They Are Still Our Brothers A s an African American woman, working on HIV and AIDS prevention for over a decade, it is heartening for me to see the accelerated response to the spread of HIV in minority communities notably African American and Latino communities. However, recently released CDC data find that there is one group that is often forgotten that needs urgent attention. Black and Hispanic gay and bisexual men who have AIDS now outnumber their white counterparts. But talk about it we must, if we are to truly commit to slowing the spread of HIV in minority communities. This will come as uncomfortable news to some, who historically have had difficulty accepting homosexuality in our communities.
Fear has a powerful way of keeping individuals from seeking information and services.
In addition, many believe that fear of stigmatization is what causes some men who have sex with men not to think of themselves nor identify themselves as gay or bisexual. By not identifying as gay or bisexual, these men may not even perceive themselves at risk for HIV and, therefore, may be less likely to protect themselves and their partners. And by having sex with both men and women, they may be unintentionally helping to fuel the spread of the disease to women. Overall, women now comprise 26 percent of reported AIDS cases, while accounting for only ten percent a decade ago. Estimates suggest that women also account for 30 percent of new HIV infections.