The government, marking the 20th anniversary of the discovery of AIDS, expressed concern last week about higher HIV rates among blacks. Health officials are particularly worried about the infection rates among young black gays and bisexuals, saying the stigma in the black community of having HIV or AIDS may be keeping testing rates low. Government statistics showed more than 282,000 AIDS cases among blacks in the United States through 2000 - a figure disproportionately high. Whites accounted for about 324,000 cases. Even more alarming, figures released earlier this year show 30 percent of young gay black men in major U.S. cities are infected with the AIDS virus.
Advocates cite a lack of attention to preventive health care among blacks.
Moreover, they say black men often do not participate in gay networks where safe sex is commonly discussed. The commission's proposal consists of five points - more money to fight AIDS, new and innovative outreach programs, new housing for people with the AIDS virus, the elimination of racial disparities in sexually transmitted disease rates, and stronger efforts to fight AIDS internationally, particularly in Africa. Coretta Scott King, widow of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., said that eliminating the stigma faced by gay and bisexual blacks is also critical to stopping the disease. By Erin McClam MMI The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.