Back of the Line: The State of AIDS Among Black Gay Men in America

I am reading an excellent publication from the Black AIDS Institute, "Back of the Line:  The State of AIDs Among Black Gay Men in America 2012:"
"No population in the developed world has been as heavily affected by HIV as Black men in the US who have sex with other men (MSM).  Indeed, one could study the entire world and have difficulty finding another group in which the HIV burden is greater than among Black MSM."

The report goes on to say that the number of new HIV infections among Black MSM rose by 20% from 2006 to 2009, with an especially disturbing 48% increase among young Black MSM.
Statistics like this are unacceptable anywhere, and particularly in the United States.  Blacks and Black gay men deserve better.

This is one of the reason that we are mobilizing our community with a series of events to turn the tide on HIV in Blacks.  The first events will be Friday, November 30, 2012 at the Capri Theatre in Minneapolis.

The first event, The Brother Circle Dinner, will be held from 4-6, and will include discussions with our special guests, Jamar Rogers, finalist on NBC's "The Voice" last season, and LaMont Wheat, singer, song-writer, and activist.

The second event, The Sarah Simmons Showcase, is a talent show that will feature performers from the Twin Cities.  In addition, Jamar Rogers and LaMont Wheat will perform.

Both events are free.  Dinner will be served.  HIV testing and education will also be free.

I hope you will join us!
Peace and love,
Bill

Mobilizing Black America to end HIV/AIDS

William Larson, Pharm.D.   spent a week in Los Angeles  with a group of HIV/AIDS coalition leaders training and getting up to speed on effective ways to build coalitions in his local Minneapolis community.  Black American men are among the most devastated by the HIV/AIDS epidemic and leaders are putting in action ways to mobilize around this in order to stop the spread of the disease.

Larson joined a group of 24 others from around the nation and especially from southern metropolitan states, the most affected regions, to get this training being delivered by the Black AIDS Institute.  Founded in May of 1999, the Black AIDS Institute is the only national HIV/AIDS think tank focused exclusively on Black people. The Institute's Mission is to stop the AIDS pandemic in Black communities by engaging and mobilizing Black institutions and individuals in efforts to confront HIV. The Institute interprets public and private sector HIV policies, conducts trainings, offers technical assistance, disseminates information and provides advocacy mobilization from a uniquely and un-apologetically Black point of view.  

 On the final day of training, William along with other participants laid out a proposal for mobilizing his local community.  "I learned how to write an action plan for a mobilization event which we will hold in Minneapolis in December.  The action plan was based on my problem statement which came from a needs assessment based on surveys of community members, providers, and leaders of Traditional Black Institutions," Larson stated.

Larson is calling on all local support to assist him executing his action plan which intends to educate 50 participants and test at least 10 participants.  "Encouragement and support from the community will make the difference.   I have a lot of work to do between now and December, but with the help of my coalition, which I am building and strengthening, it will all come together.  My target population is Black gay men in Minneapolis,"  Larson said.

William Larson, Pharm.D. is a pharmacist in the Minneapolis metro and a contributing medicine editor for BBINT Magazine.