Isaiah Wilkins' journey to join the military ended when he tested positive for HIV, leading to his discharge under Pentagon policies that discriminate against HIV-positive individuals.
In 2022, Wilkins and two others filed a lawsuit against the Department of Defense, claiming that military policies violate their constitutional rights and undermine equality.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs argued that military policies regarding HIV status are discriminatory and infringe upon the equal protection guarantees of the US constitution.
The defense department contended that allowing HIV-positive recruits could complicate medication adherence during deployments and incur higher financial costs for military operations.
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