Mandatory Testing Law

In the spring of 1988, the Rhode Island Legislature introduced a bill that would require anyone getting married, getting family planning counseling (getting birth control or an abortion), getting drug treatment, going to prison, or going to the hospital to be tested for HIV. This did not require consent of the individual being tested, and if they were positive, their name would be reported to the Health Department. The Rhode Island Health Department, under the leadership of H. Denman Scott, supported this bill. Understandably, ACT UP Rhode Island did not support this law and engaged in multiple demonstrations against it. Eventually, Governor Ed DiPrete had the name reporting portion removed from the law, and some of the situations for mandatory testing were removed, but a version of the bill still passed.

Department of Health Protest

One of their most significant protests of the bill involved a series of vigils held outside of the Department of Health, as well as a protest in which six ACT UP/RI members went inside the office of H. Denman Scott to demand that the legislation be pulled. Listen to Bill Jesdale's account of the protest to hear the details of the protest and their eventual arrest. 

Bill Jesdale's Criminal Complaint from the Department of Health Protest

Governor DiPrete Fliers

Lunch with the Governor

Following the removal of mandatory reporting from the AIDS law, ACT UP/RI put together a demonstration to applaud Governor DiPrete for his actions, while also calling attention to the remaining problems with the bill. This was their last attempt to stop the bill before it went into effect.