Tempted, tried and troubled

[27years]

My apologise for this thread I just want to vent things from the bottom of my heart.

I am in my 3rd year of being poz.  Things were not so bad and I can fairly say I managed myself well, I am on meds and don't have any side effects, I have no dramas with HIV itself and my health is good.

Problem 1.  I had my medical confidentiality breached by the people at work without my consent.  I raised a complain about it, and its just not going to be easy for me to get to the bottom of it, its a big organisation and i seem to be the only person affected by hiv so whatever i say its not going to be heard.  I have tried to follow the proper complains channel but I am getting nowhere.  The org i work for is exempted from disability discrimination laws and they can discriminate because they can and i have no money to pay a lawyer.

Problem 2. I got my appraisal for the year and have not been recommended for promotion without any justification.  They have praised me for being an excellent worker, and devoted to the job and i have been doing a job of a higher rank than expected, however on the promotion box they then ticked not recommended, surely if i was that good in my job i fail to understand why they cant recommend me or at least tell me where i shortfall of it.

I have tried Support group but they just sympathise with me and offer moral support nothing practical, If I was in a different job it was going to be easy for me to take legal action against them without so many rivers to cross.  I am so hurt and stressed out and have nowhere to turn to,   I really enjoyed my job and thought i would make a career out of it but the situation I have found myself in is becoming unbearable and to think of getting out its the last resort, and staying for the sake of the job is not going to be that easy,  having them walking all over me just because they can.  I have been to a psychiatrist who diagnosed me with situation stress.  I cant figure out how to put my life back on track with these issues unresolved,

All I can do is to cry myself to sleep, and sometimes i feel like drinking the month's supply of my meds in one go.  I know its not right but surely i cant leave my life the way it is these days.  If it wasn't for my family who love me so much and have been supportive throughout this ordeal I would have given up on living.  everything seem to be upside down for me, unless if the law changes, my job and hiv seem to be incompatible. 

My apologise again I am just so pissed off and fed because of whats happening at work

[Oceanbeach]

www.findlaw.com  Most law firms offer free consultations and finding an attorney who offers pro bono work is not that difficult only a little time consuming.  You need to pick your state, your city and practice area and start making some phone calls to legal professionals.

If you can't find an attorney on Findlaw, try, www.justia.com and www.nolo.com  Good luck    Have the best day
Michael

[mecch]

Who is exempt from disability discrimminatin laws? The military?
Go to an ASO and find some professional hellp to find legal counsel.
Also, you could try to find a "mediator" or career coach who is familiar with your employer and labour practices.  THe hard question you need to ask, is it worth fighting, can you win what you want (a promotion - you will never RETURN to confidentiality about HIV - cat is out of the bag) and if one or both answers is no, then its time to discretely look to change jobs and perhaps even careers.  For your own sake, not because its right or wrong. 

[27years]

Military though not USA.  The few lawyers I have consulted said its a difficult situation and non of them have dealt with the military service since it has its own ways of dealing with things so that leaves me to deal with it.  I had very good support from my Commanding Officer who agreed with me that things were badly handled but now I have been moved miles away from him and don't know anyone to turn to here.  I have been to the local Support Group the lawyers they recommended deal with civilian matters. Its just difficult to find one who is familiar with HIV, and my employment rights and they are still trying to find one for me.  I feel like giving up but at the end of the day I cant let them get away with murder.  I just sigh and take deep breathe knowing I am being abused just because I am HIV poz and just because they can.   

[Oceanbeach]

Sorry 27,

I do some PR work for a San Francisco law firm and the 3 organizations I refered you to would be specialized to a specific area of practice.  The annual cost for a law firm to be included in Findlaw, Justia or Nolo.com is usually around $10,000.00 USD per year and thery can afford the fees because they win their cases.

Your local ASO's will have volunteer attorneys who specialize mostly in Landlord/tenant, wills and DUI's.  Employment discrimination would usually be too specialized for a local ASO.  A discrimination suit against a foreign military organization would be difficult to say the least.  I am so sorry, I can not help.     Have the best day
Michael

[mecch]

Well its sounds to me like you are being proactive and doing your best. Keep pushing to find that lawyer who can tell you what is possible, and what isn't.  Then make your decision. 

[Ann]

Hi 27,

That really sucks. This is something you may be able to take to the European Court of Human Rights. Check out these links - hopefully you'll find some helpful information in them.


http://www.tht.org.uk/howwecanhelpyou/livingwithhiv/healthcare/thedisabilitydiscriminationact/

http://www.equal-works.com/resources/contentfiles/2398.pdf

http://www.nat.org.uk/Living-with-HIV/Useful-information/Legal-protection.aspx

I really can't see how the military can get away with what they're doing. You shouldn't have to put up with this crap. The Disability Discrimination Act covers government services from the service user's point of view, and I can't see how it wouldn't cover your employment by a government agency as well. It sounds to me like somebody's trying to bullshit you.

Good luck and please, keep us posted.

Ann

[Oceanbeach]

Hey 27,

You might want to try www.gaylawnet.com.  These attorneys are listed through an Austrailian company and are all either gay or gay friendly.  Hopefully you will find one who has experience with HIV issues in Germany.     Have the best day
Michael

[Merlin]

Hey 27, so sorry to hear about your plight. Stay strong and focussed. May justice be done.

Blessed Be !!!

Ps: Military always sucks-everywhere-period!