatable. Thanks to advancements in pharmaceuticals and medical treatment, PHAs (people living with HIV/AIDS) are now able to lead long, healthy and productive lives," reads the release.
The ACO further argues that "HIV is a medical issue, not a legal one and Canadian law is not a replacement for a condom," insisting that criminalization is not the answer.
There is still controversy about the Supreme Court of Canada's decision that criminal action can be taken if HIV status is not disclosed, unless the amount in their system has been reduced by medication and a condom is used during intercourse.
jessica.beddaoui@sunmedia.ca
Twitter: @JessicaBeddaoui
