HIV Rates Continue to Rise Among New York City Black Gay Men

For the sixth straight year, New York City's HIV infection rates continue to rise among men under 30 years old. The largest increase was among young gay black men who represent "close to half of the 500 HIV cases diagnosed last year in the under-thirty age bracket."

Epidemiologists in New York City and across the country now refer to this demographic as "MSM, or men who have sex with men", because many do not identify as gay. Unfortunately, these are the men most at risk because they identify "gay" with HIV/AIDS and do not think they will affected. Tokes Osubu, the executive director of Gay Men of African Descent, adds to the chorus of voices who warn "homophobia in the black community" contributes to the low self esteem among gay black men, which "prevents them from being careful."

HIV Rates Increase Among NYC Men [WNYC]
Rising HIV Rates in NYC [Gay City News]

Some Background ...
CDC Tracking "Serious" Strain of Syphilis [R20]
Phill Wilson: Candidates Must Address HIV/AIDS [R20]
POZ Examines Race and the “Down Low” [R20]
"Urban Rally Against AIDS" [R20]
The HIV Morning After Pill? [R20]
Black Gay Men and "The Pill" [R20]
Jonathan Perry in "The Advocate" [R20]
Primetime Reports Black HIV Epidemic [After Elton]
"Out of Control: AIDS in Black America" [R20]
Hill Harper on HIV/AIDS [R20]
Ending Black Homophobia Will Reduce HIV [R20]
Do You Disclose Your HIV Status? [R20]
The ABCs of Black HIV [R20]
New CDC Guidelines [R20]

Comments

[Luther]

I still don't know what to say about this whole thing, not gay, well, just what on earth is having sex with another man? This rise in infections is bordering on lunacy and at this point in time in my opinion. Who in this country has not heard about safe sex? I guess it must be low self esteem and self hatred.

[Langston Baldwin]

This may be an over-simplification, but if we as black men would get back to love more say than just a quick nut then you may see a shift in attitudes.

Hind site is 20/20 but then it may be too late. Time reveals most things.

We must truly investigate those we want to lay down with. To me, it's more than just shouting, "wear a condom", cuz the rough sex that most pornos advocate now, icreases the risk of broken condoms. Just my viewpoint.