[The Supreme Court ruled 6-2 Thursday that a policy of the United States Agency for International Development requiring private health organizations to denounce prostitution as a condition of receiving U.S. government assistance violates the First Amendment. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) joined an amicus brief in the case that argued the policy could not be constitutionally justified, and he has previously stated that private organizations need flexibility to effectively combat HIV/AIDS.]
"The Supreme Court has decided that private organizations that receive federal funding to combat HIV/AIDS overseas cannot be compelled to abide by an unwise and impractical policy that violates their First Amendment rights. I have noted time and again that we cannot successfully combat HIV/AIDS by ignoring commercial sex workers who transmit the disease. Denying funding to organizations that work to prevent HIV/AIDS if they do not take a pledge against prostitution is a Hobson's Choice: either give up your right of free speech or damage your credibility with the very people whose behavior you are seeking to change. The fight against HIV/AIDS is far too important to be impeded by politics. I signed an amicus brief highlighting the importance of supporting these organizations so they can continue their lifesaving work. This ruling will allow them to do that."