DOJ Files Lawsuit Against Tennessee Over Aggravated Prostitution Law

The DOJ says that Tennessee’s aggravated prostitution statute is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building is seen in Washington, on June 9, 2023. Alex Brandon/The Canadian Press/AP

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against the state of Tennessee on Feb. 15 over the state’s “aggravated prostitution statute,” citing its discrimination against HIV-positive people.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, follows the department’s investigation in December, which found that the statute violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).