[sankofalist]HOMOPHOBIA AMONG BLACKS FUELS HIV/AIDS CRISIS
Michelle K. Massie
michelle@mwcreativegroup.com
Sun, 19 Jun 2005 23:49:50 -0400
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HOMOPHOBIA AMONG BLACKS FUELS HIV/AIDS CRISIS
By Cynthia Tucker
Sat Jun 18, 8:05 PM ET
Black Americans represent only 12 percent of the population, but we account
for more than half of all new cases of HIV/AIDS. That frightening fact was
one of the headline statistics to emerge from a conference in Atlanta last
week held by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The highest rate of infection in the country occurs among bisexual black
men. And that has implications for black women, who are 19 times more likely
to be infected than white women. That's because so many black men have
unprotected sex with other men but then conceal that fact and have
unprotected sex with women, too.
Yet there has been little activity that would suggest a crisis, especially
among those activists who can usually be counted on to draw attention to the
suffering of black Americans. Where are the rallies and town hall meetings,
the urgent press conferences, the demands for more money for research and
prevention? The usual suspects -- Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, the leadership
of the NAACP -- have had little to say about a plague spreading like
wildfire.
Perhaps that's because they'd have to aim their criticism within, not just
at the irresponsible sexual behavior that spreads HIV, but also at the
demoralizing prejudice against gays that shares the blame. Black Americans
harbor a profound homophobia that assists the spread of HIV by driving men
to have sex with other men "on the down low."
Of course, white America shares that prejudice. You only have to recall the
outing of former New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey to remember that some gay
white men also engage in surreptitious gay sex and expose their wives and
girlfriends to HIV. But black Americans are far more vulnerable in so many
ways -- including access to health care -- that homophobia does more damage.
Some sociologists and other observers believe that gay or bisexual black men
are more afraid to come out of the closet than whites because they already
face racial discrimination and are reluctant to take on the added burden of
homophobia. After all, they'd face that in their own homes and churches.
Atlanta writer E. Lynn Harris, who rocketed to fame and fortune with a
series of spicy novels about black men who secretly have sex with other men,
wrote in Essence: "The truth is that most brothers who are attracted to men
are desperately afraid of revealing it. ... Many ... fear that ... they'll
be drummed out of their families, destroying their only safe haven in an
already unwelcoming society."
Though AIDS researchers have suspected for years that a culture of
clandestine gay sex was helping to fuel the epidemic, the "down low"
syndrome has only recently become widely known. Last year, J.L. King wrote a
book -- "On the Down Low: A Journey Into the Lives of 'Straight' Black Men
Who Sleep with Men" -- about his secret life. And Essence, a magazine
oriented toward black women, has published several pieces about the down-low
phenomenon.
But those revelations have produced more recriminations than introspection.
Some Essence letter writers were furious that the magazine dared broach the
subject.
"A brother writes a book and goes on Oprah warning sisters about men who are
infecting them with AIDS. This is pointing fingers at black men, who aren't
the only people living on the down low," wrote one. Another said: "How dare
you print an article shaming our people? (The article) misrepresented the
black male, and (it) was repulsive and ignorant."
The gay-bashing from black clergy continues unabated, as well. In December,
a leading black Atlanta minister, Eddie Long, staged a march to highlight
his opposition to gay marriage. He attracted thousands of black marchers,
including Bernice King, daughter of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther
King Jr. (By contrast, his widow, Coretta Scott King, has been among the
rare voices condemning black homophobia.)
Fear. Hatred. Secrets and lies. That's the sort of climate in which HIV
thrives.
Cynthia Tucker is editorial page editor for The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution. She can be reached by e-mail: cynthia@ajc.com.
