Black Gay Men

My diploma symbolizes the fact that no matter what obstacles I may face, once I stop blocking my own success, I can do it. Despite the fact that I've been living with HIV for 25-plus years, I now have something I thought I'd never have: an unlimited world waiting for me.

We finally are starting to scratch the surface of the depth of the HIV crisis among young black men who have sex with men (MSM). It was the spirit of persistence to find answers that many of us brought to the White House LGBT Conference on HIV/AIDS in Atlanta, Ga. on April 19.

After my last Huffington Post piece, "Black, Gay, and Suspicious?" I received several humbling requests from people who wanted to read a follow-up elaborating more on the subject of my internalized racism and the way it had potentially shaped my dating choices.

I'm tired. Like, really, I'm tired: tired of trying to fit in, blend in, conform, and exist in a society where I'm feared. The fear is too deep-rooted, and the perception has spread like malignant cancer through every thread of our society, so what do I do?

To some in the LGBTQ community, Cleo Manago is a dangerous demagogue. But to tens of thousands African-American brothers and generous funders, he's seen as a brother driven with a dream. And he's perhaps dangerous because he's effecting change.

The following essay and stunning photographs come to HuffPost Gay Voices courtesy of Trent Kelley, a Texas-based playwright. Kelley, who says he colle...

When we support organizations around the world that fight stigma and marginalization, and when we address the holistic needs of young black gay men, we tear down the barriers to education, social capital, and high-quality, comprehensive medical treatment and care.

It's time for us to stop saying that the gay rights movement is the new civil rights movement, because my civil rights movement hasn't stopped: as a person of color, for me it's still going.

Each year, I mark the MLK holiday by reexamining King's teachings, remembering that my longing for LGBTQ justice is inextricably tied to my work toward religious tolerance in the black church. And this is why I continue to speak up.

Television and film are a reflection of reality, barometers of what is real and relevant. If you do not see "you" reflected, subconsciously or not, a feeling of irrelevance can set in.

While clearly the cost of operation was prohibitive, causing Gay Black Men News to cease publication, another reason, according to publisher and founder Ralph Emerson, was the lack of support from the LGBTQ communities of African descent.

The alarming HIV infection rates among black gay and bisexual men beg this question to every black congregation, family and community: do we exemplify unconditional love for our gay and bisexual brothers, uncles, fathers and sons?