According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), new HIV infection rates have risen to nearly 50 percent among black gay and bisexual men in the United States. The new data indicates that young gay men, ages 13 to 29 years old, are the hardest hit. Although CDC released these new stats several weeks ago, most of us have not heard or read about this significant public health disaster in the U.S. The severity of this public health crisis, within a segment of America's population, has not been given the attention of even at least one 24-hour, primetime news cycle. These soaring HIV infection rates among black gay men have, for the most part, gone unnoticed. Most unfortunately, the silence of urgency regarding the plight of our gay brothers is deafening in black America.
The Balm In Gilead, Inc. has moved into its 23rd year of working to build and strengthen African American congregations to become healing centers of prayer, education, advocacy and service for all persons living with HIV. Today, there are many testimonies of transformation and change within the walls of black congregations. Numerous congregations throughout our nation have transformed into inclusive, supportive spiritual and health centers for all persons living with HIV, including gay men and women. However, like the news regarding the dire health conditions of many black gay and bisexual men, the work of these progressive congregations most often goes unnoticed. Often spoken of as "radically inclusive," these congregations are consistently labeled as "exceptional" and not the "typical" black church.
There is no such entity as a "typical" black church. "Typical," unfortunately, is often erroneously described as "a group of like-minded individuals who are generally homophobic in nature, and who stigmatize all persons affected by HIV and/or homosexuality." Further, these individuals gather on Sunday morning for extraordinary singing, preaching and income-generating appeals but lack the inclusive embrace that compassionate love mandates. Regrettably, this very inadequate description of a "typical" black church is grandly upheld by the actions of like-minded black preachers who stand in scared pulpits and vilify gay people as public enemy number one.
The spiritual, emotional, and physical suffering of many black gay and bisexual men, especially those in their formative years of 13 to 29, must stop being ignored. Behaviors of homophobia and HIV stigma are sustained by the deafening silence of the black church and the African-American community at large. This indifference quietly supports violence and bullying against young gay men and the relief they often seek through suicide and other self-destructive behaviors. Sadly, the unwillingness of clergy and others to denounce public statements of hate toward gay members of our family and community continues to erode the interwoven cords of respect, love and well-being that cloaks us together as human beings.
These 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, or do we exemplify unconditional hatred?
For those of us who consciously choose to lead in the realm of unconditional love, we must heighten our application of hands-on care for our gay and bisexual brothers with a continuous flow of HIV prevention information, and we must advocate for the availability of HIV testing and treatment, and our words and actions must communicate that our gay brothers (and sisters) are significantly important to our family, congregation and community.
Pernessa Seele is the Founder and CEO of The Balm In Gilead, Inc., a 501(c)(3), international organization dedicated to preventing diseases and improving the health status of black people worldwide by building and strengthening the capacity of faith institutions to deliver programs and services that contribute to the elimination of health disparities.
It is alarming that HIV/AIDS infections have risen especially in men who have sex with men (MSM) even though the promotion of condoms, HIV testing, "safe sex" guidelines have been touted for years. Clearly something is wrong with this strategy.
Mr. Steele says that HIV/AIDS infections in Black men is related to homophobia, bullying, and HIV stigma. I agree partially. The real cause behind it is unsafe sex. Public health officials, the black clergy and the community must acknowledge that HIV/AIDS transmission can be drastically decreased when individuals stop practicing unsafe sex such as through the anus; the gateway wherein the HIV virus is easily passed.
The stresses the anti-LGBT campaigns, especially in a troubled economy, and especially for those subject to multiple-minority disadvantages, further ostracized by the 'black churches' that blame LGBT people for all their own social ills within that community... Tend to produce just the kind of low-self-esteem and despair and such that leads people to things like drink and drugs, which in turn tend to result in irresponsible sexual practices.... ( the meth epidemic especially)
Focusing on saying 'straight sex is safe if you associate LGBT people with the anus' certainly doesn't actually protect anyone: quite the contrary.
HIV awareness and health care and condom distribution *do* work: that's why the rates of it went *down* until they *cut back* those very programs in favor of more stigmatization.
While your points may gain empathy, alas, I do not see any correlation between that of "multiple-minority disadvantages" and HIV/AIDS transmission.
Where is the data to support your points?
According to the CDC Infection statistics of 2009, HIV was transmitted via:
Male-to-male sexual contact 23,846
Injection drug use 2,449
Male-to-male sexual contact and injection drug use 1,131
Heterosexual contact* 4,399
Other** 47
Clearly, male-to-male sexual contact makes up the largest group of HIV infection than injection drug use (2,449), and male-to-male sexual contact and drug use (1,131).
In addition, condoms are 80-85% effective. The individual must use condoms "...consistently and correctly. The failure of condoms to protect against STD/HIV transmission usually results from inconsistent or incorrect use, rather than product failure." (CDC)
An intelligent person finds out that mass distribution of condoms, while noble, still leaves the individual in danger of spreading/receiving the HIV virus as one must use a condom consistently and correctly. Knowledge of human behavior, one can identify that not everyone will practice safe sex all the time.
And so, one wonders why HIV/AIDS in America has not fallen with the MSM segment.
And from what I have seen in over 61 years of living in the Black Community; It's gay peoples mouth and ways that generally get them attacked there.
The HIV situation in America among Blacks (or any race for that matter) is serious but it can also be addressed through education, and better choices.
Or the Golden Rule? Do you really want to go thru life withpeople treating you like the Invisible Man? Some people must, seeing as how they treat others that way.
Why are black woman trying to get our communities to accept gay behavior but will not stand up for straight men who have equally difficult issues?. We should support Shared Parenting Legislation which presumes equal custody of children. We should support the "sister wives" option which gives a man an open and honest option of taking care of his need for a woman without paying a salary or compromising his safety, reputation or relationship with his children. We would reduce fatherlessness and reduce the incidence of sex harassments suits (ala Herman Cain, Jesse Jackson, et al) against men if we stop ignoring the straight men.
The child support system is a perfect example. Many of these young ladies and women know these men cannot provide for their own households and the woman's household. Many of them do not want the man in her household or want the man to directly take care of the children. So accepting the money forcefully taken from these men is stealing.
Another perfect example is what happened with Mr Cain. His wife knows Mr Cain wants something from her that she cannot or will not provide. She also knows it is better she remain with Mr Cain versus get upset with his outside behavior. Many of the stronger women do this. Instead of supporting gay behavior BW need to support straight men.
In regards to gay's and HIV I think the gay community needs to take it on themselves. They seem to have plenty of influence but lecturing straight people about unprotected gay sex is not going to stop unprotected gay sex. If you want straight people to walk up to random gay people and tell them to use a condom so they don't get AIDS, some how I don't think they would like it.
Do you think there's a finite amount of not-bullying out there in the world?
Do you think there's a finite number of males who should be using safe sex techniques? (Cause if you think 'not having gay sex' protects straight men from HIV or anything else, you clearly need some better sex ed. )
We are leaving lots of people behind playing these identity politics games. Liberals are compassionate until the victim ID falls out of their prescribed victim classes. I think we can do better.
If you want to do young black men a service, you would have to start with the popular music that disregards anything of value, except the love of money, material possessions, easy sex, and the glorification of black on black crime, and misogyny. Young black men talk the talk of popular music and culture called hip hop and rap. This is where their minds are; these are the "heroes" that they listen to. Not all----but most.
Stop blaming it on the church, because most of these people aren't there.
These are the groups that you have to look to for defeating gay marriage in California.