--B_3202069792_1142414
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<FONT SIZE=3D"6"><FONT FACE=3D"Arial"><SPAN STYLE=3D'font-size:21.0px'><B>HOMOPHO=
BIA AMONG BLACKS FUELS HIV/AIDS CRISIS<BR>
</B></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT FACE=3D"Arial"><SPAN STYLE=3D'font-size:12.0px'>=
By Cynthia Tucker<BR>
</SPAN><FONT COLOR=3D"#999999"><FONT SIZE=3D"4"><SPAN STYLE=3D'font-size:14.0px'>=
Sat Jun 18, 8:05 PM ET<BR>
</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT SIZE=3D"4"><SPAN STYLE=3D'font-size:14.0px'><BR>
Black Americans represent only 12 percent of the population, but we account=
for more than half of all new cases of HIV/AIDS. That frightening fact was =
one of the headline statistics to emerge from a conference in Atlanta last w=
eek held by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.<BR>
<BR>
The highest rate of infection in the country occurs among bisexual black me=
n. And that has implications for black women, who are 19 times more likely t=
o be infected than white women. That's because so many black men have unprot=
ected sex with other men but then conceal that fact and have unprotected sex=
with women, too.<BR>
<BR>
Yet there has been little activity that would suggest a crisis, especially =
among those activists who can usually be counted on to draw attention to the=
suffering of black Americans. Where are the rallies and town hall meetings,=
the urgent press conferences, the demands for more money for research and p=
revention? The usual suspects -- Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, the leadership =
of the NAACP -- have had little to say about a plague spreading like wildfir=
e.<BR>
<BR>
Perhaps that's because they'd have to aim their criticism within, not just =
at the irresponsible sexual behavior that spreads HIV, but also at the demor=
alizing prejudice against gays that shares the blame. Black Americans harbor=
a profound homophobia that assists the spread of HIV by driving men to have=
sex with other men "on the down low."<BR>
<BR>
Of course, white America shares that prejudice. You only have to recall the=
outing of former New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey to remember that some gay =
white men also engage in surreptitious gay sex and expose their wives and gi=
rlfriends to HIV. But black Americans are far more vulnerable in so many way=
s -- including access to health care -- that homophobia does more damage.<BR=
>
<BR>
Some sociologists and other observers believe that gay or bisexual black me=
n are more afraid to come out of the closet than whites because they already=
face racial discrimination and are reluctant to take on the added burden of=
homophobia. After all, they'd face that in their own homes and churches.<BR=
>
<BR>
Atlanta writer E. Lynn Harris, who rocketed to fame and fortune with a seri=
es of spicy novels about black men who secretly have sex with other men, wro=
te in Essence: "The truth is that most brothers who are attracted to me=
n are desperately afraid of revealing it. ... Many ... fear that ... they'll=
be drummed out of their families, destroying their only safe haven in an al=
ready unwelcoming society."<BR>
<BR>
Though AIDS researchers have suspected for years that a culture of clandest=
ine gay sex was helping to fuel the epidemic, the "down low" syndr=
ome has only recently become widely known. Last year, J.L. King wrote a book=
-- "On the Down Low: A Journey Into the Lives of 'Straight' Black Men =
Who Sleep with Men" -- about his secret life. And Essence, a magazine o=
riented toward black women, has published several pieces about the down-low =
phenomenon.<BR>
<BR>
But those revelations have produced more recriminations than introspection.=
Some Essence letter writers were furious that the magazine dared broach the=
subject.<BR>
<BR>
"A brother writes a book and goes on Oprah warning sisters about men w=
ho are infecting them with AIDS. This is pointing fingers at black men, who =
aren't the only people living on the down low," wrote one. Another said=
: "How dare you print an article shaming our people? (The article) misr=
epresented the black male, and (it) was repulsive and ignorant."<BR>
<BR>
The gay-bashing from black clergy continues unabated, as well. In December,=
a leading black Atlanta minister, Eddie Long, staged a march to highlight h=
is opposition to gay marriage. He attracted thousands of black marchers, inc=
luding Bernice King, daughter of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther Kin=
g Jr. (By contrast, his widow, Coretta Scott King, has been among the rare v=
oices condemning black homophobia.)<BR>
<BR>
Fear. Hatred. Secrets and lies. That's the sort of climate in which HIV thr=
ives.<BR>
<BR>
Cynthia Tucker is editorial page editor for The Atlanta Journal-Const=
itution. She can be reached by e-mail: cynthia@ajc.com.</SPAN></FONT></FONT>
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